Show ContentsAuchincloss History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Auchincloss

What does the name Auchincloss mean?

The name Auchincloss was first used by the ancient Strathclyde-Briton people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. The first Auchincloss family lived in the barony of Auchinleck in Ayrshire or from Affleck in Angus. 1

"Richard of Auchinlec was juror on an inquest held in 1263 before the sheriff of Lanark. Nicholas of Haghenlek mentioned in 1292 is probably Nicol de Achithelege of the county of Are who rendered homage in 1296. Patrick de Aghleke of Lanarkshire who also rendered homage in 1296 appears again as Patrick de Achenlek, juror on inquest at Lanark in 1303, and is probably the Patrick de Auuynlec who witnessed resignation of the lands of Grenryg c. 1311." 2

Early Origins of the Auchincloss family

The surname Auchincloss was first found in Ayrshire and Angus. "In 1370 the lands of 'le Greynryg et de le Tathys' were resigned to Kelso Abbey by Adam de Aghynlek, Thomas of Awqwhynleke in 1436 witnessed a charter of lands in Peeblesshire, Adam Auchinlek had a safe conduct to travel in England in 1451, Andrew Athelek and James Athelek of Scotland petitioned for safe conducts in 1464, and in 1486 William Achlek appears as a friar preacher in Aberdeen." 2

Early History of the Auchincloss family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Auchincloss research. Another 132 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1306, 1311, 1464 and 1499 are included under the topic Early Auchincloss History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Auchincloss Spelling Variations

Surnames that evolved in Scotland in the Middle Ages often appear under many spelling variations. These are due to the practice of spelling according to sound in the era before dictionaries had standardized the English language. Auchincloss has appeared as Affleck, Athlyk, Athinkel, Auchlek, Athlek, Achleck, Achinfleck, Afleck, Authinlek and many more.

Early Notables of the Auchincloss family

Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Auchincloss Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Auchincloss migration to the United States +

The North American colonies beckoned, with their ample land and opportunity as their freedom from the persecution suffered by so many Clan families back home. Many Scots even fought against England in the American War of Independence to gain this freedom. Recently, clan societies have allowed the ancestors of these brave Scottish settlers to rediscover their familial roots. Among them:

Auchincloss Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Arthur Auchincloss, aged 34, who landed in Maryland in 1812 3
  • John Auchincloss, aged 23, who arrived in Maryland in 1812 3
  • Hugh Auchincloss, who arrived in New York in 1817 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Auchincloss (post 1700) +

  • Nina Gore Auchincloss (1903-1978), American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1940 4
  • James Coats Auchincloss (1885-1976), American Republican politician, Mayor of Rumson, New Jersey, 1938-43; U.S. Representative from New Jersey 3rd District, 1943-65 4
  • Hugh Dudley III Auchincloss (b. 1927), American politician, Independent Candidate for Rhode Island State Senate, 1992 4
  • Hugh Dudley Auchincloss (1897-1976), American Republican politician, Stockbroker; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Virginia, 1940 4
  • Hugh Auchincloss Steers (1962-1995), American figurative painter who died of AIDS at the age of 32, brother to Burr Steers, son of Newton Steers
  • Sir Stuart Auchincloss Coats (1868-1959), 2nd Baronet, a British politician and Member of Parliament


  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. 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)
  3. 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)
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 28) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


Houseofnames.com on Facebook