Among the the peoples of ancient
Scotland, the first to use the name Oakan were the Strathclyde-
Britons. Oakan was a name for someone who lived in Lanarkshire.
Early Origins of the Oakan family
The surname Oakan was first found in
Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of
Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North
Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they originated in the old barony of Akyne. Some of the first records of the name were Atkyn de Barr in 1340
[1]CITATION[CLOSE]
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X) and later in 1405, "John of Akyne, a Scottish merchant petitioned for the return of his ship and goods illegally seized in England."
[2]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) The name and all it's variants are double diminutives of Adam, formed from 'Ad,' the diminutive of Adam + 'kin'
[2]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 Oakan family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Oakan research.
Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1405, 1482, 1497, 1520, 1613, 1687, 1676, 1680, 1687, 1613, 1654, 1613, 1642 and 1676 are included under the topic Early Oakan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Oakan 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. Oakan has been spelled Aitken, Aiken, Atkin, Atkins and others.
Early Notables of the Oakan family (pre 1700)
Another 40 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Oakan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Oakan family to Ireland
Some of the Oakan family moved to
Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 173 words (12 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 Oakan 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: Ann and Daniel Aiken who settled in New York State in 1811; David, Henry and Hugh Aiken settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1868 and 1880; John Aikens settled in New Orleans La. in 1821.
The Oakan 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: Robore et vigilantia
Motto Translation: Strength and vigilance.
Oakan Family Crest Products
See Also
Citations
- ^ Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- ^ 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)