Show ContentsRancking History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

On the Scottish west coast, the Rancking family was born among the ancient Dalriadan clans. Their name comes from the personal name Randolph, with the addition of the diminutive suffix -kin.

Early Origins of the Rancking family

The surname Rancking was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire.

"There is a tradition of descent from one John, son of a knight called Jacob de Rankine, burgomaster of Ghent, who married a daughter of the head of the house of Keith, and became progenitor of the Rankines. " 1 This tradition is difficult to prove but was nevertheless authored by M. H. Rankin, Esq.

Early History of the Rancking family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rancking research. Another 131 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1587, 1600, 1629, 1672, 1719 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Rancking History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rancking Spelling Variations

In the Middle Ages, the translation between Gaelic and English was not a highly developed process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and so, an enormous number of spelling variations appear in records of early Scottish names. Rancking has appeared as Rankin, Ranken, Ranking, Rankene, Rankine and others.

Early Notables of the Rancking family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Lieutenant John Rankin (ca 1600s), British Royal Navy, eponym of Rankin Inlet, Canada. Alexander Ramkins (c.1672-1719) was a Scottish adherent of James II, born...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rancking Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Rancking family to Ireland

Some of the Rancking family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 105 words (8 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 Rancking family

These settlers arrived in North America at a time when the east was burgeoning with prosperous colonies and the expanses of the west were just being opened up. The American War of Independence was also imminent. Some Scots stayed to fight for a new country, while others who remained loyal went north as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of them went on to rediscover their heritage in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic Scottish events. The Rancking were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Lawlin Rankin, who settled in Virginia in 1650; Andrew Rankin settled in New England in 1651; Alexander Rankin settled in Boston in 1764; Alexander, Andrew, David, Henry, Hugh, James, John, Robert, Thomas and William Rankin all arrived in Philadelphia between 1800 and 1870..



The Rancking 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: Fortiter et recte
Motto Translation: Boldly and rightly.


  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.


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