Eccless History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The ancestry of the name Eccless dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in Eccles which was in both Norfolk and a parish near Manchester.

Early Origins of the Eccless family

The surname Eccless was first found in Lancashire where the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1332 listed: Adam de Ecclis, of Heaton with Halliwell; and Robert de Ecclis, of Pilkington. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed Richard Eccles, Cambridgeshire. 1

Eccles cakes, the round cake filled with currants and made from flaky pastry with butter originates in the English town of Eccles which was originally in Cheshire, then Lancashire and now in Greater Manchester. As to who was the originator of the famous pastry, there is much debate, but they are today sold throughout Lancashire and much of the United Kingdom.

Further to the north in Scotland, "there seems to have been two separate families of this name, one taking their surname from Eccles in Berwickshire, the other from Eccles in Dumfriesshire. Adam de Eccles witnessed a charter by Grim, son of Guido, to the Abbey of Melrose, c. 1170 (Seats Supp., 329). Johan de Eccles of Berwickshire rendered homage in 1296, and Sir Mathew del Ecles of Dumfriesshire was juror in 1304." 2

Early History of the Eccless family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Eccless research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1618, 1659, 1668, 1670, 1683, 1735 and 1742 are included under the topic Early Eccless History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Eccless Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Eccless have been found, including Eccles, Ecles, Eckles, Eyckles, Accles, Ackles and others.

Early Notables of the Eccless family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Mathew Eccles of Dumfriesshire; Solomon Eccles (Eagle) (1618-1683), an English composer; and his son, John Eccles (1668-1735), an...
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Eccless Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Eccless family to Ireland

Some of the Eccless family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 64 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Eccless family

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Eccless, or a variant listed above: Anne Eccles who settled in Virginia in 1698; James, John, Mary, Robert, Samuel, Thomas, and William Eccles, all arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1865..

The Eccless 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: Se defendendo
Motto Translation: In his own defence.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)