Tour Scotland Photograph McLarens Gravestone Alyth Perthshire

Tour Scotland photograph of the McLarens of Buchall gravestone in the old churchyard cemetery in Alyth, Perthshire, Scotland. The storm changed into calm. Erected 1858. McLaren and the patronymic McLarens, is a famous Scottish surname. It originates from the pre 10th century " Mac Labhruinn " translating a the son of Labhrunn, the latter being a Gaelic form of the ancient Roman baptismal name Lawrence. This was a name associated with biblical times, and hence one which was brought back to Europe by returning Crusader knights of the 12th century, fresh from their many and varied attempts to seize the Holy Land and Jersusalem from the grip of the Muslim. The derivation is from the Latin word " Laurentius ", meaning the city of laurels, and which for various reasons has over the many centuries been associated both with peace and victory. The forename is first recorded as Laurentius in the Pipe Rolls of the county of Norfolk, England in 1141, whilst Lorin Mac Gilserf is the first recorded Scottish namebearer in 1258. The surname first appears in the latter half of the 13th Century, and in modern spellings has at least seven variations including MacLauren, MacLaran, MacLaurin, MacLawrin and MacClaren, as well as the short forms commencing " Mc " and various spellings without the Gaelic prefix at all. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Johannes M'Lern. This was dated 1466, in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, during the reign of King James III of Scotland, born 1460, died 1488. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as Poll Tax.



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Tour Scotland Photograph Andrew Mitchell Gravestone Alyth Perthshire

Tour Scotland photograph of the Andrew Mitchell gravestone in the old cemetery in Alyth, Perthshire, Scotland. Late Merchant of Dundee, who died 18th June, 1844, aged 27. Mitchell or Mitchel is an English and Scottish surname with two etymological origins. In some cases the name is derived from the Middle English and Old French, Norman French, name Michel, a vernacular form of the name Michael. The personal name Michael is ultimately derived from a Hebrew name, meaning " Who is like God ". In other cases the surname Mitchell is derived from the Middle English, Saxon and Anglian, words michel, mechel, and muchel, meaning " big ". In some cases, the surname Mitchell was adopted as an equivalent of Mulvihill; this English language surname is derived from the Irish language Ó Maoil Mhichíl, meaning " descendant of the devotee of St. Michael ".



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Tour Scotland Photograph Andrew Galloway Gravestone

Tour Scotland photograph of the Andrew Galloway gravestone in the old graveyard cemetery in Alyth, Perthshire, Scotland. Died 29th July, 1851, aged 74. Galaway, Gillaway, Gilloway, and even Golaway, are all Scottish surnames. It is of locational origins from the county of Galloway in the South West of the country, adjoining the Solway Firth. The name derives from the pre 7th century Old Gaelic word " gall " meaning a stranger or foreigner, and the Old English word " weg " which describes on land a road, but at sea, a navigable area as in the Solway Firth. Confusingly some seas areas are also referred to a " roads ". The inhabitants of the area who were probably of English descent, were apparently allied to the invading Norsemen of the period, rather than with their fellow Scots in the Midlands and North of Scotland. The surname is first recorded in the early half of the 13th century, and other early examples of the recordings include those of Gilbert of Galoway in the " Rental book of Coupar-Angus " in the year 1475 and Jhone of Galloway who was a tenant in Kethik in 1495. William Gallaway, given as being a shoemaker, was admitted a burgess of Aberdeen in 1606 and Andro Galloway became a burgess of Pittenweem in the East Neuk of Fife in 1654. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas de Galwethia, also known as the earl of Atholl. This was dated 1230, when he made a gift of lands to Newbattle Abbey in the Borders, during the reign of King Alexander II of Scotland, born 1214, died 1249. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was sometimes known as the Poll Tax.



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Tour Scotland Photograph Margaret Brown Gravestone Alyth Perthshire

Tour Scotland photograph of the Margaret Brown gravestone in the old cemetery in Alyth, Perthshire, Scotland. Margaret Brown of Balloch who died January 25th, 1858, aged 58. The Scottish Lowland name of Brown achieved prominence in the early twelfth century in East Lothian. Sir David Le Brun was a witness to the laying of the foundation of Holyrood Abbey in Edinburgh in 1128. He had given lands to the abbey in return for prayers said for the health of his son. The chiefly family, the Brouns of Colstoun enjoyed considerable royal favor, which may have been because of their claimed descent from the royal house of France. The chief's arms even bear the three gold lilies of France. The family married into other noble families such as that of the chiefs of Clan Hay. During the Civil War, Sir John Brown of Fordell commanded the royalist army at the Battle of Inverkeithing in Fife in 1651. Patrick Broun of Colstoun was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia, Canada, in 1686.



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Tour Scotland Photograph Old Gravestone Alyth Perthshire

Tour Scotland photograph of an old gravestone in the old churchyard in Alyt, Perthshire, Scotland.

All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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