Show ContentsIkin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Ikin is an ancient Scottish name that was first used by the Strathclyde-Briton people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. It is a name for someone who lived in Lanarkshire. The name and all it's variants are double diminutives of Adam, formed from 'Ad,' the diminutive of Adam + 'kin' [1]

Early Origins of the Ikin family

The surname Ikin was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they originated in the old barony of Akyne. Some of the first records of the name were Atkyn de Barr in 1340 [2] and later in 1405, "John of Akyne, a Scottish merchant petitioned for the return of his ship and goods illegally seized in England." [1]

Early History of the Ikin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ikin research. Another 183 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1405, 1482, 1497, 1520, 1558, 1559, 1581, 1601, 1613, 1631, 1635, 1642, 1653, 1654, 1676, 1679, 1680, 1681, 1685, 1687, 1703, 1713, 1744, 1757, 1773, 1775, 1780, 1847 and 1854 are included under the topic Early Ikin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ikin Spelling Variations

Prior to the first dictionaries, scribes spelled words according to sound. This, and the fact that Scottish names were repeatedly translated from Gaelic to English and back, contributed to the enormous number of spelling variations in Scottish names. Ikin has been spelled Aitken, Aiken, Atkin, Atkins and others.

Early Notables of the Ikin family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • Arthur Aikin (1773-1854), chemist and scientific writer, was the eldest son of John Aikin, M.D., and was thus the brother of Lucy Aikin and nephew of Mrs. Barbauld. He was born at Warrington on 19 May...
  • Charles Rochemont Aikin (1775-1847), doctor and chemist, was the second son of John Aikin, M.D., and was born at Warrington in 1775
  • John Aikin (1713-1780), scholar and theological tutor, was born in 1713, in London, where his father, a native of Scotland, had been for some years settled in business. He was placed for a short time...

Ireland Migration of the Ikin family to Ireland

Some of the Ikin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 173 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Australia Ikin migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ikin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Ikin1806, English ploughman who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [3]
  • Mr. William Ikin, English convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Equestrian" on 27th August 1852, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Island) [4]
  • George Ikin, aged 32, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Shackamaxon" [5]

New Zealand Ikin migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Ikin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Ikin, aged 36, a cabinet maker, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "London" in 1842
  • Jane Ikin, aged 27, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "London" in 1842

Contemporary Notables of the name Ikin (post 1700) +

  • Michael John Ikin (b. 1946), English former cricketer
  • Van Ikin (b. 1951), Australian academic and science fiction writer and editor of "Science Fiction - A Review of Speculative Fiction"
  • John Thomas Ikin (1918-1984), English cricketer
  • Benjamin "Ben" Ikin (b. 1977), Australian former professional rugby league footballer
  • Humphrey Ikin (b. 1957), New Zealand furniture designer, winner of the John Britten Design Award in 2001


The Ikin Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Robore et vigilantia
Motto Translation: Strength and vigilance.


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 2nd December 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/camden
  4. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/equestrian
  5. South Australian Register Thursday 20 January 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SHACKAMAXON 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/shackamaxon1853.shtml


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