Acland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the bearers of the Acland family name are thought have lived in ancient Anglo-Saxon England. They were first found in or near a prominent grove of oak trees. The name Acland literally means oak-land. The branch of the family that originated in Devon is said to have been named for a particular grove near their seat at Acland Barton in Landkey.

"Akland, in Landkey, near Barnstaple, is the first seat of the Acland family, and has been held by them from the twelfth century." 1

Early Origins of the Acland family

The surname Acland was first found in Devon, where "Acland, which gave name to this ancient family, is now a farm in the parish of Landkey." 2

"Acland, or rather Aukeland, as taking name from a grove of oaks, for by such an one the house is seated, and hath given name and long habitation to the clarous family of Aclands, which have many ages here flourished in a worshipful degree." 2

Hugh de Accalen is the first recorded ancestor in 1155. The aforementioned farm still exists and is about 3/4 mile north-east of the village of Landkey. "The ancient family of Acland for nearly three centuries have made their home in the vicinity of Exeter. Sir John Acland was the builder of the house at Columbjohn, which gave title to the baronetcy at its creation in 1644, and which was garrisoned by its owner for the King. At one time it contained the only Royalist garrison in the county; but in March, 1646, it was the headquarters of Sir Thomas Fairfax. This mansion has been destroyed, and the present seat of the Aclands is at Killerton, in the same parish of Broad Clyst. Originally built in the year 1788, Killerton was greatly enlarged and improved by its late owner, Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, to whom the distinguished honour was paid of the erection of a statue on Northernhay, Exeter, in his lifetime, ' as a tribute for private worth and public integrity, and in testimony of admiration of a generous heart and open hand, which have been ever ready to protect the weak, to relieve the needy, and to succour the oppressed of whatever party, race, or creed.' The Aclands take their second name of Dyke as representatives of the old Somersetshire family of that name." 1

Some of the family were found in Cornwall. "The manor of Crugantarran, or Cragantallan, which is partly in this parish and partly in Newlyn, belonged to the Arundells of Trerice. It is now the property of Sir Thomas Dyke Ackland, bart." 3

Early History of the Acland family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Acland research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1155, 1553, 1573, 1591, 1610, 1613, 1626, 1636, 1644, 1647, 1649, 1655, 1672, 1697, 1714, 1722, 1728, 1785, 1818 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Acland History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Acland Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Acland include Acland, Aukland, Aclands, Ackland, Acklands and many more.

Early Notables of the Acland family

Notables of the family at this time include

John VI Acland (died 1553) who was described as "the first of the (Acland) family to emerge from the shadows of history as a visible human being."
Sir John Acland (d. 1613), was the second son of John Acland, of Acland in Landkey, Devonshire. "From his mother he obtained considerable landed property in the neighbourhood of London, and increased...
Anthony Acland (died 1626), was an English Jesuit. There have been four baronetcies created for members of the Acland family, which originated in the 12th century at the estate of Acland in the parish...
The first baronetcy was of Columb John, Devon was created for Sir John Acland, (c.1591-1647), 1st Baronet. He was an English landowner, the only son of Arthur Acland (1573-1610.)
His descendants include: Sir Francis Acland, 2nd Baronet (d. 1649); Sir John Acland, 3rd Baronet (c. 1636-1655); Sir Arthur Acland, 4th Baronet (d. 1672); Sir Hugh Acland, 5th Baronet (d. 1714); Sir H...
The second baronetcy was created for Sir Hugh Acland, 1st/5th Baronet (died 1714); the third baronetcy was the Acland baronets, of St Mary Magdalen (1890) and the last was the Acland baronets, of Fair...

Acland migration to Australia +

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

Acland Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Acland, English convict who was convicted in Devon, England for 10 years, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 4th October 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4

Acland 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:

Acland Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Emily Acland, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Lord Burleigh" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th August 1856 5
Mrs. Harriet Acland, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Lord Burleigh" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th August 1856 5
Elizabeth Acland, aged 32, a dressmaker, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Rimutaka" in 1885
Ellen E. Acland, aged 27, a dressmaker, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "Rimutaka" in 1885

Contemporary Notables of the name Acland (post 1700) +

Robert D. Acland MBBS, FRCS (1941-2016), American surgeon and academic, one of the pioneers in plastic and reconstructive microsurgery
Alfred Dyke Acland (1858-1937), Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal 1st Devon Yeomanry
Sir Richard Thomas Dyke Acland (b. 1906), English politician
Sir Arthur Herbert Dyke Acland (1847-1926), English politician
Sir Thomas Dyke Acland (1722-1785), 7th Baronet of Killerton in Devon and Petherton Park in Somerset
Sir Antony Arthur Acland KG, GCMGGCVO (1930-2021), British diplomat, Head of the Diplomatic Service and Provost of Eton
Lieutenant General Sir Wroth Palmer Acland (1770-1816), British officer, son of Arthur Palmer Acland, of Fairfield
John Dyke Acland (d. 1778), British soldier and politician, the eldest son of Sir Thomas Acland
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Christopher Guy Dyke Acland LVO, DL (b. 1946), 6th Baronet, British Army officer Major-General Sir John Hugh Bevil Acland, KCB, CBE, DL (1928-2006), British soldier
Francis Dyke Acland (1874-1939), British Liberal politician

The Acland 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: Inebranlable
Motto Translation: Unshaken.

Citations +

Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Shirley, Evelyn Philip, The Noble and Gentle Men of England; The Arms and Descents. Westminster: John Bower Nichols and Sons, 1866, Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-gray
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html