Of territorial origin from the barony of the same name in Renfrewshire, Henry de Erskyn who witnessed a confirmation by Alexander II of a grant by Amelec, brother of Maldoven, earl of Lennox, of the church of Rosneath to the Abbey of Paisley in 1225 (RMP., 210), is probably the first of the name in record. John de Irskyne witnessed a donation by Adam dictus Carpentarius of the land of Aldhingleston (or Haldhlngleston), c. 1260 (ibid., p. 58). Sir John de Iresldn, knight, witnessed a sale of land in Glasgow c. 1280—90 (REG., p. 198). Johan de Irskyn of the county of Lanerk rendered homage in 1296. His seal bears a stag's head cabossed, between the antlers a small four-footed animal (lion) passant to sinister, S' Johannis de Erkyrn (Bain, II, p. 204,186). John de Herchyn witnessed a charter by David 11 to Robert Erskyn "de tertia parte annui redditus de Dunde et Petcerach" in 1359 (REB., I, 15). Robert de Erskyne witnessed an Aberdeen charter of 1361 (REA., I, p. 90), Robert Erschin was canon of Glasgow in 1491 (REG., 460). Rachel Askine in Newstead, 1643 (RRM., I, p. 101), and George Erskine or Askine, tailor in Irvine, 1666 (Irvine, II, p. 210). A fifteenth century French spelling of the name is Hasquin, and in the lists of the Scots Guards in France it appears as Assequin. Another French spelling is provided by Voltaire, who in his Letters on the English Nation wrote it 'Hareskinsl' A common pronunciation in the eighteenth century was Arskine (Fergusson, Henry Erskine, p. 405), and a common Scots pronunciation is 'Askin,' which is also the spelling used by Sir James Melville in his Memoirs in referring to Arthur Askin, master stabler to the queen. Aersken and Aerskine 1637, Aesking 1650, Arasldne 1673, Areskin 1696, Areskine 1710, Arskeyne 1645, Arskin 1594, Arskine 1693, Arskyn 1529, Erschine 1506, Ersken 1454, Erskye 1368, Erskynn 1530, Ersskyne 1400, Herskyne and Herchine 1359, Hirskyne 1357, Irskine 1361, Froissart spells the name Aversequin, Auermesquin, and Aueraesquin.

(Celtic) belonging to Erskine (Renfrew) anciently Iriskine and Erskin [perh. Gaelic aird sgainne, height of the cleft,—sgain, to burst]

(Scottish) One who came from Erskine (green ascent), in Renfrewshire.

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

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.

A location name in Renfrew.