The first people to use the name Echen were a family of Strathclyde-
Britons who lived in the Scottish/English Borderlands. The name comes from when someone lived in Lanarkshire.
Early Origins of the Echen family
The surname Echen was first found in
Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of
Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North
Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they originated in the old barony of Akyne. Some of the first records of the name were Atkyn de Barr in 1340
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X) and later in 1405, "John of Akyne, a Scottish merchant petitioned for the return of his ship and goods illegally seized in England."
[2]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) The name and all it's variants are double diminutives of Adam, formed from 'Ad,' the diminutive of Adam + 'kin'
[2]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 Echen family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Echen research.
Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1405, 1482, 1497, 1520, 1687, 1676, 1680, 1687, 1654, 1613, 1642 and 1676 are included under the topic Early Echen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Echen 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. Echen has appeared as Aitken, Aiken, Atkin, Atkins and others.
Early Notables of the Echen family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Echen Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Echen family to Ireland
Some of the Echen family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 173 words (12 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Echen family to the New World and Oceana
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: Ann and Daniel Aiken who settled in New York State in 1811; David, Henry and Hugh Aiken settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1868 and 1880; John Aikens settled in New Orleans La. in 1821.
The Echen 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: Robore et vigilantia
Motto Translation: Strength and vigilance.
Echen Family Crest Products
See Also
Citations
- ^ Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- ^ 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)