Show ContentsAtkeson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Atkeson

What does the name Atkeson mean?

The Atkeson surname was patronymic name created from Atkin, a Middle English personal name, which was one of the many pet forms of Adam.

Early Origins of the Atkeson family

The surname Atkeson was first found in the counties of Northumberland and Cumberland where they held a family seat from ancient times long before the Norman Conquest in 1066. The name was derived from Atkin and Adkin.

Early History of the Atkeson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Atkeson research. Another 113 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1200, 1702, 1861, 1890 and 1910 are included under the topic Early Atkeson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Atkeson Spelling Variations

Although the name, Atkeson, appeared in many references, from time to time, the surname was shown with the spellings Atkinson, Aitkinson, Atkenson, Aitkenson, Atkington, Attkinson and many more.

Early Notables of the Atkeson family

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

Migration of the Atkeson family to Ireland

Some of the Atkeson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 69 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Atkeson migration to the United States +

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of cholera, typhoid, dysentery or small pox. In North America, some of the first immigrants who could be considered kinsmen of the Atkeson family name Atkeson, or who bore a variation of the surname were

Atkeson Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Richard Atkeson, who landed in Virginia in 1703 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Atkeson (post 1700) +

  • William Oscar Atkeson (1854-1931), American Republican politician, Bates County Prosecuting Attorney, 1891-92; U.S. Representative from Missouri 6th District, 1921-23; Defeated, 1922 2


The Atkeson 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: Esperance en Dieu
Motto Translation: Hope in God.


  1. 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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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