Scottish Notes
By Jeannette Holland Austin
Abercrombie
The clan is from the Barony of Abercrombie in Fifeshire and the first
known of the title was William de Abercrombie ca 1296. In 1796 Sir Ralph Abercrombie commanded the
Royal Highlanders upon expeditions into Barbados.
Allison
This clan was a sept of either the MacAlisters or the MacDonalds. Patrick
Alissone signed the Ragman Rolls ca 1296 and Peter Alesoun was a witness in Brechin in 1490.
Baillie
The name is from the post of a bailie or bailiff (magistrate). A number of members of the family came with
General Oglethorpe to Georgia ca 1733.
Brodie
This ancient family dates back to Pictish times when many of the kings were
called "Brude." Michael Brodie was confirmed by this title by Robert the Bruce shortly before
Bannockburn.
Bruce
The famous clan sprang from a powerful Norman family. Robert de Brus
was with William the Conqueror when he invaded England and was rewarded with property in Surrey and
Yorkshire. His son, also Robert, was in the service of King David I upon his succession to the throne
in 1124 when he traveled north to claim the lands of Annandale. The family began to rise to the throne in
the mid-thirteenth century when Robert, the 4th Lord of Annandale, married Isa ella of Huntingdon, the niece
of William the Lion and great-granddaughter of David I. This presented a realistic claim to the throne in
12990 when Queen Margaret died and the House of Dunkeld became extinct. King Edward I threw his support behind
John Bailliol, however, and used his rights as a feudal lord over the English estates of Bailliol in
attempting to bring Scotland under his personal control. When Bailliol resisted, Edward stripped the
new king of his crown and carried away the stone of Scone. After Bailliol was removed, the mantle of
resistance passed briefly to William Wallace. After the execution of Wallace in 1305, the mantle was
transferred to John the Red Comyn, the nephew of Bailliol, and to Bruce. Their rivalry came to a head in 1306
when the pair met at Greyfriars Church in Dumfries. They quarreled and Bruce stabbed Comyn to death, then
went to Scone and declared himself king. Robert was succeeded by his son, David II, who ruled Scotland
from 1329 to 1371. The House of Bruce came to an end when David II had no issue.
Carnegie
The founder of this clan is cited as Jocelyn de Ballinhard as lord in the
13th century. His descendant, John de Ballinhard, acquires the estates of Carryneggy (near Arbroath) and
the direct line died out in 1563 when the leadership of the clan passed to the Carnegies of Kinnaird of Brechin.
They were fervent Royalists. Sir David Carnegie was made Earl of Southesk in 1633, and the 2nd Earl
accompanied Charles II iinto exile. Andrew Carnegie (1835-1918) came to America where he founded the
Pittsburg steelworks and became wealthy. His extensive investments and library endowments helped to build
America at a time when there was no income tax. Also, he owned the old mansion of General Nathaniel Greene
on St. Catherine's Island in Georgia.
Christie
The clan is traditionally associated with Farquharsons. The name is likely to be a diminutive of a forename,
such as Christian, Cristinus and Christopher. The family is common in Fife and Stirling where references
date from the 15th and 16th centuries. In 1457, John Chrysty was a burgess in a charter drawn up by the
Abbot of Lindores. Thomas Christie came to Georgia with General Oglethorpe in 1733 and settled in Savannah
where he served as a magistrate.
Colquhoun
The Barony of Colquhoun in Dunbartonshire. The founder was Humphrey
de Kilpatrick, who acquired the lands from the Earl of Lennox during the rein of ALexander II (1214-1249).
During the early 18th century, the family migrated to Georgia and settled in Darien, Georgia.
Crawford
The name derives from the Barony of Crawford in Clydesdale. Records
datiing in 1179 refer to Galfridus de Crawford. Sir John Crawford died in 1248 leaving two daughters.
The younger daughter married David Lindsay of Wauchopedale, the ancestor of the Earls of Crawford.
Cunningham
About 1140, Wernibald settled in the Cunningham district of Ayshire and
is cited as the ancestor of the clan. During the 13th century, his descendant, Hervey de Cunniingham was
granted lands in Kilmaurs by Alexander III as a reward for his valiant service.
Dunbar
The clan traces itself back to Crinan, the Thane and Seneschal of the Isles and the father of Duncan I,
the murdered king in Macbeth, the play by Shakespeare. The Dunbar castle is located close to the
English border, and Gavin Dunbar held the post of Lord Chancellor during the reign of James V.
During the voyages of General Oglethorpe to Georgia, when the new settlements were being populated, there
was a Captain Dunbar, known to be from Scotland, who was engaged in mercantiling in Charleston and Savannah.
Gordon
The territorial origin of Gordon was in Berwickshire and the family was of Anglo-Norman origin. During the
15th century, the power of the family increased when Sir Alexander Gordon was made a lord in 1436 and his
son became the Earl of Huntly in 1449.
Guthrie
It is believed that the name comes from a Viking chief by the name of Guthrum. In 1178, William the
Lion presented the estates of Gutherin to Arbroath Abbey. Afterwards, the land was purchased by a
royal falconer, and in 1299, the Laird of Guthrie was sent to France as an escort to Sir William
Wallace back to his native land.
Hope
John de Hop of Peebleshire was listed in the Ragman Rolls (1296), but the line is traced back to John de Hope who
arrived in Scotland in 1537 with Princess Madeleine, the French bride of King James V. His grandson, Sir
Thomas de Hop, was made a baronet in 1628 and assumed the estates in Fifeshire.
Johnstone
The Barony of Johnstone in Annandale is the home of the clan from the 13th century. In 1448, Adam Johnstone
fought in the Battle of Sark.
Keith
Hervey received the lands of Keth in Lothian ca 1150 and his son was
appointed the Great Marischal of Scotland in 1176 and was responsible for the safety of the king and
the Scottish regalia.
Lauder
The Lauders settled in Scotland during the reign of Malcolm Canmore (1058-1093). Sir Robert de Lawedre was
a supporter of Wallace and Robert the Bruce.
MacAlpine
The founder of the clan was Alpin, the 9th century keng of Dalriada who
was thought to have b een slain by the Picts in 834. His son, Kenneth MacAlpiin, was successful in uniting
the thrones of Dalriada and the Picts, which act historically formed the nucleus of the future
Scottish nation.
MacBain
The clan originates with MacBain, MacBean and MacVean. All claim descent from
Donald Ban, the Scottish king who ruled from 1090 to 1097. (This is the king in the play of Shakespeare, McBeth).
The family belonged to the Clan Chattan, an ancient confederaton of clains, who supported Robert the
Bruce. The main branch were the MacBeans of Kinchyle on Loch Ness where there is a MacBain Memorial Park.
MacDuff
This clan held the title of the Earl of Fife from early times. The Act of 1384
revealed that the clan had the honor of leading the king to his throne on coronation date as well as the
right to lead the royal army and the right of sanctuary at the cross of MacDuff, near Newburgh.
MacGillivray
The origin of the clan is unknown. About 1500, the MacGillivrays
settled at Dunmaglass in Strathnairn. This family seat remained in the family until the 19th century.
The clan fought in both Jacobite uprisings and its chief, Alexxander, died by a well as Culloden.
Alexander MacGillivray was found in Savannah, Georgia before the American Revolution, apparently
of some wealth owing the the fact that he owned much acreage and servants. This family were
Loyalists during the Revolutionary War, and afterwards was afterwards listed as a traitor
and his estates confiscated.
McKay
This ancient clan was known as the Clan Morgan or the Clan Aoidh. Morgan,
son of Magnus, had a grandson called Aoidh (Hugh). The first recorded chief was Angus Dubh who
married the sister of the Lord of the Isles ca 1415 and was killed during the Battle of Drumnacoub in 1429.
MacLaren
The MacLarens of Argyll are descended from Lorn, one of the sons of
Fergus Mor who founded Dalriada in the early part of the 6th century. The Perthshire MacLaurens cite a 13th century
abbot (of Achtow) as their origin.
MacQueen
MacQueen and MacSween derive the name from Sweyn, a common Norse name. The earliest record of the family is
in the 13th century when the MacSweens were confirmed as the custodians of Castle Sween in Argyllshire.
Maxwell
Descent is claimed from Maccus, an 11th-century ruler of Man and the
Western Isles. However, they were also Norman settlers in the Borders. Sir John Maxwell (died 1241) was
Chamberlain of Scotland and his descendant, Herbert, was made Lord Maxwell ca 1445.
Muir
In Gaelic, mor meant big and was used as an epithet. The chief branch
of the clan in Scotland were the Mures of Rowallan in Ayrshire. Gilchrist Mure was knighted for his
valour at the Battle of Largs in 1263 and his son, Archibald, was a casualty during the siege of Berwick.
Nesbitt
The clan stems from the Barony of Nesbit in Berwickshire when, ca 1160, William de Nesbite witnessed a
charter relating to Coldingham Priory and his descendant, Thomas Nisbet, a long-serving prior.
The family estates were enlarged by Adam Nisbet of that ilk who was also granted the estate of Knocklies by
Robert the Bruce.
Ramsay
The Ramseys were of Anglo-Norman origin who came to Scotland with David I when he claimed his throne in
1124. William Ramsey de Dalwolsy signed the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320 and his son, Alexander,
was appointed Sheriff of Teviotdale.
Stirling
The clan derives its name from the town of Stirling which is asspciated
with William Wallace in the struggle of Scotland for its freedom. The family traces its line back to Thoraldus, the
holder of the lands of Cadder in 1147.
Sutherland
The clan derives from Freskin, an ancestor of the Murrays and may
have been Pictish, or a Flemish mercenary employed by the Normans. In 1130, the family was granted land in
Duffus and Moray, where they gained the title of Earl of Sutherland a century later.
TaylorAlexander le Taillur was a royal valet in 1276, and Bryce le Taillur was taken
by the English at Dunbar Castle. At least six Taylors signed the Ragman Rolls.
Wallace
The name is Latin Wallensis. The family can be traced to Richard
Wallace of Riccarton, the ower of lands in Ayrshire during the 12th century. He was the great-grandfathe
of William Wallace (1274-1305) who was victorious against the British at Stirling Bridge in 1297. Afterwards,
Wallace was hunted down, captured, drawn and quartered, hanged and finally, his head put on public display.
WeirThe earliest mention of this family was in 1174 when Radulphus de Ver was listed as
one of the lords who accompanied Willia the Lion in his invasion of England. He was taken prisoner (along
with the king) at Alnwick.
WilsonThe Wilson name is associated with the clans of Gunn and Innis. Wilson means son of Will.
During the 15th century, John Wulson was a merchant in the service of Sir John of Mountgomery.
