Selcraig History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
England

The roots of the name Selcraig are found among the Strathclyde-Briton people of the ancient Scottish/English Borderlands. Selcraig was originally found in the former royal burgh county town of Selkirk. 1 2 3 This place name was also known as Selechirche, Selechyrche, Selekirke and literally meant "the Palace-Church [Old English sele, a palace, hall + O.(N.)E. circe (= Old Norse kirkia), a church] The Scottish kings had a hunting residence at Selkirk." 4

Another source notes the name came from "Cellkirk, a religious house. A cell was anciently that part of a temple within the walls. Sel-carrik." 5

And another source claims a slightly different origin of the place name. "This place, which is of considerable antiquity, derives its name, in the Celtic tongue signifying "the Church in the forest," from the ancient state of the surrounding district, which was thickly covered with wood and appropriated as a royal chase. From its proximity to the border, it was frequently the scene of hostile incursions, and intricately involved in all the ferocious and sanguinary wars of the rival kingdoms, during the mutual efforts of their monarchs to obtain the ascendancy. In the 12th century it appears to have been regarded as a place of importance; and David I. founded near the site of the present town a monastery, which was, however, subsequently for greater security removed to Kelso.' 6

Early Origins of the Selcraig family

The surname Selcraig was first found in Selkirkshire (Scottish Gaelic: Siorrachd Shalcraig), where one of the first records of the family was Thomas de Selghkirk, who rendered homage to King Edward I of England at Berwick in 1291. Later, Hugh de Selkyrk was a burgess of Edinburgh in 1368 and in 1400 mention is made of a land there belonging to Peter de Selkirk (presumably his son.) 1

Early History of the Selcraig family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Selcraig research. Another 124 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1368, 1515, 1567, 1580, 1676, 1679, 1684, 1690, 1704, 1709, 1721 and 1731 are included under the topic Early Selcraig History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Selcraig Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that rules have developed and the process of spelling according to sound has been abandoned. Scottish names from before that time tend to appear under many different spelling variations. Selcraig has been spelled Selkirk, Salkirk, Silkrige, Selkyrk, Selcraig and others.

Early Notables of the Selcraig family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

Alexander Selkirk (1676-1721), prototype of 'Robinson Crusoe,' also known as Alexander Selcraig, a Scottish privateer and sailor, seventh son of John Selcraig, shoemaker, of Largo, Fifeshire. 7

Migration of the Selcraig family

Unwelcome in their beloved homeland, many Scots sailed for the colonies of North America. There, they found land and freedom, and even the opportunity to make a new nation in the American War of Independence. These Scottish settlers played essential roles in the founding of the United States, and the shaping of contemporary North America. Among them: James Selkirk who settled in New York State in 1774; Robert Selkridge settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1767.

The Selcraig 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: Jamais arriere
Motto Translation: Never behind.

Citations +

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)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print