It was in the Scottish/English Borderlands that the Strathclyde-Briton people first used the ancient name Kirklane. 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]
The surname Kirklane 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]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kirklane research. Another 108 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1280, 1585, 1586, 1790 and are included under the topic Early Kirklane History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
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. Kirklane has appeared as Kirkland, Kirkeland, Kirtland and others.
More information is included under the topic Early Kirklane Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Some of the Kirklane 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.
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: 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..