Show ContentsOakman History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Among the all the peoples of ancient Scotland, the first to use the name Oakman were the Strathclyde-Britons. It was a name for someone who lived in Lanarkshire. The name and all it's variants are double diminutives of Adam, formed from 'Ad,' the diminutive of Adam + 'kin' 1

Early Origins of the Oakman family

The surname Oakman 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 2 and later in 1405, "John of Akyne, a Scottish merchant petitioned for the return of his ship and goods illegally seized in England." 1

Early History of the Oakman family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Oakman research. Another 183 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1405, 1482, 1497, 1520, 1558, 1559, 1581, 1601, 1613, 1631, 1635, 1642, 1653, 1654, 1676, 1679, 1680, 1681, 1685, 1687, 1703, 1713, 1744, 1757, 1773, 1775, 1780, 1847 and 1854 are included under the topic Early Oakman History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Oakman Spelling Variations

The variation in the spelling of Medieval names is a result of the lack of spelling rules in the English language prior to the last few hundred years. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound, often varying the spelling of name within a single document. Oakman has appeared as Aitken, Aiken, Atkin, Atkins and others.

Early Notables of the Oakman family

Notable amongst the family at this time was James Aitkine, Atkins or Etkins (1613?-1687), Scottish prelate, Bishop of Moray (1676), Bishop of Galloway (1680-1687.) He was born at Kirkwall about 1613, was the son of Harie Atkine, Sheriff of Orkney. 3Arthur Aikin (1773-1854), chemist and scientific writer, was the eldest son of John Aikin, M.D., and was thus the brother of Lucy Aikin and nephew of Mrs. Barbauld. He was born at Warrington on 19 May 1773, and went at an early age to the free school there, and afterwards to Mr. Barbauld's school at Palgrave in Suffolk. 3Charles Rochemont Aikin...
Another 100 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Oakman Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Oakman Ranking

In the United States, the name Oakman is the 12,995th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Oakman family to Ireland

Some of the Oakman 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.


Oakman migration to the United States +

As the persecution of Clan families continued, they sailed for North America in increasing numbers. In most cases, they found the freedom and opportunity they sought. Land was often available and the American War of Independence allowed Scots an opportunity to solidify their independence from the English crown. These settlers and their ancestors went on to play essential roles in the forging of the nations of the United States and Canada. Among them:

Oakman Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Samuel Oakman, who landed in New England in 1658 5
Oakman Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert Oakman, who arrived in Mississippi in 1840 5
  • Cathrine Oakman, aged 20, who landed in America, in 1892
Oakman Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Charles Yates Oakman, aged 24, who immigrated to the United States from Belfast, in 1904
  • Joseph Oakman, aged 20, who landed in America from Belfast, in 1904
  • Helen Oakman, who landed in America, in 1906
  • Elizabeth Oakman, who settled in America, in 1906
  • Helen L. Oakman, aged 26, who immigrated to America, in 1909
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Oakman (post 1700) +

  • Charles Gibb Oakman (1903-1973), American politician from Michigan
  • Wheeler Oakman (1890-1949), American film actor who appeared in over 280 films
  • Harry Oakman (1906-2002), born Henry Octave Cyril Vereecke, Belgium born, Australian horticulturalist and writer
  • Alan Stanley Myles Oakman (b. 1930), English first-class cricketer


The Oakman 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.


  1. 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)
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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