in the United States,
               Scotland, Canada, 
                         and Australia

The AIKMAN family, lairds¹ of Carney, Ross, and Brameble were seated in Scotland from the 11^th century onward, is commonly thought of as one of the oldest surnames in Scotland.

Their coat-of-arms relates to the knightly deed that gave the family its name, which, in English, means the "Oakman". This deed of Scottish history has been immortalized by William Shakespeare in his tragedy "Macbeth" and is therefore of unusual interest. The founder of the house was an officer of the forces which overthrew the usurper, Macbeth, and restored the Scottish throne to the rightful King, Malcolm III.  Although Shakespeare dramatized Macbeth's ascension to the throne of Scotland through murder, conspiracy, and deceit, Macbeth's actual ascension to the throne was achieved on the battlefield with the death of Duncan in 1040.

Seventeen years later, our ancestor planned a surprise attack upon the castle of Dunsinane - each soldier advancing through the wood of Birnam (which even today is clothed with magnificent oak trees) was ordered to cover himself with boughs, that he might seem part of the forest. (early camouflage trick!) Shakespeare made it part of the witches' prophecy: