Origin: Scottish. Meaning: Rankin comes from the personal name Randolph. Spelling Variations: Ranken, Ranking, Rankene, Rankine, Randolph, Ronald and Rand. Coat of Arms: Rankin is represented by the colors Gules and Red and symbolizes Military Fortitude and Magnanimity. History: The Dalriadan clans of ancient Scotland spawned the ancestors of the Rankin family. The Rankin was a splinter of the original Stottish clan MacLean. The clan MacLeans extensive lands included the islands of Mull, Tiree, Coll and Islay, as well as mainland Morvern and Lochaber. As the clan MacLean expanded, it split into a number of different branches, including the MacLeans of Coll and the MacLeans of Ardgour. Tradition gives the Clan Gillean as coming from the neighbourhood of Scone. The most senior of these, were the Maclaines of of Lochbuie on Mull, descended from Hector, the brother of Lachlan of Duart (despite the variation in spelling) and often disputed their right to the chiefship with the MacLeans of Duart, arguing that Hector was the elder brother. However, Lachlan of Duart had not been given the nickname of the wily one for nothing, and his successors proved that they, too, knew their way around the political scene. Lachlans son, Hector, managed to wangle a safe passage through England from Henry IV so that he could visit the imprisoned Scottish King James I. Another Lachlan chief was a special agent for Queen Elizabeth I of England in the 16th century and tried to bargain with her, threatening to use Highland mercenaries to help the Irish rebels. He was killed in 1598 and his sons massacred the people of Islay in revenge. The MacLeans eventually divided into four branch Clans which are: MacLeans of Duart , MacLeans of Ardgour, MacLeans of Coll, and MacLaines of Lochbuie. The MacLaines of Lochbuie and the MacLeans of Duart, seven hundred men all told, joined the Marquis of Montrose in time for the Battle of Kilsyth in 1645. Septs from the MacLean clan are: Beath, Beaton, Bey, Black, Gillan, Gilland, Gillian, Gillon, Gilzean, Huie, Lean, MacBay, MacBeath, MacBeth, MacBey, MacBheath, MacClane, MacClean, MacCormick, MacFadyen, MacFadzean, MacFayden, MacFetridge, MacGillivray, MacGillivra, MacIldowie, MacIlduff, Macilduy, MacIlvora, MacLaine, MacLergan, MacPhadden, MacRankin, MacVay, MacVeagh, MacVey, Padon, Paton, Patten, Patton, Peden, Ranken, Rankine. Rankin was first found in Ayrshire where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. One of the earliest references to the family name Rankin dates back to the year 1456 Coat of Arms Crest: Spear means Honourable Warrior; Valiant Knight. Shield: Boars Head represents Bravery and Hospitality. Spear means Honourable Warrior; Valiant Knight. Battle Axe symbolizes Military Duty. Colors: Red (Military Fortitude and Magnanimity), and White (Peace and Sincerity). Origin: Orchardhead, Scotland Blazon: gu. three boars heads, erased, ar. betw. a lance, issuing out of the dexter(rightofbearer) base, and a Lochaber axe, issuing out of the sinister(leftofbearer), both erect of the second.-Crest, a lance, issuing out of the rose. Translation: gules(red) three boars heads, erased(white), argent(white) between a lance, issuing out of the dexter(right of bearer) base, and a Lochaber(Irish) axe, issuing out of the sinister(left of bearer), both erect of the second.-Crest, a lance, issuing out of the rose(top). Source: Encyclopaedia Heraldica (1828), by William Berry, Edmondson’s Heraldry (1780), and Burke’s General Armory (1878).
Posted on: Sun, 18 Jan 2015 22:12:13 +0000
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