A record of documented arms, meaning and origin, researched for the Akerman family of England.
Reg. 1898 · English, A–C
Coat of Arms & Family Crest Details
Symbols on this shield
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
maunchThe lady's sleeve, worn as a favour
branchPeace, and new growth
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
Colours
Red (Gules)Means: Military strength
Gold (Or)Means: Generosity
Silver (Argent)Means: Peace and sincerity
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)
“Quarterly per fesse indented first and fourth, gu. in chief a maunch ar. in base an acorn sprig or, second and third or, three dragons' heads couped of the first”
SurreySurrey, c. 1761
Where the Akerman Arms Were Recorded
Surrey
Map of England showing where the Akerman arms are recorded
The Akerman arms were recorded in Surrey, c. 1761.
Surrey sat just south of London and filled up with families who had made money in the City. Buying an estate there was the usual next step, and an estate was the usual reason to take 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.
George III of Great Britain
Sovereign of the period
George III of Great Britain
1760–1801
Reigning in England when the Akerman 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 Surrey.
Origin & History of the Akerman Family in England
The surname Akerman is an occupational name that originated in medieval England to describe a person who worked as a plowman or a field laborer. The name comes from the Old English words for acre and man, which literally translates to a man who cultivates the land. By the middle of the eighteenth century, the family had established a notable presence in the county of Surrey. Records from 1761 confirm that members of the Akerman family were active in this region during a time when England was transitioning toward the Industrial Revolution. While many families with this name remained tied to agricultural work for generations, others began to move into trade and local governance as the social structure of rural Surrey evolved. This transition from field labor to more diverse roles reflects the broader economic changes occurring across the English countryside during the late 1700s.
Related Branches & Arms
Root word
Aker
An Old English term referring to a field or cultivated land.
This name
AkermanAn occupational surname for a plowman or a farmer who worked the fields.
also spelled
Ackerman
Documented Sources
Sir Bernard Burke, The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, London: Harrison & Sons, 1884
Reaney, P.H., A Dictionary of English Surnames, 1991
Surrey History Centre, Parish Registers of Surrey, 1761
Lower, Mark Antony, Patronymica Britannica: A Dictionary of the Family Names of the United Kingdom, 1860
Digital archive packCoat of arms PNG, gold border print PDF, vector SVG and the certificate of authenticity. Sent to your email in minutes.
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
maunchThe lady's sleeve, worn as a favour
branchPeace, and new growth
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
fessThe military belt, and readiness to serve
maunchThe lady's sleeve, worn as a favour
branchPeace, and new growth
dragonA most valiant defender of treasure
