Show ContentsElmach History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Elmach Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Elmach

What does the name Elmach mean?

The chronicles of the Elmach family show that the name was first used in the Scottish/English Borderlands by the Strathclyde-Britons. It was a name for a person who lived in "Argyleshire, who transposed the syllables of his name on coming to the South (England). Most if not all the existing hearers of this singular patronymic descend from a Richard Almoke, of Yorkshire, whose curious will, with that of his son John is printed in Arch. Journ, v. 316. In 34 and 35, Hen. VIII., this Richard is written Awmoke, and still later Hawmoke." 1

Another source claims the family is from "Almeneches, a location name in Normandy (?) There is a tradition that a Scotchman, coming to London, changed his name from MacAll to Allmack! It may be so." 2

Early Origins of the Elmach family

The surname Elmach was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area, where this curious name is descended from Robert M'Kawele, Lord of Karsneloughe, who was living in 1370 in Guffok land in Nithsdale. 3

Traditionally within the family name, the first Allmack or Allmark was a MacAll who on migrating south to Yorkshire found it more fashionable to drop the Mac from his name to become accepted in the English society. Progressively the name became Allmack, Allmark, Allmoke, Hawmoke. William Allmack, "one of the founders of the city of Victoria in that Colony (Hong Kong) was honored by Almack Place in that city. He died on his voyage from China in 1846. The Almack motto, based upon the supposed Scottish extraction of the race, is MACK AL SICKER." 1

Early History of the Elmach family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Elmach research. Another 135 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1500 and 1846 are included under the topic Early Elmach History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Elmach Spelling Variations

The origin of rules governing the spelling of names and even words is a very recent innovation. Before that, words and names were spelled according to sound, and, therefore, often appeared under several different spelling variations in a single document. Elmach has been spelled Allmark, Almark, Allmoke, Hawmoke, Hallmark, Allmack, Aulmark and many more.

Early Notables of the Elmach family

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

Migration of the Elmach family to Ireland

Some of the Elmach family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Elmach family

The persecution faced in their homeland left many Scots with little to do but sail for the colonies of North America. There they found land, freedom, opportunity, and nations in the making. They fought for their freedom in the American War of Independence, or traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In both cases, they made enormous contributions to the formation of those great nations. Among them: Thomas Allmark who settled in Barbados in 1780.

The Elmach 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: MACK AL SICKER
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  3. 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)

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