Rankine History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

Scotland

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The Dalriadan clans of ancient Scotland spawned the ancestors of the Rankine family. Their name comes from the personal name Randolph, with the addition of the diminutive suffix -kin.

Early Origins of the Rankine family

The surname Rankine was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire.

"There is a tradition of descent from one John, son of a knight called Jacob de Rankine, burgomaster of Ghent, who married a daughter of the head of the house of Keith, and became progenitor of the Rankines. " 1 This tradition is difficult to prove but was nevertheless authored by M. H. Rankin, Esq.

Early History of the Rankine family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rankine research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1587, 1600, 1629, 1672, 1719 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Rankine History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rankine Spelling Variations

The medieval practice of spelling according to sound and repeated translation between Gaelic and English created many spelling variations of the same name. Rankine has been recorded as Rankin, Ranken, Ranking, Rankene, Rankine and others.

Early Notables of the Rankine family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Lieutenant John Rankin (ca 1600s), British Royal Navy, eponym of Rankin Inlet, Canada. Alexander Ramkins (c.1672-1719) was a Scottish adherent of James II, born...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rankine Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rankine family to Ireland

Some of the Rankine family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 105 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rankine migration to the United States +

Descendents of Dalriadan-Scottish families still populate many communities across North America. They are particularly common in Canada, since many went north as United Empire Loyalists at the time of the American War of Independence. Much later, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the highland games and Clan societies that now dot North America sprang up, allowing many Scots to recover their lost national heritage. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Rankine, or a variant listed above:

Rankine Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Alexander Rankine, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1764 2

Rankine Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Rankine, who arrived in New York in 1835 2
Janet Rankine, who landed in America in 1848 2

Rankine migration to Australia +

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

Rankine Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Robert Rankine, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 3
Mr. Archibald Rankine, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Egyptian" on 5th April 1839, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
Mary Rankine, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Fairfield" in 1839 5
James Rankine, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Fairfield" in 1839 5
Matthew Rankine, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Fairfield" in 1839 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rankine migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Rankine Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Elizabeth Rankine, (b. 1836), aged 24, British domestic servant travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "Matoaka" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 2nd December 1860 6
Mr. Robert Rankine, (b. 1839), aged 22, Scottish joiner from Lanarkshire travelling from London aboard the ship "Victoria" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 30th March 1862 7

Contemporary Notables of the name Rankine (post 1700) +

de Lancey Rankine, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Presidential Elector for New York, 1920 8
Alan Rankine (1958-2023), Scottish musician and record producer best known as keyboardist and guitarist for rock band the Associates, which he co-founded with lead vocalist Billy Mackenzie in the late 1970s
William John Macquorn Rankine (1820-1872), Scottish engineer, son of David Rankine (d. 1870), engineer
Mr. Craig Rankine M.B.E., Q.P.M., British Inspector for Police Service of Scotland, was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 29th December 2018 for services to Law and Order and Young People 9
Michael Lee Rankine (b. 1985), English footballer
Simon Mark Rankine (b. 1969), English former footballer
Robert Scade "Scotty" Rankine (1909-1995), Canadian Olympic athlete
William Rankine Milligan PC, KC (1898-1971), Scottish Tory politician and judge

Historic Events for the Rankine family +

The Rankine 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: Fortiter et recte
Motto Translation: Boldly and rightly.