A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Ackerson family of England.
Reg. 8401 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
Colours
Black (Sable)Means: Constancy
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Historical info
Source
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Blazon (the actual original written record)
“Sa. a bend betw. three acorns or”
Englandc. 1620
Where the Ackerson Arms Were Recorded
York
Map of England showing where the Ackerson arms are recorded
The Ackerson arms were recorded in England, c. 1620.
Arms such as these were typically recorded in York.
Yorkshire is the largest of the English counties, and it held more gentry families than any other. Land there was split among a great many households rather than a few, so a great many of them carried arms.
This is where the arms were entered in the register. Families often moved to other parts of the country, so the same name can turn up in more than one region.
The body that granted and recorded arms in England in this period.
James VI and I
Sovereign of the period
James VI and I
1603–1625
Reigning in England when the Ackerson arms are first recorded.
How Arms Worked in England
English heraldry allowed arms to be shared by all legitimate descendants of the original owner. These symbols were treated as personal property that moved through the generations to all children. While the eldest son kept the original design, other family members could use the same shield without needing to change it or register their own unique versions.
Granting authority
The College of Arms in London has regulated the use of coats of arms throughout England and Wales since 1484.
How they got arms
Families typically obtained their coats of arms through a formal grant from the Crown or by proving their ancient right to them.
Where arms were recorded
All official coats of arms are recorded in the registers kept at the College of Arms, which date back to the fifteenth century.
The family's standing
Recorded among the armigerous families of England.
Origin & History of the Ackerson Family in England
The surname Ackerson is a patronymic name, which means it was originally created to identify a person as the son of someone named Acker. The name Acker itself is derived from the Old English word for an acre or a field, suggesting that the earliest ancestors were likely farmers or landowners who lived near cultivated land. By 1620, records confirm that members of the family were established in York, England. During this period, families often moved into growing urban centers to seek new trade opportunities or to participate in the expanding merchant economy of the city. As the family grew, the spelling of the name evolved from its older roots to the modern form we recognize today, reflecting the way names were recorded by local clerks based on how they sounded in daily speech.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Adam
Derived from the Hebrew word for earth or red clay.
This name
AckersonPatronymic surname meaning son of Adam or son of the earth.
also spelled
Ackeson
Ackersonne
Akerson
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H. and Wilson, R.M., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Bardsley, Charles Wareing, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames with Special American Instances, 1901
Borthwick Institute for Archives, York Diocesan Probate Records, 1620
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
bendDefence, and the scarf of a commander
acornAntiquity and strength from small beginnings
