Contents [hide]

Aitken History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Aitken History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

In ancient Scotland, Aitken was a Strathclyde-Briton 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 Aitken family

The surname Aitken 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 Aitken family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Aitken 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 Aitken History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Aitken Spelling Variations

In Medieval times, spelling and translation were not nearly so highly developed as today. They were generally carried out according to the sound and intuition of the bearer. For that reason spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. Aitken has been spelled Aitken, Aiken, Atkin, Atkins and others.

Early Notables of the Aitken family

Notable amongst the family at this time was James Aitkine, Atkins or Etkins (1613?-1687), Scottish prelate, Bishop of Moray (1676), Bishop of Galloway (1680-1687.) He was born at Kirkwall about 1613, was the son of Harie Atkine, Sheriff of Orkney. 3Arthur 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 1773, and went at an early age to the free school there, and afterwards to Mr. Barbauld's school at Palgrave in Suffolk. 3Charles Rochemont Aikin...
Another 100 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Aitken Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Aitken World Ranking

In the United States, the name Aitken is the 8,510^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4 However, in Australia, the name Aitken is ranked the 482^nd most popular surname with an estimated 7,860 people with that name. 5 And in New Zealand, the name Aitken is the 224^th popular surname with an estimated 2,564 people with that name. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Aitken as 628^th with 10,507 people. 7

Migration of the Aitken family to Ireland

Some of the Aitken 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.

Aitken migration to the United States +

Unrest, poverty, and persecution caused thousands to look for opportunity and freedom in the North American colonies. The crossing was long, overcrowded, and unsanitary, though, and came only at great expense. Many Strathclyde families settled on the east coast of North America in communities that would form the backbone of what would become the great nations of the United States and Canada. The American War of Independence caused those who remained loyal to England to move north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the 20th century, Strathclyde and other Scottish families across North America began to recover their collective heritage through highland games and Clan societies. Among them:

Aitken Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William Aitken, aged 30, who landed in New York in 1744 8
Alexander Aitken, aged 17, who landed in New York in 1774 8
Robert Aitken, aged 18, who landed in New York, NY in 1774 8
Samuel Aitken, aged 24, who arrived in New York in 1774 8
James Aitken, who landed in America in 1775 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Aitken Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Aitken, aged 28, who arrived in New York in 1801 8
John Aitken, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1804 8
William Aitken, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1815 8
Robert Aitken, who landed in New York in 1830 8
Thomas Aitken, who landed in New York in 1839 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Aitken migration to Australia +

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

Aitken Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Charles Aitken, English convict from Middlesex, who was transported aboard the "Andromeda" on November 13, 1832, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
T Aitken, who landed in Sydney, Australia in 1839
James Aitken, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Glenswilly" in 1839 10
Miss Fanny Aitken, (Frances, Gow), (b. 1820), aged 26, Irish house maid from County Down who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Elizabeth and Henry" on 14th September 1846, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 11
J.M.K. Aitken, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "John Woodall" in 1849 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Aitken 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:

Aitken Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Marjorie Aitken, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 13
Mrs. Aitken, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 13
Miss Aitken, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 13
George Aitken, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Otago aboard the ship "John Wickliffe" in 1848 13
George Aitken, aged 24, a farmer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Philip Laing" in 1848
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Aitken (post 1700) +

Robert Ingersoll Aitken (1878-1949), American sculptor
Robert Grant Aitken (1864-1951), American astronomer
Wylie A. Aitken, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from California, 2000 14
William B. Aitken, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from New York County 6th District, 1854-55 14
Robert P. Aitken (b. 1819), American Republican politician, Supervisor of Flint Township, Michigan; Member of Michigan State House of Representatives from Genesee County 2nd District, 1865-68 14
Robert Aitken, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Mercer County, 1859 14
Judith Marvel Aitken (b. 1923), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Kansas, 1956 14
Edward Aitken, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Colombo, 1884 14
David Demerest Aitken (1853-1930), American Republican politician, U.S. Representative from Michigan 6th District, 1893-97; Mayor of Flint, Michigan, 1905-06 14
David C. Aitken, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Kings County 1st District, 1871-72 14
... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Aitken family +

Halifax Explosion

Mr. George Robertson Aitken (1891-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 15
Miss Jessie D. Aitken (1902-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 15

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Norman Frederick K Aitken, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 16
Mr. James S Aitken, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 16

RMS Lusitania

Master James Jarvie Aitken Jr., Canadian 2nd Class passenger residing in Merritt, British Columbia, Canada returning with the family to Scotland, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 17
Mr. James Jarvie Aitken Sr., Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Merritt, British Columbia, Canada returning with the family to Scotland, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 17
Mr. James Aitken, Scottish 2nd Class passenger residing in Merritt, British Columbia, Canada returning to Scotland, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 17
Miss Christina Aitken, Scottish 2nd Class passenger residing in Merritt, British Columbia, Canada returning to Scotland, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking by escaping in life boat 1 or 3 17

The Aitken 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.

Citations +

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)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 27) Andromeda voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1832 with 186 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/andromeda/1832
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) GLENSWILLY 1839 (also called DAWSONS). Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Glenswilly.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth-and-henry
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) JOHN WOODALL 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849JohnWoodall.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, February 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/