Show ContentsAnker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The story of the Anker family stretches back through time to the Viking settlers who populated the rugged shores of Scotland in the Medieval era. The name Anker was derived from Ingsgar, a Viking Chieftain who settled in the Shetland Islands in the 9th century.

Early Origins of the Anker family

The surname Anker was first found in Orkney and the Shetlands, where some of the first records of the family include: "William Inkseter, tacksman of Skelbustir, and Huchown Inksettir, tacksman of Gryndale, on record in 1492." [1]

Later, Magnus Ingsitter (Ingseter, or Inkster) appears as bailie-depute of Orphir between 1570 and 1584, and Edward Ingsetter or Inksetter was a witness in 1589 and 1600. Duncane Inksetter in the parish of Brassay is recorded in 1576. [1]

One source notes that the family could be from "Ingestre; a location name in Staffordshire." [2] And digging further into this possibility, we found Ingestrie, or Ingestrk is a small parish in the S. division of the hundred of Pirehill, union, and N. division of the county. "Ingestre Hall, the seat of Earl Talbot, was partly built in the reign of Edward III.; the principal part is more modern, and in the style of architecture prevailing in the reign of Elizabeth. " [3]

Early History of the Anker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Anker research. Another 77 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1615, 1619 and 1648 are included under the topic Early Anker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Anker Spelling Variations

Standards used to judge the accuracy of spellings and translations did not yet exist in the Middle Ages. Spelling variations in names dating from that era, are thus, an extremely common occurrence. Anker has been recorded as Inkster, Inghster, Inkstar, Ingster, Ingstar and others.

Early Notables of the Anker family

Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Anker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Anker Ranking

In the United States, the name Anker is the 18,833rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [4]


United States Anker migration to the United States +

The New World was far from the oppressive regime of the old country. It was a place where there was more land than people and political and religious freedom were far easier to come by. Many Scots even got the chance to fight for their freedom in the American War of Independence. In recent years, interest in this heritage has been generated by Clan societies and regular highland games in North America. An examination of early immigration and passenger lists has revealed many people bearing the Anker name:

Anker Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Illel Moses Anker, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1835 [5]
  • StiIlel Moses Anker, who arrived in Baltimore, Maryland in 1835 [5]
  • Augusta Anker, aged 35, who immigrated to the United States, in 1892
  • Christian Anker, aged 47, who settled in America, in 1895
Anker Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Fred Anker, who landed in Arkansas in 1900 [5]
  • Jacob Anker, who landed in Arkansas in 1900 [5]
  • Alice Anker, aged 24, who landed in America from Exeter, England, in 1914
  • Charles Anker, aged 15, who landed in America, in 1922

Canada Anker migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Anker Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Private August Anker, U.E.aka "Augustus", "Anger", United Empire Loyalist, (b. 1760) born in Germany, was located in Susquehanna Valley, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, (Wilkes-Barre today) before the conflict started, who settled in Moulton Township [Moulton, Haldimand County], Upper Canada c. 1783 enlisted in December, 1777. Was part of the Butler's Rangers Regiment, married Rosanna Buck in Wyoming, Pennsylvania they had 6 children [6]
  • Private John Charles Anker, U.E.aka "Charles", "Anger", United Empire Loyalist, (b. 1736), was located in Susquehanna Valley, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, (Wilkes-Barre today) before the conflict started, who settled in Bertie Township, Welland County, [Fort Erie], Ontario c. 1783 enlisted in 1777. Was part of the Butler's Rangers Regiment was discharged on June 24, 1784, later died on February 27, 1813 buried at Coloured Cemetery, Bertie Township, Welland County, Ontario [6]
  • Private Frederick Anker, Jr., U.E., "Anger", United Empire Loyalist, (b. 1766), was located in Susquehanna Valley, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, (Wilkes-Barre today) before the conflict started, who settled in Bertie Township, Welland County, [Fort Erie], Ontario c. 1783 enlisted in 1783 part of the Butler's Rangers Regiment, married Mary Magdalen Windecker, they had 12 children [6]
  • Private George Frederick Anger Anker, Sr., U.E., "Anger", United Empire Loyalist, (b. 1721) born in Germany, was located in Susquehanna Valley, Wyoming, Pennsylvania, (Wilkes-Barre today) before the conflict started, who settled in Bertie Township, Welland County, [Fort Erie], Ontario c. 1783 enlisted in 1777 part of the Butler's Rangers Regiment, died in March, 1813 [6]

Australia Anker migration to Australia +

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

Anker Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Samuel Anker, British convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Competitor"18th March 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Anker (post 1700) +

  • Irving Anker (1911-2000), American educator
  • Peter A. Anker, American politician, Village President of South Holland, Illinois, 1925 [8]
  • M. Anker, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Colorado Territory, 1868 [8]
  • Christian Anker (1917-1988), Norwegian businessman
  • Christian August Anker (1896-1982), Norwegian businessman
  • Peter Martin Anker (1801-1863), Norwegian politician
  • Peter Martin Anker (1903-1977), Norwegian diplomat
  • Peter Anker (1927-2012), Norwegian art historian
  • Nils Anker (1836-1893), Norwegian politician
  • Lotte Anker (b. 1958), Danish saxophone player
  • ... (Another 20 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


  1. 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)
  2. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  6. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
  8. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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