Ackheard History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsAckheard was first used as a surname by descendants of the Pictish people of ancient Scotland. The ancestors of the Ackheard family lived in the old barony of Urquhart, which is located on Loch Ness in the county of Inverness. Early Origins of the Ackheard familyThe surname Ackheard was first found in Elginshire a former county in northeastern Scotland, in the present day Scottish Council Area of Moray, where Galleroch de Urchart "who lived temp. Alexander II" 1 was granted lands in Cromarty, and Inverness. He held a family seat at the Castle of Urquhart in 1214. "His descendants were "hereditary sheriffs of Cromarty." 1 Early History of the Ackheard familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ackheard research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1114, 1306, 1358, 1611, 1650, 1660 and 1759 are included under the topic Early Ackheard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Ackheard Spelling VariationsRepeated and inaccurate translation of Scottish names from Gaelic to English and back resulted in a wide variety of spelling variations with single names. Ackheard has appeared Urquhart, Urquhard, Urchard, Orchard and many more. Early Notables of the Ackheard familyNotable amongst the Clan at this time was Sir Thomas Urquhart (Urchard) of Cromarty (1611-c.1660), a Scottish writer and translator, most famous for his translation of Rabelais.
Down in London, Thomas Urquhart (fl. 1650?), was a "noted violin-maker and was distinguished... Migration of the Ackheard family to IrelandSome of the Ackheard family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Ackheard familyMany Scottish families suffered enormous hardships and were compelled to leave their country of birth. They traveled to Ireland and Australia, but mostly to the colonies of North America, where many found the freedom and opportunity they sought. It was not without a fight, though, as many were forced to stand up and defend their freedom in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of these Scots abroad have rediscovered their heritage in the last century through the Clan societies and other organizations that have sprung up across North America. Immigration and passenger ship lists show some important early immigrants bearing the name Ackheard: Alexander Urquhart who settled in Antigua in 1679; James Urquart settled in Virginia in 1716; Thomas Urquhart settled in Granada in 1776; Donald Urquhart settled in Jamaica in 1745.
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