The bleak border moors and craggy hills of the Scottish - English border set the scene of the origin of this notable surname Jackson. It is one of the oldest surnames with a history which is closely woven into the rich and beautiful tapestry of the border chronicles.

Professional researchers examined some of the most ancient manuscripts such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, the Domesday Book, the luquistio, the Ragman Rolls, Baptismals, Parish Records, and Cartularies, and Tax Records. The researchers found the first record of the name Jackson in Northumberland where they were seated from early times. Their first records appeared on the Census Rolls taken by the ancient Kings of Britian to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

The early and middle development of the name found many different spellings in the Archives. The, name Jackson, occurred in many references, and from time to time, the surname was spelled Jackson, Jaccson, Jacson, Jackston, and these changes in spelling frequently occurred within the same family name. Scribes and church officials spelt the name as it sounded, and these spellings were not even consistent during the lifetime of the same person.

The family name Jackson is believed to be descended originally from the Boernicians. This ancient founding race of the north were a mixture of Scottish Picts and Angles, a race dating from about the year 400 A.D. Their territories ranged from Edinburgh in the north, southward to the north riding of Yorkshire in England by 1000 A.D. This race had formed into discernible clans and families, perhaps some of the first evidence of the family structure in Britian. From this area we get some of the most impressive names in history, surnames with strange nicknames such as the Angry Kerrs, the Sturdy Amstronges, the Gallant Grahams, the Saucy Scotts, the Bells, the Nixons, the Famous Dicksons, the Bold Rutherfords, and the Pudding Somervilles.

Amongst this elite circle of clans and families the earliest record of the surname Jackson was found in

Northumberland where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated with Manor and Estates in the shire.

Later they branched south to Durham, Yorkshires, and Lancashire, and north into Scotland where they held the Manor of Balbrogy, and at Tubermore and Fort William in the north. A colonel John Jackson was chief advisor to King Charles I of England in his struggle against Cromwell. On the Kings defeat he changed his politics and settled in Ulster, Ireland.

The border area of Scotland and England proceeded from Carlisle in the west to Berwick in the east. The clans or families to the north of the border became Scottish after about 1000 A.D. and to the south they became English. Nevertheless, despite the border, many would still be united clans, powers unto themselves, owing little allegiance to either Scotland or England, having territories and interests on both sides of border.

Clan warfare became so intense that in 1246 A.D., 6 chiefs from the Scottish side and 6 chiefs from the English side met at Carlisle and produced a set of laws for all the border territory. These were unlike any laws prevailing in England or Scotland, or, for that matter anywhere else in the known world. For example, it was a far greater offence to refuse to help a neighbour recover his property, wife, sheep, cattle, or horse than it was to steal them in the first place. For refusal of assistance a person could be hanged on the instant, without a trial. While clans were on this "hot trot", (from which we get the modern term "hot to trot") they were protected from almost all eventualities.

Amongst the first pioneers who could be considered kinsmen of the family name Jackson, of that clan or family, was John, Margaret, Robert, and Henry Jackson who settled in the Boston area in 1635. This military family continued its tradition in the War of Independence when Colonel Michael Jackson commanded a Massachuset Line Regiment.

The family name Jackson provided many prominent contemporaries, Sir Lawrence Jackson, an Australian Judge, Frederick Jackson, an American educator, Glenda Jackson, a British actress, Maynard Jackson, an American lawyer of some note, Stuart Jackson, an American engineer, Andrew "Old Hickory" Jackson, an American general and president Thomas Jonathon "Stonewall" Jackson, an American Confederate general, and General Sir William Jackson, to name only a few notable Jacksons.

The most ancient grant of a coat of arms was researched as;

Blue with a black chevron on which there are three silver five leaved flowers between three gold eagle heads.

The crest is a hawks head.

The ancient family motto for this distinguished name was "by the shield of divine love."

Taken from the book "Descendants of Jenry Jackson 1606-1686," compiled by George C. Jackson 7^th Great Grandson

Used with permission

To contact the author E-mail gc.jackson@encode.com