Show ContentsAnckrum History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Anckrum was first used by the ancient Strathclyde-Briton people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. The first Anckrum to use this name no doubt lived in Roxburghshire (Borders) at Ancrum, a small village which had earlier been called Alncromb, which literally meant "a bend in the river Ale."

Early Origins of the Anckrum family

The surname Anckrum was first found in Dumbartonshire, where they held a family seat in the lands of Ancrum from about the 11th century. "In 1252 John of Alnecromb appears as witness to a charter by Richard Burnard of Farningham to the monks of Melrose. In 1296 a writ was issued to the sheriff of Roxburgh, ordering him to restore to Richard de Alnecrum his forfeited lands. John de Allyncrum, was Clerk of Register and auditor of accounts in 1358. John de Allynerom, a Scottish merchant, who received in 1361 a safe conduct to England from Edward III is doubtless John of Allyncrum, a prominent burgess of Edinburgh, who, c. 1362, granted his lands of Crageroke to the Church of St. Giles, Edinburgh." 1

Early History of the Anckrum family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Anckrum research. Another 142 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1358, 1361, 1370, 1567, 1684 and 1781 are included under the topic Early Anckrum History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Anckrum Spelling Variations

Scribes in Medieval Scotland spelled names by sound rather than any set of rules, so an enormous number of spelling variations exist in names of that era. Anckrum has been spelled Ancram, Ancrum, Ancrumb, Anckrum, Ancromb, Allyncrum, Alncrum, Alyncrome, Allyncom and many more.

Early Notables of the Anckrum family

More information is included under the topic Early Anckrum Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Anckrum family

The number of Strathclyde Clan families sailing for North America increased steadily as the persecution continued. In the colonies, they could find not only freedom from the iron hand of the English government, but land to settle on. The American War of Independence allowed many of these settlers to prove their independence, while some chose to go to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots played essential roles in the forging of both great nations. Among them: William Ancrum who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1766.



  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)


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