Kirkaton History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Scotland

Scottish history reveals Kirkaton was first used as a surname by the Strathclyde-Briton people. It was a name for someone who lived in Cumberland, at Kirkland or in Lancashire at Kirkland. Both place names have essentially the same origin: "estate belonging to a church" having been derived from the Viking word "kirkja" + "land." Kirkland in Cumberland (Cumbria) was first recorded as Kyrkeland c. 1140. ^[1]

Early Origins of the Kirkaton family

The surname Kirkaton was first found in Cumberland, at Kirkland, a township, in the parish and union of Garstang, hundred of Amounderness as Homines de Kyrkelaund, recorded there during the reign of Edward I. ^[2] Later the parish of Kirkland in Lancashire was another family seat. "After the lapse of a century, it belonged to William de Kirkland, whose name was derived from his residence, and who died in 1363." ^[3] As one would expect having a close proximity to Scotland, Johannes filius John de Kyrkeland held land in the territory of Gordon, c. 1280 and later William de Kyrkland was burgess of Glasgow, 1424. Again in Glasgow, listed there was Alan de Kyrklande (1463) and John de Kirkland (1471.) ^[4]

Important Dates for the Kirkaton family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kirkaton research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1280, 1585, 1586, 1790 and are included under the topic Early Kirkaton History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Kirkaton Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that rules have developed and the process of spelling according to sound has been abandoned. Scottish names from before that time tend to appear under many different spelling variations. Kirkaton has been spelled Kirkland, Kirkeland, Kirtland and others.

Early Notables of the Kirkaton family (pre 1700)

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

Migration of the Kirkaton family to Ireland

Some of the Kirkaton family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 50 words (4 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 Kirkaton family

Unwelcome in their beloved homeland, many Scots sailed for the colonies of North America. There, they found land and freedom, and even the opportunity to make a new nation in the American War of Independence. These Scottish settlers played essential roles in the founding of the United States, and the shaping of contemporary North America. Among them: Phillips and Nathaniel Kirkland settled in Lynn Massachusetts in 1635; John Kirkland settled in New Jersey in 1685; Charles and George Kirkland both arrived in Philadelphia in 1813 and 1832 respectively..

Citations

1. ^ Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
2. ^ Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
3. ^ Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
4. ^ 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)