Show ContentsElliot History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Elliot family saga is rooted in the people of the Pictish Clan of ancient Scotland. The Elliot family lived in Liddesdale and Teviotdale where the family has a long and distinguished history dating back to the early Middle Ages. The name is actually derived from the Old English personal name Elwald or Aelfwald, but this name is now all but extinct as a personal name.

"A William Aliot came into England with the Conqueror, and the name seems to be connected with Alis and Ellis." 1

Early Origins of the Elliot family

The surname Elliot was first found in Liddesdale, and Teviotdale. Although originally from Elliott, a village near Forfar, this Clan was persuaded by the Douglases to move south to help defend the border in 1396. There they became one of the most influential clans. Some of the notable personalities were "Archie Fire the Braes," "Hob of the Park," "Little Jock of the Park," "Jock Half Lugs," "Jock A'God's Name," "Gibbe Wi' the Gowden Gartens."

Early History of the Elliot family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Elliot research. Another 141 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1450, 1490, 1499, 1522, 1546, 1565, 1592, 1604, 1612, 1632, 1636, 1640, 1665, 1668, 1670, 1685, 1690, 1700, 1714, 1726, 1784, 1789, 1797, 1890 and 1898 are included under the topic Early Elliot History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Elliot Spelling Variations

Prior to the invention of the printing press in the last hundred years, documents were basically unique. Names were written according to sound, and often appeared differently each time they were recorded. Spelling variations of the name Elliot include Elliott, Elliot, Eliot, Eliott, Ellegett, Ellegot, Ellecot, Ellacott, Ellacot, Ellgate, Ellett, Ellit and many more.

Early Notables of the Elliot family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

  • George Elliott (ca. 1636-1668), English surgeon to the Earl of Teviot's Regiment
  • Major General Roger Elliott (ca. 1665-1714), one of the earliest British Governors of Gibraltar, Defender of Gibraltar, Governor General of India, Earl of Minto

Elliot Ranking

In the United States, the name Elliot is the 1,841st most popular surname with an estimated 17,409 people with that name. 2 However, in New Zealand, the name Elliot is ranked the 981st most popular surname with an estimated 765 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Elliot family to Ireland

Some of the Elliot family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 80 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Elliot migration to the United States +

The freedom of the North American colonies was enticing, and many Scots left to make the great crossing. It was a long and hard journey, but its reward was a place where there was more land than people and tolerance was far easier to come by. Many of these people came together to fight for a new nation in the American War of Independence, while others remained loyal to the old order as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of Scots in North America have recovered much of this heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and other such organizations. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important and early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Elliot:

Elliot Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Lewis Elliot, who arrived in Virginia in 1619 4
  • Elizabeth Elliot, aged 8, who landed in New England in 1635 4
  • Phelip Elliot, aged 2, who landed in New England in 1635 4
  • Mr. John Elliot, (b. 1599), aged 36, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Constance" arriving in Virginia in 1635 5
  • Mr. Phillip Elliott, aged 33, (1602-1657), from Hertfordshire, who landed in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "Hopewell", bound for Roxbury 6
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Elliot Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • George Elliot, who arrived in Georgia in 1742 4
  • John Elliot, who landed in America in 1760-1763 4
  • James Elliot, aged 35, who arrived in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1774 4
Elliot Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • David Elliot, who landed in New York in 1801 4
  • Adam Elliot, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 4
  • Samuel Elliot, who landed in America in 1809 4
  • Moses Elliot, aged 30, who arrived in New York in 1812 4
  • Walter Elliot, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1813 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Elliot migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Elliot Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Ann Elliot, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Davis Elliot, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Francis Elliot, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Rd Elliot, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • Robert Elliot, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Elliot Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Thomas Elliot, aged 20, a chordwinder, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the barque "Alchymist" from Falmouth, Cornwall, England
  • William Elliot, aged 45, a weaver, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Ann & Mary" from Cork, Ireland
  • John H. Elliot, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Mary Elliot, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the schooner "Sarah" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Andrew Elliot, aged 37, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Edward Reid" in 1833
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Elliot migration to Australia +

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

Elliot Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Richard Elliot, (b. 1765), aged 57, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1823 7
  • Simon Elliot, a tailor, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
  • Miss Mary Ann Elliot, English convict who was convicted in Newcastle upon Tyne, Tyne and Wear, England for life, transported aboard the "Diana" on 4th December 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
  • Mr. James Elliot, English convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 27th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
  • Henry Elliot, who arrived in Port Misery aboard the ship "Duchess of Northumberland" in 1839 10
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Elliot migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Elliot Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Samuel Elliot, aged 55, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Westminster" in 1843
  • Mary Jane Elliot, aged 21, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Westminster" in 1843
  • William Henry Elliot, aged 18, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Westminster" in 1843
  • Eliza Elliot, aged 16, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Westminster" in 1843
  • George Elliot, aged 14, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Westminster" in 1843
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Elliot (post 1700) +

  • Elisabeth Elliot (1926-2015), née Howard, American Christian author and speaker
  • Lawrence Lee Elliot (b. 1938), American outfielder in Major League Baseball
  • Peter Elliot (b. 1966), American writer, editor and media personality
  • Alonzo Elliot (1891-1964), American composer and songwriter
  • Andrew Elliot (1728-1797), American Acting Colonial Governor of the Province of New York in 1783
  • James Ludlow Elliot (1943-2011), American astronomer and scientist
  • Biff Elliot (b. 1923), American actor
  • John Elliot (1914-1972), American songwriter
  • Win Elliot (1915-1998), American television and radio sportscaster and game show host
  • Daniel Giraud Elliot (1835-1915), American zoologist
  • ... (Another 22 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Fred Elliot, English Able-Bodied Seaman from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 11
  • Mr. Arthur W. Elliot, Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 12
  • Mrs. Annie Louise Elliot, Canadian 2nd Class passenger from Calgary, Alberta, Canada, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 12


The Elliot 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: Fortiter et recte
Motto Translation: Rightly and Boldly


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  4. 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)
  5. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 5th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  6. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/Diana
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  10. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THE DUCHESS OF NORTHUMBERLAND - 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839DuchessOfNorthumberland.htm
  11. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 10) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  12. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


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