GAIR,GAYRE
|
The House of Gayre arose in Cornwall before the 13th century from the great Domesday manor of Gayre. In time the senior line became extinct and the second line migrated to Yorkshire and became involved in the destruction of a castle, which forced them to flee to Scotland.
|
GALBRAITH
|
The name means 'Britons son' in Gaelic, and probably they originated from among the Britons who settled in Strathclyde. The clan is connected with the Earls of Lennox through Clan Macfarlane.
|
GILLIES
|
A name associated with Badenoch and the Hebrides, it means 'servant of Jesus. In the 12th century one uhtred, son of Gilise, held lands in Lothian.
|
GORDON
|
The earliest record of the name Gordon in Scotland was in the late 12th century and related to the parish of Gordon in the Merse in Berwickshire. Adam de Gordon was an Anglo-Norman, and was with King Louis XI of France in the Crusades in 1270.
|
GOW
|
Gow is the Gaelic gobha, meaning 'blacksmith'. The smith was obviously a man of great importance, since the clans depended so greatly on horses for their mobility. The name is therefore connected to many clans, although specifically with the MacPherson in the Clan Chattan Confederation.
|
GRAHAM
|
The first recorded Graham appears to be William de Graham, alive in the 12th century, one of an illustrious Anglo-Norman family. There is a popular belief that the Grahams descend from 'Gramus', who demolished the wall built by the Roman Emperor Antonius between the Firth of Clyde and the Firth of Forth.
|
GRANT
|
The originator of the Grants is said to have been Gregor Mor MacGregor, who lived in the 12th century in Strathspey. Sir Laurence Grant, Sheriff of Inverness in 1263, is the first recorded ancestor, although it is believed that the family may have originated from Nottinghamshire, where there lands ajoined those of the Bissets,into which the family had married and who came north in the service of Henry III of England.
|
GUNN
|
A warlike clan who occupied the northern areas of Caithness and Sutherland, they were sworn enemies of the Keiths and in 1426 at Harpsdale, south of Thurso, a particularly bloody, but nevertheless indecisive battle took place. Although the Gunn chiefs once held splendid court at their castle of Clyth, 2 miles east of Lybster, they were listed as one of the 'broken clans' of the north in 1594.
|
GUTHRIE
|
From the barony of the name in Angus, which is near Forfar. It was Squire Guthrie who brought Sir William Wallace back to Scotland from France in 1299. Sir David Guthrie was Kings Treasurer in the 15th century and built Guthrie Castle, near Friockheim in 1468.
|
HAMILTON
|
The Clan descended from Walter Fitz-Gilbert of Hameldone, noted in 1295, and granted the lands of Cadzow by Robert Bruce. The Lord Hamilton who married James II eldest daughter descended from Walter. The Kings grandson became Earl of Arran in 1503, and his grandson was made Marquis of Hamilton in 1599.
|
HANNAY
|
This family sprang from the ancient province of Galloway. The Hannays supported John Balliol who, through his mother the Lady Devorgilla, represented the old Celtic Lords of Galloway.
|
HAY
|
The name Hay is documented as dating from the 8th century in France. La Haya de Puits was a senior leader with William the Conquerors army, and William de Haya was Pincerna (butler) to William the Lion. William de Hayas son was one of the hostages held in England with William the Lion and on his return, was granted an extensive manor in Erroll.
|
HENDERSON
|
Eannig Mor mac Righ Neachtan, Big Henry, son of King Nectan who ruled Caledonia in the 8th century AD, is claimed as founder of this name. The Hendersons held lands encompassing Glencoe, Argyll and were hereditary pipers to Clan Abrach.
|
HEPBURN
|
The family appears around 1271. Adam de Hepburne is said to have been taken prisoner by the Earl of March, who later gave him lands in East Lothian for saving his life when he was attacked by a savage horse. Nunraw Abbey was founded as a convent in 1158 and became in the 16th century the preserve then, after three Hepburn prioresses, the residence of the Hepburn Family. In 1548, the Scottish parliament met here to decide on sending the child Mary,Queen of Scots, to France
|
HOME
|
Aldan de Home derived his name from the lands of Home in Berwickshire in the 12th century. His descendant, Sir Thomas married Nichola, the heiress of Dunglass. Sir Alexander Home was Ambassador to England in 1459 and created Lord Home in 1473.
|
HUNTER
|
A family who came to Scotland about 1110 from Normandy. Aylmer le Hunter of the County of Are signed the Ragman Roll in 1296. The lands of Hunter were granted to William Hunter by Robert II in 1374. The ancient castle of Hunterston stands in the grounds of the abandoned Hunterston House. The chiefship passed to the Cochrane-Patrick family who have changed their name to Hunter of Hunterston.
|
INNES
|
Originated in Moray in 1160 in the reign of Malcolm IV, when the lands of Innes in the district of Elgin were given to Berowald, a man of Flanders. John Innes was Bishop of Moray and rebuilt Elgin Catherdral after it was burnt by Alexander Stewart, the Wolf of Badenoch.
|
IRVINE
|
A territorial surname from Irving, an old parish in Dumfries-shire,and from Irvine in Ayrshire.Robert de Hirewine appears in the 13th century, and William de Irwyne obtained the Forrest of Drum in 1324 from Robert I, and is thus the ancesto of the Irvines of Drum.
|
