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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

thanks jeannie just rememberd sorry for late thankyou x

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

many thanks Jean brenda

Hi Thank you very much for the kind offer. I would be interested in. DOW DUNCAN DUNNET STIRLING Thank you in advance. Irene NZ

Tracy SCOTT - a surname commoner in Northumberland than Scotland ' the great Border clan of Scott must have been settlers from beyond the Forth'. The first of the name recorded Uchtred filius Scott bears a good English name (Uchtred) 1124. Richard le Scot of Murthoxton 1296 appears to have been the first ancestor of the ducal house of Buccleuch of whom there is a definite record. The Scots of Balwearie became only by marriage with the heiress of the estate 1260-80. Michael Scot 'the wizard' was most likely born somewhere in the valley of the Tweed. Most of the trade of Lithuania in the 18th century was in the hands of Scotsmen and in the language of the country, the ordinary word for peddler is derived from Scot through the German Schotte. Sorry there is nothing listed for Flinn. Jean

Brenda GARTLY - From the old barony of Garntuly now Gartly in Aberdeenshire. William Gartly was member of Huntly Corps of Volunteers in 1805 and 2 brothers of the same name from Auchterless served in the first Great War. Jean

Lorraine Haven't got Purvis but have PURVES - At the parveys(Chaucer) = at the church porch or portico of St Pauls where the lawyers meet for consultation. A family long settled in Berwickshire, which gave name to Purveshaugh. They were vassals of the earls of March. John Pureis was witness in Ayr 1562. The family of Purves of this Ilk were never a leading family and notices of them were few in the public records.. Jean

pse could you look up the name GARTLEY many thanks brenda

hi could you have a look at purvis i read once it was off scottish origin

Hi Jeanie, Many thanks for looking up Ingram for me. Heather

Jeannie Thank you for your labours. Roy