Akins Clan Crest
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CREST: Two Ravens MOTTO: Time How Short TRANSLATION: N/A VARIATIONS: |
| Clan Akins is a Scottish clan that has a rich and fascinating history. The name itself is shrouded in mystery and its origins are debated by scholars. The earliest recorded use of the surname was in 1405, when a Scottish merchant named “John of Akyne” petitioned the court for the return of his ship and goods that had been illegally seized in England. | |
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| The name Akins has roots in the Hebridean Isle of Skye, where the area around the strait between Skye and the Scottish mainland was named Kyleakin, from the Gaelic words Caol Acain, meaning “the Strait of Hakon”. This area was home to the Skye Village of Kyle Akin and the 12th century Dun Akin castle, long held by the MacKinnon clan.
In the 19th century, the Clan Akins was among the 100 most frequently encountered surnames in Scotland, ranking 90th in occurrence, with an estimated number of 5,992 persons bearing the name. Variations of the name were common in the cities of Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Stirling, as well as in the parish of Ballantrae. When King James VI opened up the northern province of Ulster for colonization by Scots, members of the Clan Akins were among the thousands of Scots who settled in the region. In Ireland, the name became most common in County Antrim and variations in spelling emerged, such as Eakins in Belfast, Eakin in County Derry, Ekin in County Donegal, and Egan in County Down. However, the British government soon oppressed the Scots colonists with heavy taxes and religious persecution, leading many to leave for North America as a safe haven. Between 1717 and 1776, some 250,000 people left Northern Ireland for the United States, where the largest population of Scots in the world now reside. |
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