he distinguished surname Jackson first emerged in the borderlands between who all settled in Boston, Massachusetts in 1635; Abram

Abram Jackson, who arrived in Virginia

England and Scotland. The name is related to the personal name Jack, a pet in 1667; Ann Jackson, who immigrated to Maryland in 1744; Daniel Jackson, who was
form of the popular "John," meaning "God has favoured," and refers to "a recorded as a runaway servant, convict, or apprentice in Maryland in 1772; David Jackson,
son of Jack." The ruins of tall craggy towers and castles are still scattered who was naturalized in Pennsylvania in 1777; Edwin Jackson, who arrived in New York in
along the Scottish/English border, home to this notable surname Jackson. Their ancient 1820; and Adam Jackson, who sailed from Ireland to St. John's, Newfoundland on the brig
history is closely woven into the rich fabric of the border chronicles. Thomas Farrell in 1825.
Through diligent research amongst some of the most ancient manuscripts In America, these pioneers became the nucleus of the first settlements from
such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, the Inquisitio, the Ragman Rolls, the Domesday Maine to the Cumberland Gap, from Nova Scotia to the Prairies.
Book, baptismals, parish records, tax records and cartularies, researchers found the first In more recent times, many of the family name Jackson have achieved
record of the name Jackson, in Northumberland, where the Jackson family was seated from prominence. Among them were: Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), American politician,
early times. The first records of the surname Jackson appeared on the early census rolls President of the United States (1829-37); Charles Thomas Jackson (1805-1880), American
taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects. chemist, geologist, inventor, and physician, who claimed credit for discovery of ether
The name, Jackson, occurred in many references, and from time to time, it anesthesia and disputed with Samuel Morse over invention of the telegraph; Joseph
was spelt Jackson, Jaccson, Jacson, Jacksone, Jackston, as well as other ways. Scribes and Jefferson "Shoeless Joe" Jackson (1887-1951), a famous baseball player who, despite being
church officials spelt the name as it sounded, and frequently the spelling changed even regarded as baseball's greatest "natural" hitter, remains ineligible for election to the Hall of
during the person's own lifetime. Fame due to an accusation of conspiring to lose the 1919 World Series; Glenda Jackson
The family name Jackson is believed to be descended from the Boernicians, (b.1936), a British actress and politician; as well as Alan Eugene Jackson (b.1958),
an ancient founding race of the English/Scottish border dating from about the year 400 American country singer.
A.D. The border was home to Clans such as the Sturdy Armstrongs, the Gallant Grahams, The coat of arms found for a bearer of the Jackson surname did not include a
the Saucy Scotts, the Angry Kerrs, the Bells, the Nixons, the Famous Dicksons, the Bold motto. Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of
Rutherfords, and the Pudding Somervilles. arms, and many families have chosen not to display a motto.
From these war-like clans of the border the surname Jackson was found in
Northumberland, where the family was recorded one of great antiquity, seated with manor
and estates in that shire. Over the years, the family branched south to Durham, Yorkshire,
and Lancashire, and north into Scotland, where they held the manor of Balbrogy, as well as
Tubermore and Fort William in the north. It was from this latter branch that General
Andrew Jackson, President of the U.S., traced his ancestry. Meanwhile, Colonel John
Jackson was Chief Advisor to King Charles I of England in his struggles against Cromwell.
On the king's defeat, he changed his politics and settled in Ulster, Ireland. General Thomas
Jonathan Jackson, popularly called "Stonewall Jackson," acquired his nickname due to his
resistance at the Battle of Bull Run in the American Civil War. Notable amongst the family
name during the early history was General Andrew Jackson (1767-1845), the 7th president
of the United States, as well as John "Gentleman" Jackson (1769-1845), an English boxer
and teacher of self-defense who was immortalized in verse by Lord Byron, one of his
students.
Clan feuds became so intense that in 1246 A.D., six Chiefs from the Scottish
side and six from the English side met at Carlisle and created a set of laws acceptable to the
border territory and its people. These were unlike any laws prevailing in England or
Scotland or, for that matter, anywhere else in the world. For refusal of assistance when
called, a person could be hanged on the instant, without a trial. While clans were on this
"hot trod" to recover stolen property,(from which we get the modern expression "hot to
trot"), they were protected from almost all eventualities.
When the Crowns of England and Scotland were united under James VI of
Scotland in 1603 the Border Clans were dispersed to England, northern Scotland and to
Ireland. Some were banished directly to the Colonies.
In Ireland, they were granted lands previously held by the Catholic Irish.
They signed an "Undertaking" to remain Protestant and faithful to the Crown. The Jackson
family was among these migrants to Ireland, settling in Ulster in Armagh and Down.
The New World beckoned settlers from Ireland (who would come to be
known as the Scotch/Irish), as well as from the Old country. They sailed aboard the armada
of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called
them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Among the early settlers bearing the Jackson
surname who came to North America were: John, Margaret, Robert and Henry Jackson,
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