Syllkrige History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
England

Syllkrige is an ancient Scottish name that was first used by the Strathclyde-Briton people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. It is a name for someone who lived in the former royal burgh county town of Selkirk. [1] [2] [3] This place name was also known as Selechirche, Selechyrche, Selekirke and literally meant "the Palace-Church [Old English sele, a palace, hall + O.(N.)E. circe (= Old Norse kirkia), a church] The Scottish kings had a hunting residence at Selkirk." [4]

Another source notes the name came from "Cellkirk, a religious house. A cell was anciently that part of a temple within the walls. Sel-carrik." [5]

And another source claims a slightly different origin of the place name. "This place, which is of considerable antiquity, derives its name, in the Celtic tongue signifying "the Church in the forest," from the ancient state of the surrounding district, which was thickly covered with wood and appropriated as a royal chase. From its proximity to the border, it was frequently the scene of hostile incursions, and intricately involved in all the ferocious and sanguinary wars of the rival kingdoms, during the mutual efforts of their monarchs to obtain the ascendancy. In the 12th century it appears to have been regarded as a place of importance; and David I. founded near the site of the present town a monastery, which was, however, subsequently for greater security removed to Kelso.' [6]

Early Origins of the Syllkrige family

The surname Syllkrige was first found in Selkirkshire (Scottish Gaelic: Siorrachd Shalcraig), where one of the first records of the family was Thomas de Selghkirk, who rendered homage to King Edward I of England at Berwick in 1291. Later, Hugh de Selkyrk was a burgess of Edinburgh in 1368 and in 1400 mention is made of a land there belonging to Peter de Selkirk (presumably his son.) [1]

Early History of the Syllkrige family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Syllkrige research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1368, 1515, 1567, 1580, 1676, 1679, 1684, 1690, 1704, 1709, 1721 and 1731 are included under the topic Early Syllkrige History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Syllkrige Spelling Variations

Prior to the first dictionaries, scribes spelled words according to sound. This, and the fact that Scottish names were repeatedly translated from Gaelic to English and back, contributed to the enormous number of spelling variations in Scottish names. Syllkrige has been spelled Selkirk, Salkirk, Silkrige, Selkyrk, Selcraig and others.

Early Notables of the Syllkrige family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Alexander Selkirk (1676-1721), prototype of 'Robinson Crusoe,' also known as Alexander Selcraig, a Scottish privateer and sailor, seventh son of John Selcraig, shoemaker, of Largo, Fifeshire. [7]In September 1704, Captain Stradling aboard Cinque Ports, dropped Selkirk off on the island of Juan Fernandez with a musket, a hatchet, a knife, a cooking pot, a Bible, bedding and some...
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Syllkrige Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Syllkrige family

In such difficult times, the difficulties of raising the money to cross the Atlantic to North America did not seem so large compared to the problems of keeping a family together in Scotland. It was a journey well worth the cost, since it was rewarded with land and freedom the Scots could not find at home. The American War of Independence solidified that freedom, and many of those settlers went on to play important parts in the forging of a great nation. Among them: James Selkirk who settled in New York State in 1774; Robert Selkridge settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1767.

The Syllkrige 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: Jamais arriere
Motto Translation: Never behind.

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)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print