Among the the peoples of ancient
Scotland, the first to use the name Ackenheed were the Strathclyde-
Britons. Ackenheed was a name for someone who lived in a barony in
Lanarkshire where one of the first records was dates to 1372, when Robert II granted the lands of "Akynheuide" in Lanark to John de Maxwell in 1372. Convallus de Akinhead was recorded as witness to another land grant in the same year.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
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)Early Origins of the Ackenheed family
The surname Ackenheed was first found in
Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) at the barony of Aikenhead in the central Strathclyde region of
Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North
Lanarkshire, South
Lanarkshire and the City of Glasgow. One of the first official references to the family was in 1296 when Gilbert de L'Akenheued of Lanark rendered homage to
King Edward I of
England.
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
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)
Early History of the Ackenheed family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ackenheed research.
Another 435 words (31 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1376, 1444, 1489, 1676, 1697, 1673, 1699, 1676 and 1697 are included under the topic Early Ackenheed History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Ackenheed Spelling Variations
Medieval Scottish names are rife with
spelling variations. This is due to the fact that scribes in that era spelled according to the sound of words, rather than any set of rules. Ackenheed has been spelled Aikenhead, Akenhead, Akynhead, Akynheued, Aikkenhead, Achenhead and many more.
Early Notables of the Ackenheed family (pre 1700)
Another 43 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ackenheed Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Ackenheed family to the New World and Oceana
Many Scots were left with few options other than to leave their homeland for the colonies across the Atlantic. Some of these families fought to defend their newfound freedom in the American
War of Independence. Others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these families have recently been able to rediscover their roots through
Clan societies and other Scottish organizations. Among them: Elizabeth Achenhed who settled in Jamaica in 1774.
The Ackenheed 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: Rupto robore nati
Motto Translation: We are born with weakened strength.