Oakerhan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Netherlands
England

The Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain were the first to use the name of Oakerhan. The name had a practical origin since it came from when its initial bearer worked as a ploughman, a tiller of the soil, or a farmer. The name Oakerhan was originally derived from the Old German word Akermann, which literally means acreman.

Early Origins of the Oakerhan family

The surname Oakerhan was first found in Dorset where they held a family seat as Lords of the manor, some say before the Norman Conquest by Duke William in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Oakerhan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Oakerhan research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Oakerhan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Oakerhan 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 Oakerhan include Akerman, Acreman, Ackerman, Akarman, Acherman and many more.

Early Notables of the Oakerhan family

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

Migration of the Oakerhan family

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Oakerhan or a variant listed above: Thomas Ackerman who settled in Virginia in 1653; Carl Ackerman who landed in Canada in 1783; Adam, Charles, David, Francis, George, Jacob, Joseph, Paul, Philip, Stephen, Robert and William Ackerman, all landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1738 and 1867.

The Oakerhan 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:
Motto Translation: Victory in Truth.