Kirklayne was first used as a surname in the Scottish/English Borderlands by the Strathclyde-Briton. The first Kirklayne family 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]CITATION[CLOSE]
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)Early Origins of the Kirklayne family
The surname Kirklayne 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]CITATION[CLOSE]
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6) 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]CITATION[CLOSE]
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print. 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]CITATION[CLOSE]
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)
Early History of the Kirklayne family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Kirklayne research.
Another 215 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1280, 1585, 1586, 1790 and are included under the topic Early Kirklayne History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Kirklayne Spelling Variations
Medieval Scottish names are rife with
spelling variations. This is due to the fact that scribes in that era spelled according to the sound of words, rather than any set of rules. Kirklayne has been spelled Kirkland, Kirkeland, Kirtland and others.
Early Notables of the Kirklayne family (pre 1700)
More information is included under the topic Early Kirklayne Notables in all our
PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Kirklayne family to Ireland
Some of the Kirklayne family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 87 words (6 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 Kirklayne family to the New World and Oceana
Many Scots were left with few options other than to leave their homeland for the colonies across the Atlantic. Some of these families fought to defend their newfound freedom in the American
War of Independence. Others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these families have recently been able to rediscover their roots through
Clan societies and other Scottish organizations. 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..
The Kirklayne 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: Facta non verba
Motto Translation: Deeds not words.