Ackermann family (Anime)

The Ackermann family (アッカーマン家) was once a family of warriors who protected the king, and one of the few bloodlines immune to the Royal family's power. After turning their backs on the monarchy, they were harshly persecuted and are currently on the verge of extinction.

History
At one point, the Ackermanns were the King's sword and one of their vital supporters. However, they betrayed the monarchy along with the Oriental clan. Later on the branch family would move down south around Shiganshina but became rather poor since someone was interfering with their business. In the year 844, the Ackermanns were in their house deep in the woods, expecting a visit from their usual doctor, Grisha Jaeger. Mikasa's mother showed her daughter an embroidery style which she said was passed through generations in their clan, and told her she too would pass it on once she had a child. Mikasa innocently asked how to have a child, which her father dismissed by telling her to ask Dr. Jaeger once he arrived. Shortly after, the door was knocked and when Mikasa's father opened it, he was suddenly stabbed in the stomach by a stranger.

A group of three men entered the house, with one of them brandishing an axe as a threat. Seeing her husband on the floor, Mikasa's mother grabbed a nearby scissor and tried to fend off the man, telling a frozen Mikasa to run off; before she was struck in the shoulder by the axe-wielding bandit.

In a nearby house, two bandits argued about killing the mother, before a child suddenly opened the door. Eren, having been brought by Grisha to the Ackermanns' house earlier, tracked the bandits and feigned being lost in the woods, before he, with a small knife, sliced open a bandit's throat and charged the second one, killing him with a makeshift spear. After he freed Mikasa, the third bandit arrived and attempted to strangle Eren. Mikasa watched frozen in fear, as Eren urged her to fight back. She picked up the knife realizing the world is a cruel place, and with a sudden surge, she went for a killing blow at the last bandit.

The Struggle for Trost arc
During the Battle of Trost District, Mikasa Ackermann recalls the time from her childhood when her mother and father were killed by bandits who were hoping to sell her and her mother to potential buyers in the underground city. She is rescued by Eren Jaeger, killing two of the traffickers before Mikasa kills the third after Eren urges her to fight.

Royal Government arc
While being interrogated by Levi on the whereabouts of Eren Jaeger and Historia Reiss, a member from the Military Police reveals Kenny's surname as "Ackermann," much to the surprise of Mikasa and Levi.

Lost in the cruel world
In the year 844, the Ackermanns are visited by Dr. Jaeger for a checkup on the pregnant mother. Their daughter, Mikasa, quickly befriends the doctor's son, Eren. On Dr. Jaeger's subsequent visits, Mikasa's father is distraught at the news that his wife has an infection, and they have to be moved closer to the doctor's house in Shiganshina.

Awakened power
The Ackermanns have an "awakened power" displayed by some members of the clan. Levi Ackermann describes it as knowing exactly what needs to be done, and it lets the Ackermanns exhibit physical abilities much, much higher than the average human.

Despite this power being a tremendous asset, it is not automatically active and has to be triggered through survival instinct. For example, Mikasa was a normal girl until the age of 9 when three bandits killed her parents and kidnapped her. Eren came to her rescue, and when they were facing death, he told her to "fight." This awakened Mikasa's dormant power, and she was able to kill one of the criminals with a single stab, crush the knife's handle with her bare hands, and snap the floorboards with the strength of her foot. Levi has stated that both Kenny and himself also had similar moments that awakened their powers.

Eren Jaeger once made the claim to Mikasa that the conditions of unlocking the potential of the Ackermann bloodline are to find a host, and when facing death, to obey an order from the host. This will activate the state found in the Ackermann's blood to protect the host. By Eren's claim, an awakened Ackermann is forced to serve their host, and they experience sudden headaches if their "true self" tries to resist. However, these details were fabricated by Eren, as Zeke Jaeger had no knowledge as to the origin of Mikasa's headaches or the validity of the idea that an awakened Ackermann requires a host. Armin Arlelt rightly speculated that Eren was lying and used Mikasa's headaches to support his claim, and it is Zeke's belief that Mikasa's protective nature over Eren comes from her love for him and not a predisposed inclination.

Immunity to the Founding Titan
The Ackermanns are Subjects of Ymir and can manifest within Paths; however, they are immune to the Founding Titan's ability to alter memories. This led Kenny's grandpa to speculate that they were not Subjects of Ymir as the majority race within the Walls were affected.

Trivia

 * Ackermann means "one who works the fields" in German.