Hi, Kirsty,

Could you add Douglas Genealogy to your list of Scottish-related Groups. It is one of the 'Surname Groups'.

Thankx,

William

Could you please add Stuart/Stewart, Grant & McPherson names to your surname list? They are all from Kirkmichael Parish, Banffshire.
Thank you

There seems to be some confusion about the list of groups I have started at the top of this page. Just to clarify it is not a list of Scottish surnames (or place names) but a list of existing groups on GenealogyWise that are related to a particular Scottish surname or place. Each item in the list is a hyperlink to that Group's page on GenealogyWise.

I am happy to add any group to the list but it must be a group that already exists.

To find out if a group exists for your surname or place of interest you can click on the Groups tab at the top of the page and enter the name in the search box. For surnames you can also select 'Surname Groups' from the drop-down menu and view all surname groups in alphabetical order.

If there isn't already a group for your surname or place of interest it is very quick and easy to set one up. Just select 'Add a Group' from the Groups menu and enter a few details. Let me know if you start a Scottish related Group on GenealogyWise and I will add it to the list.

Many thanks,
Kirsty

Hi - this may be the wrong place for this but - has anyone heard of a place called Killilung Scotland in the period of 1595 AD ? I have a "brick wall" re . LAURITZ DAVIDSON MAXWELL -3 LAWSON (DAVID2, JOHN1) was born 1595 in Killilung, Scotland1, and died 1666 in Hjortland, 5, Hatlestrand, Kvinnherad, Hordaland, Norway. He married MAGNHILD ARNESDTR HJORTLAND1 1613 in Kvinnherad, Hordaland, Norway, daughter of ARNE HJORTLAND and GUDRID NETTELAND. She was born 1592 in Hjortland, Hatlestrand, Kvinnherad, Hordaland, Norway, and died 1662 in Hjortland, 5, Hatlestrand, Kvinnherad, Hordaland, Norway.
He went ashore in Norway to be with Magnhild and his ship went without himin1609, he came to Norway on a ship selling and trading for lumber.
Peter Jacobson pjacobsoatjunodotcom

Quoting Peter Jacobsen "has anyone heard of a place called Killilung Scotland in the period of 1595 AD " .

The spelling of names, whether people or places, before WW1 in Scotland was a fairly fluid thing - people wrote down what they heard. I suspect that the name of this place has changed over the centuries, but also in the first writing of it in Norway, especially if a scotsman said it and a norwegian wrote it down. Then there's the problems of transcribing from old handwriting. I THINK that "...lung" may actually be "...luig" (but may be wrong), for a start.

You could look at the list of placenames here:
http://www.electricscotland.com/history/gazetteer/k.htm
and see whether any of them would sound like "Killilung" to norwegian ears.

You could also try feeding spelling variations to the search engine on the National Archives of Scotland site and see if any of them turn up hits.

Lesley

I have created a Perthshire group http://www.genealogywise.com/group/perthshire
can you add it to your list of place groups at the top please. Thanks. Iain Kennedy

Historic graveyards placed on 'under threat' watchlist

Five historic graveyards providing the last resting place of some of Scotland's most influential philosophers and poets are on an international watchlist of threatened heritage sites.

The graveyards in the heart of Edinburgh are among six sites in the UK and Ireland that the World Monuments Fund (WMF) has placed on its watchlist for 2010, released today.

Years of exposure to nature's elements, vandalism and neglect have led to the deterioration of the graveyards at the Greyfriars Canongate and St Cuthbert's kirkyards, the Old Calton Burial ground and New Calton burial ground.

Notable names among the headstones are figures such as philosopher and historian David Hume (1711-1776), buried at Old Calton Burial ground; inventor Robert Stevenson(1772-1850), buried in New Calton burial ground, political economist Adam Smith (1723-1790) and Robert Fergusson, the poet who inspired Robert Burns, both buried in Canongate Kirkyard.

The WMF 2010 watchlist includes 93 sites at risk in 47 countries, ranging from the famous Peruvian site of Machu Picchu, to the Merritt Parkway road in Conneticut, US.

The five other UK heritage sites under threat are Sheerness Dockyard in Kent, the Tecton Buildings, Dudley Zoo, in the West Midlands, St John the Evangelist Parish Church, Shodon, Herefordshire, Carlisle Memorial Methodist Church, Belfast, and Russborough mansion, Blessington, Co Wicklow.

William, is there anything that can be done about it?

I have only recently come across much of my Scottish Ancestry and am very new to it.

All were out here in Australia by the early-mid 80s.Yrs Lynne.

http://www.myheritage.com/site-29656891/lynnes-heritage

Names in which I am interested include JAMES BELL, GLASGOW- covicted of robbing an oyster bar in GallowGate, THOMAS CRAIG AND FAMILY who came to Australia 1853 on Beejapoore, then the Macleans, McNeills, Mackays, Macleods.
As I said I am new to Scotland . Yrs Lynne.

Apologies for the 3 entries. The other site with my ancestral names is

On my grandfather's Australian Army enlistment papers he wrote his trade or calling was carpenter. His answer to the question 'are you, or have you been, an apprentice', he wrote Robertson & Sons, Glasgow for three and a half years. Does anyone know of this firm, is it still in existence, how might I find out some information about the firm? I'm assuming this would have been about 1905-1910, maybe earlier, depending on when he went to work.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks Jan Westcott

Hi Lynne...saw your comment on the Scottish group. Who were your McNeills? My grandmother McNeil had at least one brother who went out that way, and perhaps some sisters.

I'm Looking for MITCHELL/STEVENSON from Scotland

Hi Elizabeth, All I know is that my grandmother Mary Ann McNeill was the daughter of a John Mcneil(1816-1882) and his father was also John. Don't have mother's name. John Jnr was born 1816 Nova Scotia. I don't at the moment know when he came to Australia, why or on what ship. Yrs Lynne.

Sorry... no connection that I know of!

Thanks Elizabeth.

Hi I received an email on 9th Oct saying Daphne Yvonne Church had started a discussion but each time I click on it it says page not found and when I get through to this site, the comment isn't here. What has happened?

Appreciate receiving the email again if there was a message for me.

Thanks
Jan Westcott

Jan,

Possibly the comment was removed as being inappropriate. Although if so, it wasn't removed by me. Can't shed any further light I'm afraid.

Kirsty

Jan, you should do a search on the name Daphne Church in the Search Social Network box at the top of this screen. That will take you to her page.

Thanks Kirsty and Rosemary for your tips. I also spoke to Gena.
Jan

I have been researching my ancestors of the families Struthers , Craig and Booth. I am interested to find out if anyone at all could maybe assist with photos of some farmhouses that we believe may still be standing today, in Scotland. Ploughland Farm, situated in the southern part of parish Avondale, between Woollen burn and Glengavel Water, area now called High Plewland. Fallside [sometimes referred to as Fauldside], a farm and hamlet about a quarter mile north of Roberton burn, in the parish of Wiston and Roberton in Lanarkshire. This homestead is beleived to have been quite large for that time, having 8 rooms, with windows. The last farm is called Greenockdyke, in the parish of Muirkirk, just off the northern side of Greenock Water. The farmhouse is called Greenockdyke, and bears a plaque or something similar with the name on. I would be so grateful if someone out there could help me with some photos of either the homesteads or even of what that area looks like. I live in South Africa, so do not know if or when I could ever get to Scotland to look for these places myself.

Joan,

Google Earth is great for this sort of thing - I have just been looking at Greenockdyke.

William

Joan - You might join Scotster.com, a social network for people interested in things Scottish. Someone living in the area would possibly be happy to shoot them for you. You'll make some new friends in the process!

Joan, I have just Googled two farms in Ayrshire and got the sattelite images that you can zoom in on. Just make sure you have the names spelt correctly and the name of a town nearby. Sometimes you can see where buildings have been in the past as the shapes are there in the ground.

Researching BEGG / BEIG / BEG family that appears originated in Perth then moved to Angus (Forfar), residing around Dundee. Married into COUPAR, RAMSAY, INNES, BELL and ANDERSON families. Jim.

Hi James,

I have been tracing my Begg ancestors as well, but they came from Castletown, Scotland and our line married a Coghill and came out here to New Zealand.

Not sure if there would be any family connection at all...........
Allysa

Hello I'm new here, I can't find a way to search old messages so I'm wondering if anyone here is researching the Ririe name? Mostly from the area of Aberdeen to start with then Newcastle.
Chris in Australia

Hi Christine, I think you can search the whole of GenealogyWise by using the 'Search Social Network' box at the very top of the screen. However, I tried a search for Ririe and your message below was the only mention I found.
Hope you find some connections,
Kirsty

Photographs of places
Another website to try is http://www.geograph.org.uk

Not only do you get photographs, there is also comment

Thanks Kirsty, I'm slowly finding my way around this place! I will have to look at my other Scottish family names if there are no Ririe's to be found.

My Scottish surnames so far are: BOWIE & DAVISSON.Anybody with ties to these surnames please contact me. Thanks!

Pam Drake in Indiana
padrake@sbcglobal.net

My Scottish name is Hardie from Glasgow. I have a marriage paper for Robert Hardie and Sarah McGuire March 4th 1865.

My ancestors all originated in North East Scotland, as far north as Caithness: Jack; and then into Banffshire, Aberdeenshire, Kincardineshire, Angus, and Edinburgh. Surnames: Hutchison (Aberdeen and Cruden); Middleton (Angus); West (Banffshire); Reid (Banffshire); Linton (Kincardineshire) and many others.

Hello all,
I'm researching clan Malcolm/Malcom. I can traace my Malcolms back to the mid 1700s in Virginia. I'm still working on the connection back to Scotland. Maybe Scots/Irish? Any other Malcolm researchers out there?

I am to believe that I am from the Home clan. Anyone connected to this family?

I visited the ruined Home Castle when I was in Scotland last year. Very old Border clan.

Would this be the reason why there is a Home Castle in Ireland as well?

I didn't realise there was one. The Homes figure quite prominently in Border history though. After James Vl became James l he set out to destroy the Border Reivers and many Border families (particularly the Grahams) were banished to Ireland (amongst other places). Whilst the Reivers were thieves, murderers etc and one could forgive him for wanting them stopped, the families were treated quite harshly - in fact it was the clearances BEFORE the Highland Clearances - which is what most people hear about today.

Someone somewhere must know of David Alexander Stevenson MUNRO and His brother Thomas Murray MUNRO of Wester Muir Dean near Kelso as listed in the 1881 Census. They are the Brothers of my Great Grandfather Robert Stevenson MUNRO who came out to South Australia c 1890's as a marine engineer of steamships. If these two missing from my research are known to any of you, pretty please make this Aussie happy and reply.

My ggf obituary in 1937, stated his was a member of Clan MacGregor, at that time his living in New York. Has anyone ever tried to connect a family member to a clan when they have had only a name, age, town of birth,(Arbroath). His obituary also mentioned he was a member of the Black Watch Division. He fought in the Boer War and a while back I obtained an image of him from one of those books published afterward. (the name fails to come to mind at the moment).

I am looking for information on Blair from Girvan Ayrshire, Scotland, McGough from Girvan Ayshire Scotland, Lowerie, Hay, Barr, Wright

Hi Kirsty, I am brand new to this site. I would like to have you add another family group to your list, if you would. My great grandfather, James Steele, was from Kirkconnell, Scotland. So can we add the Steele family name to the list?

Hi All,
Have been researching my partners family tree. Her maiden name is "Gourlay". And I believe descends from Gerard de Gournai who died during the crusades and was married to Edith de Warenne..daughter of William de Warenne, hephew of WtC.
I have visited ther oldest know grave (tomb) bearing the Gourlay name in Scotland. That of "Ingelarmus de Gourlay" who came from England in the year 1174 with Prince William. And is the Progenitor of all Gourlays in Scotland

This is stated on the tomb. Ingelramus is a the great grandson of gerard de Gournai...so I believe. Certainly descended from him.
Prince William went on to be King of Scotland."The Lion"
For his services Ingelramus was given lands in Fife....Kincraig..I believe thr orginal line still hold the deeds.
I have links to Scotland also.
James Otway Clerk who married a Martha Campell in Edingurgh..they ended up in Jamacia.

I also believe my acient ancestor Sir Peter Gaunt d'Or was related to Gerard de Gournai..as they were both cosuins of WtC.

Hello, I just joined here as I just got information (on rootschat) that my ancestor John Aikin that I was researching in Dalston, Cumberland, ENG was born in SCT.

John Aikin would have been born in SCT abt 1776, but I have no clue WHERE as yet. So am hoping for some guidance in how to go about finding that out. He later married Mary Skelton in Dalston in 1797, it says he was 21 and she was 23. The rest of the information I have on them is later years, children, etc. all in Dalston,Cumberland, ENG.

JAMES AITKEN m.MARY SKILTON

01 SEP 1798 Low Church, Paisley, Renfrew, Scotland

Koczar, thanks for that info, but "my" John & Mary definitely married in Dalston, you can see on the image

Hi Lisa,
Are there any clues, no matter how small-seeming, in the information/documents you currently have? Any clues at all might help narrow down the place. Also, what was his occupation? Did he keep the same one his entire life?

Lisa,
It is entirely possible they married twice, strange as that may seem, especially if one of the marriages was in a church other than the Church of Scotland. I have several chldren who were baptized in the father's church (not the Kirk) and also in the mother's church in two different parishes.

I actually wondered the same thing as Kurt - if perhaps they had held a second ceremony in Scotland for "your" John's family/friends/neighbors.