First found in Shropshire where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the census rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

To escape the unstable social climate in England of this time, many families boarded ships for the New World with the hope of finding land, opportunity, and greater religious and political freedom. Although the voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, those families that arrived often found greater opportunities and freedoms than they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Oakland were among those contributors: George Oakley, who came to Virginia in 1654; Francis Oakley, who arrived in Barbados in 1669; John Oakeley, who settled in Virginia in 1773; Alice Oakley, who settled in Virginia in 1729.

Motto Translated: I do not fear, but am careful.

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