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Irene DOVE,DOW,DOWE - 1) from the Gaelic adjective dubh - black 2) Anglicizing of Maccalman 3) variant of Daw diminutive of David. Dow is not uncommon in Perthshire appearing there in 1497 when Robert Dow held a land in Perth. DUNCAN- 1467 Gaelic appears as Donnchaid. The early Irish form Donnchad - 'brown warrior'. In Wales appears as Dunocatus - fort warrior. The exact meaning is uncertain. DUNNET,DUNNATT,DUNNETT - from a place of the same name in Caithness. The local pronunciation is Dinnet. Matthew and George Dunnett of Gilles, Caithness were apprehended as rebels in 1670. STIRLING - from the town of the same name. Sir John Stirling of Moray 1291 - his seal bears a shield charged with 6 mullets of 6 points,3,2 & 1. A family of this name settled at a very early period in Dunmaglass, Nairnshire. In the family papers of the Stirlings of Keir 1160-1677, their surname is spelt 64 different ways. Jean

thanks jeannie just rememberd sorry for late thankyou x

Jean, Thanks for the offer. I think that Elliott is a scottish name, please could you check this please. Annette

Jackie MCALPIN,MACALPINE - 'son of Ailpean' The appellation 'Clan Alpine' has been given to a number of clans situated at considerable distances from each other, who have hitherto been supposed to possess a common descent from Kenneth Macalpine, the ancestor of a long line of Scottish kings. These clans are Clan Gregor, the Grants, Mackinnons, Macquarries,Macnabs,and Macauleys. This combination , however, is unknown to the compiler and is nothing more than tradition made into pseudo-history by Sir Walter Scott. it also refers you to ALPINE,ALPIN - 2 or 3 Pictish kings had borne the name Alpin, the first being on his fathers side a Dalraid Scot, but no other instance is found until the father of Kenneth. Whatever the origin of the name it has survived into modern language as Alpan, without a trace of British phonetic development ( it has nothing to do with Alba). Some Ailpin has given name to Rathelpin now Rathelpie in Fife. Jean

Grace FLETT - an Orcadian name usually considered to be derived from the place name Flett in the parish of Delting,Shetland. Mr J S Couston,however, says this name 'which occurs several times as a nickname in the Sagas (once being in Orkney) and which is not associated with any land so-called' 'Its is markedly the case with the chief landed families of the later Norse period that they can invariably be proved to have owned the property from which they took their name, For this reason, I would reject a land explanation of Flett even though there may be places of that name. The family was at one time of such importance that if they had ever been of Flett we should have evidence'. The Shetland place name Flet is derived from Jakobsen - a strip of arable or grass land. JAPPIE, JAPPY - believed to be modern diminutives of Japp. In Buchan east of the Burn there were in one small community of fisher folk 29 Jappys. JAPP - Alexander Jaip was a feltmaker in Edinburgh 1672 Walter Japp Fordell 1699 Collin Jap and John Jap Dumbennan 1716 Mathew Jaap, merchant in Stewarton 1707 Jean

Annette - gosh this is a long one!! ELLIOT,ELIOT,ELOITT,ELLIOTT - the early form of this well known Border name was Elwald or Elwold and until the end of 15th century, the spelling of the name was fairly regular. Elwald and Elwod were common in OE times and the name continued in use as a Christian name down to the period when surnames became common. It was a common name on the Borders, the original home of the Elliots. The form Elliot is used by the Minto family and most of the others on the Border and Eliott is used by the family of Stobo. the 4 forms of the name are thus referred to in an old rhyme: The double L and single T Descend from Minto and Wolflee The double T and single L Mark the old race in Stobs that dwell The single L and single T The Eliots of St Germains be But double T and double L Who they are, nobody can tell. As very often happened Elwald as a christian name became extinct but survived as a surname. One of the earliest and most curious variants of the name was Elwand 1502. The writing of this name gave way in the 16th century to a rich variety of spellings of which Armstrong gives no less than 70 examples. What an interesting name! Jean

Hi Jeannie Thank you very much for the interesting info on my family names. I appreciate it very very much. Irene NZ

Could you tell me about the name 'Gairns' Many thanks Belle.

Belle GAIRN - a shortened form of Gardyne current in Angus. GARDYNE,GAIRDYNE,GARDINE - from the barony of Gardyne in the parish of Kirkden, Angus. The name is now common in Arbroath and persons of the name have held lands in Aberdeen,Banff and Perth for centuries. In the local Angus pronounciation the name is clipped to GAIRN. Old spellings are Garden,Garn,Gardin,Gardne,Garne,Dalgarn,Dalgarner,Dalgardyne and Dalgarna. Jean

Hi Jeannie, Please could you look up ORR and HASTIE for me please? Many thanks, Jackie.

Jackie ORR - A common Scots surname and the name of an old Renfrewshire family. There were Orrs in Campbeltown,Kintyre as early as 1640, immigrants most probably from Refrewshire. Also a descriptive name from Gaelic Odhar - sallow complexion. Hugh Orr 1717-1798 born Lochwinnoch,Ayrshire, emigrated aged 20 to U.S. and took an active part in the Revolutionary war by casting guns and shot for the Continental Army besides doing much to encourage ropemaking,spinning and maufacture of edge tools. HASTIE - a family of Hasties are said to have been hereditary pipers of the burgh of Jedburgh for nearly 300 years. John Hastie in Dyik of Stainebyres 1626 and 24 more recorded in Lanark Commissariot record 1595-1800. Jean

Hi Jean, Thanks for the info, very interesting. Jackie.

Thank you so much for that Jeanie. Love Belle.

could you try to find the meaning for Kelly - my family are all from Scotland but I think they might have come from Ireland with a name like that - thanks a lot

Edna KELLY - 1)from the lands of Kelly near Arbroath, Angus. There is another Kellie near Pittenweem, Fife but the references point to the former locality as the source of the surname. 2)A family named Kelle, long resident at Dunbar, apparently derived their name from an old spelling of Kello, which hardened into a separate surname. 3)Convallus de Kelle 1454, most probably derived his name from the lands of Kelly in the parish of Innerkip, Renfrewshire. 4) A surname found in Galloway. Jean

I only have one at the moment. Jean Can you look up the name ' Eadie ' for me please? Hetty

Esther EADIE,EDDIE,EDIE,ADDIE,ADDY,ADIE - these are pet ot double diminutives of Adam and were common in Edinburgh and Aberdeenshire in 17th century. There were also Adies of Newark, Aberdeenshire and James Adie sat in parliament for Perth. Jean

Jean . Thats very kind of you thankyou very much. Hetty.

Bump

Jean, I didn't expect this much detail, very interesting, thank you! Annette