Show ContentsOkieson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

It was in the Scottish/English Borderlands that the Strathclyde-Briton people first used the ancient name Okieson. It was a name for someone who lived in Berwickshire.

Early Origins of the Okieson family

The surname Okieson was first found in Berwickshire an ancient county of Scotland, presently part of the Scottish Borders Council Area, located in the eastern part of the Borders Region of Scotland, where one of the first records of the name was Johannes filius Ade was a "custumar" of North Berwick in 1384 and later appears as John Atkynsoun in 1387. 1

Early History of the Okieson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Okieson research. Another 67 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1000, 1408, 1552, 1558, 1563, 1580, 1611, 1621, 1628, 1629, 1634, 1638, 1655, 1657, 1685, 1688, 1695, 1699, 1701, 1727, 1728, 1748 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Okieson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Okieson Spelling Variations

Scribes in Medieval Scotland spelled names by sound rather than any set of rules, so an enormous number of spelling variations exist in names of that era. Okieson has been spelled Acheson, Acherson, Atcherson, Aitcheson, Aitchison, Atcheson, Achison and many more.

Early Notables of the Okieson family

Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Okieson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Okieson family to Ireland

Some of the Okieson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 183 words (13 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 Okieson family

The number of Strathclyde Clan families sailing for North America increased steadily as the persecution continued. In the colonies, they could find not only freedom from the iron hand of the English government, but land to settle on. The American War of Independence allowed many of these settlers to prove their independence, while some chose to go to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots played essential roles in the forging of both great nations. Among them: William Aitchison who settled in Colchester county, Nova Scotia in 1875; Andrew Aitchison who settled in Niagara, Lincoln county Ontario in 1852; Thomas Acheson who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1798.



The Okieson 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: Ane chast arbor
Motto Translation: One pure tree.


  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)


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