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Sorry closed now Jean

Let me know the names you would like looking up.

Hi Jeannie I am interested in the meaning of the names POLSON (Poulson) ROSS MATHESON With thanks Danielle

Sue ALLARDYCE,ALLARDICE,ALLARDES - from the old barony of Allardice in the parish of Arbuthnott, Kincardineshire. It is not a very common name but all who hold it believe it is descended from the old family which was settled for so long a period on the banks of the Bervie Water. The estate was sold in 1872 and now forms part of the Arbuthnott estate. Other forms of the name are Alerdes, Alerdyce, Alerdice, Alirdes and Allerdias. In Antrim and Armagh it is Alerdice . GREENSHIELDS, GREENSHIELS - from Greenshields in the parish of Liberton, Lanarkshire. There are many of the name in the Commissariot Record of Lanark 1595-1800. STEVENSON - son of Steven Jean

Danielle POLSON,POLESON,POULSON,POILSONE - son of Paul. The name Paul was a favourite among the Norse and popular in Cathanesia. The Polsons are claimed by clan Mackay to belong to their clan.The earliest record of the name is in the will of Alexander Sutherland of Dunbeath 1456. Some Polsons have adopted the name Macphail, others Mackay. Some on the estate of Balenspik in the latter half of the 18th century spelt their name Wilson. The form POLESON occurs in Shetland. ROSS - The first record of this name was Ayrshire. A considerable part of the northern part in 12th century was held by Ros or Ross from Yorkshire. In the north, the surname is derived from the district of Ross. MATHESON,MATHIESON,MATHISON - son of Matthew - Gaelic Macmath or Macma. Once common in Perthshire, Kintyre, Ayrshire, Galloway and Dumfriesshire. Some Macmaths have Englished their name Matheson Jean

Hi Jeannie, Could you look up the name REID if possible please. Thanks. Tracy

Very interesting, thanks Jeannie. Danielle

Tracy REID,READ,REED - meaning 'red haired' or ruddy complexion The Reeds were a numerous clan in Kyle. The 1st recorded is William Rede Bairskemyn, Kyle 1375. The spelling RED is modern and as a surname is found in Aberdeen 1317 and it is one of the oldest in the parish of Kildrummy. Joseph Reid 1843-1917 Ayrshire inventor of the Reid oil burner. In Aberdeenshire this surname has become confused with Rait and Reede. Jean

Lisa LAMON,LAMMOND,LAMONT - The name of an important family in Argyllshire in the early 13th century. derived from lawman,lawyer. The Gaelic name of the family was Macerchar. and Lawman may have been adopted in consequence of their chief having been invested with some judicial powers. Lamond also occurs in the rural districts of Scandinavian England especially Lancashire. The Lamonts are said to have been particularly powerful in Cowal. The clan was at one time persecuted by the Campbells. In the U.S. it is pronounced Lamont' but the correct way is Lam'ont. Jean

I have quite a few if thats ok. KEIR SHANKS DUN DUNLOP CAMPBELL STEWART JOHNSTON(E) ALEXANDER (as a surname) My maiden name is KEIR so am quite interested in that one Thanks

Hi Jeannie, Can you do Downie and Campbell please. yvonne

Janet Campbell - wry or crooked mouth prob applied to early chief of clan. Clan tradition represents the Campbells as being originally known as Clann Duibhne or O'duine from a certain Diarmud O'Duine of Lochow Stewart, Steuart,Stuart - one who looked after the domestic animals: extension of meaning - one who provides for his master's table. To the Gaels the Stewarts are known as 'The race of kings and tinkers' SHANK,SHANKS,SCHANK - Shank of that Ilk an ancient family in Midlothian derive their name from the lands there. Murdoch Shank, an immediate son of Shank of that Ilk, had charter lands at Kinghorn, Fife from Robert Bruce 1319. contd....... Jean

Janet Alexander - from Greek defender of man. Very common on the west coast where some of the descendants of Godfrey settled in the Carrick district of Ayrshire and several territorial families of Macalexander from this stock were prominent in that region. At the end of the 17th century they dropped the Mac. The name was adopted into Gaelic as Alaxandair now spelt Alasdair. JOHNSTON,JOHNSTONE - shortly after 1174 John the founder of the name Johnstone, gave his name to his lands in Annandale, Dumfriesshire, hence his son Gilbert took his surname. Another territorial family of Johnstones took their names from the lands of Jonystoun, now Johnstonburn an estate in the parish of Humble, East Lothian. In former days, the Johnstones formed one of the most powerful and turbulent clans of the West Border and were at constant feud with their neighbours, especially the Maxwells. DUN,DUNN - of territorial origin perhaps from Dun in Angus. Thomas Dun was hanged at Elgin 1296 for stealing books and vestments from the church. DUNLOP - A well known Ayrshire name derived from the lands of Dunlop in the district of Cunningham. About the middle of the last century the name was locally pronounced Delap or Dulap. The first record of the name appears 1260. In the U.S. the surname appears as Dunlap, Dalape, and Dunlape 1686. contd.... Jean

Janet KEIR,KIER - local from Keir in Stirlingshire. A personal name from Gaelic Ciar - swarthy - Donald McDonche W'Alexander Keir amd Malcolm M'Neill V'Alexander Keire were witnessess to a seisin of lands in Ayrshire 1553. Jean

Lisa WARREN - from Varenne in the district of Dieppe. SANDERS - a popular abbreviation of Alexander. William Sanders horticulturist and landscape gardener, 1822-1900 born St Andrews, shortly after the battle of Gettysburg was commissioned to lay out the national cemetry on the field of battle. sorry nothing listed for WARNER, BOOKER and HABBEN Jean

Yvonne DOWNIS,DOWNEY - territorial origin from the old barony Duny or Downis in the parish of Monikie, Angus.The surname is still common in the district and there was an old Stirling family of that name. Downie is also said to be probably one of the oldest names in the parish of Kemnay. The first to be recorded is Duncan de Dunny 1254. CAMPBELL - SEE REPLY ABOVE. Jean

Carol JOHNSTONE - see reply to Janet above. AIRD - It may be derived from Aird near Hurlford, Ayrshire or from the hamlet of Aird in the parish of Inch, Wigtownshire, more probably the former. The Airds of Holl and the Airds of Nether Catrine in Ayrshire were ranked as old families. MACGOWAN,MACGOUN,MACGOWN,MACGOUNE - 'son of smith'. MacGowan is the name of an old Stirling family. Forms 2-4 found in the Glasgow directory, may be Irish. In the reign of David ii there was a clan M'Gowan located somewhere on the river Nith. Jean

HI THERE, COULD YOU PLEASE LOOK UP FORBES & SHARP. THANKS EVER SO MUCH. DAWN

Dawn FORBES - from the lands of Forbes in Aberdeenshire. In the French Archer Muster is Thom Fort Bays (Tom Forbes). SHARPE,SHARP,SHAIRP - There are only a few early norices of this surname. The name is found in Lanarkshire in the middle of the 16th century. The old Gaelic name Maciheran was Englishished Sharp. Jean

hi jeannie could you look up craig for me please thankyou tracy