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There are approximately 4,049 people named Erskine in the UK. That makes it the 2,556th most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 64 are named Erskine.

Region of origin

British Isles

Country of origin

Scotland

Language of origin

Gaelic

Religion of origin

Christian

Classification

Celtic
Location or Geographical Feature

Related and similar surnames

Askin
Erkins
Aerskine
Aerskin
Aereskine
Aereskin
Aersken
Eerskine
Earskine
Eerskin
Earskin
Eraskine
Eriskine
Ereskine
Earskins
Erakine
Erekine
Eriskin
Eraskin
Ereskin
Erkine
Erksine

The Erskine surname in historical dictionaries

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)

Some writers deduce this family from a noble Florentine who came to Scotland in the reign of Kenneth II. It is said, in the reign of Malcolm II., a Scotchman of high distinction having killed with his own hand Enrique, one of the Danish generals, at the battle of Murthill, cut off his head, and with the bloody dagger in his hand showed it to the king, and in the Gaelic language said Eriskyne, "upon the knife," alluding to the head and dagger; and in the same language also said, "I intend to perform greater actions than what I have done." Whereupon, King Malcolm imposed upon him the surname of Eriskine, and assigned him for his armor-bearings a hand holding a dagger, with "Je pense plus" for a motto, which has continued to be the crest and motto of this family.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

Patronymica Britannica (1860)

ERSKINE. The name of this ancient and noble Scottish family is derived from the barony of Erskine on the Clyde, in Pienfrewshire, and it was first assumed by Henry of Erskine, about the year 1220.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.

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