The origins of the Ekless name lie with England's ancient
Anglo-Saxon culture. It comes from when the family lived in Eccles which was in both
Norfolk and a parish near Manchester.
Early Origins of the Ekless family
The surname Ekless was first found in
Lancashire where they held a
family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the
Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.
Early History of the Ekless family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ekless research.
Another 185 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1618, 1683, 1668, 1735, 1670 and 1742 are included under the topic Early Ekless History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Ekless Spelling Variations
Before the last few
hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason,
spelling variations are commonly found in early
Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Ekless were recorded, including Eccles, Ecles, Eckles, Eyckles, Accles, Ackles and others.
Early Notables of the Ekless family (pre 1700)
Notables of this surname at this time include: Sir Mathew Eccles of Dumfriesshire; Solomon Eccles (Eagle) (1618-1683), an English composer; and his son, John Eccles (1668-1735), an...
Another 26 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Ekless Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Ekless family to Ireland
Some of the Ekless family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 67 words (5 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 Ekless family to the New World and Oceana
To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from
England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Ekless family emigrate to North America: Anne Eccles who settled in Virginia in 1698; James, John, Mary, Robert, Samuel, Thomas, and William Eccles, all arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1840 and 1865..
The Ekless 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: Se defendendo
Motto Translation: In his own defence.