This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Akenside,' i.e. the side of the clump of oaktrees: Anglo-Saxon tken; compare Beechen, Linden, Birchen, with the adjectival suffix -en. The place, whether a manor mere farmstead, is distinetly set down in the list of landed proprietors in Hodgson's History of Northumberland (iv. 368). Akenside, the poet, it will be remembered, was born at Newcastle-on-Tyne. His parentage and descent, therefore, were strictly local, and his forbears' had wandered but a few miles from their original home; compare 'Thomas Carlyle and the city Carlisle (v. Carlisle). -side is a common suffix of north English local names, used in the same sense as lake-side, pit-side; compare Fawcett or Garside, which see. Also, compare Adam de Airkinside, 1323: Estates and Families of Cumberland, Cumberland.

Mark Akenside: Hodgson's History of Northumberland.

Thomas Akenhead: ibid.

Akenhead, i.e. at the head of the oak-trees, corresponds with Birkenhead, Birkett, and Beckett, which see.

David Akenhead, 1763: Brand's History of Newcastle.

Johannes tie Aykehened, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

1769. Married — William Nedham and Eleanor Akenhead: St. George, Hanover Square.

From the old barony of Aikenhead in Lanarkshire. Gilbert de Lakenheued (= Aikenhead with the French definite article L' prefixed) of the county of Lanark rendered homage for his lands in 1296 (Bain, II, 808). In 1372 the lands of Akynheuide in the sheriffdom of Lanark were confirmed to John de Maxwell by King Robert II (RMS., I, 450). In the same year Convallus de Akinhead witnessed a grant of the lands of Auchmarr to Walter de Buchanan (Leoenax, p. 59). (This Convallus evidently has been named after St. Convall, disciple of St. Kentigern, who afterwards became patron saint of the parish of Inchinnan.) William de Akynheued was bailie of the burgh of Rutherglen in 1376 (ER., II, p. 537), and a later William de Akinhede was a notary public in Irvine in 1444 (Irvine, I, p. 7) In 1489 remission was granted to three individuals named Akynhed who, with a number of others, held the Castle of Dumbarton against the king (APS., XII, p. 34), So late as 1509 we have mention of a payment to John of Akynheyd (LCD., p. 208). The surname, as might be expected, is common in Lanarkshire, particularly around Glasgow. The saintly Leighton is said to have made the following pun on a Lord Provost of Edinburgh of this name, who had "many pimples on his face."

"If what is said were justly said,

That's Head of Aiken timber's made.

His fyiie face had long agoeStolen from Fore-bears

Sett all his head in blazing glow."

(Coltness Collections, p. 22)

A quite different version is given in Butler's Life and letters of Robert Leighton, p. 55. Aickinhed 1488, Aickinheid 1585, Aikynhead 1513, Aldnhed 1501, Akinheid 1506, Akynheid 1521, Akynhede 1450, Akheid 1526, Auchinhead 1513, Aukinhead 1632, Eakinheid 1615. Other forms are: Aikenheid, Aikinheid, Akenhede, and Aitkynheid.

Sec under AIKENHEAD.

Head of the oaks.

(English), Head of the oaks. (variant: Berkenhead.)