Show ContentsAtchinson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Atchinson surname was patronymic name created from Atkin, a Middle English personal name, which was one of the many pet forms of Adam.

Early Origins of the Atchinson family

The surname Atchinson was first found in the counties of Northumberland and Cumberland where they held a family seat from ancient times long before the Norman Conquest in 1066. The name was derived from Atkin and Adkin.

Early History of the Atchinson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Atchinson research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1702, 1861, 1890 and 1910 are included under the topic Early Atchinson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Atchinson Spelling Variations

The name, Atchinson, occurred in many references, and from time to time, it was spelt Atkinson, Aitkinson, Atkenson, Aitkenson, Atkington, Attkinson and many more.

Early Notables of the Atchinson family

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

Ireland Migration of the Atchinson family to Ireland

Some of the Atchinson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Atchinson migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned settlers from the Scottish-English borders. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Among the early settlers bearing the Atchinson surname who came to North America were:

Atchinson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • James Atchinson, who landed in Maryland in 1648 1
  • John Atchinson, who landed in Massachusetts in 1672 1

Australia Atchinson migration to Australia +

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

Atchinson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Anne Atchinson, (b. 1809), aged 20, Irish needle woman who was convicted in County Down, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Edward" on 1st January 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2
  • Mrs. Mary Atchinson, (b. 1768), aged 61, Irish servant who was convicted in County Down, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Edward" on 1st January 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2
  • Elizabeth Atchinson, aged 22, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Sir Edward Parry" 3
  • Elizabeth Atchinson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Sir Edward Parry" in 1849 3
  • William Atchinson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Candahar" in 1850 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Atchinson (post 1700) +

  • Major-General Milton Atchinson Reckord (1879-1975), American Adjutant-General of Maryland in 1945 5
  • William Atchinson O'Neill (1930-2007), American Democratic Party politician, Governor of Connecticut, 1980-91 6


The Atchinson 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: Esperance en Dieu
Motto Translation: Hope in God.


  1. 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)
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th November 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/edward
  3. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SIR EDWARD PARRY 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849SirEdwardParry.htm
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CANDAHAR 1850. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Candahar.htm
  5. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) Milton Reckord. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Reckord/Milton_Atchinson/USA.html
  6. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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