For centuries the Lindsays have been a powerful family and accordingly attracted others for mutual protection. Many of these families have a close territorial association with the Lindsays. Some of these people were descendants of the Chief through a maternal line. And some have been granted official positions with the Lindsay family. They have all played an integral part in the success and history of the clan.
The family names associated with Clan Lindsay; are listed below. By clicking one of the names takes you directly to information about that family name along with a brief history.
Families associated with Clan Lindsay
Affleck | Buyers, Byers | Cobb | Crawford | Deuchar, Deuchars | Downie | Fotheringham | Rhind, Rhynd | Summers
Affleck
This surname is of twofold origin: (1) from the barony of Auchinleck in Ayrshire and (2) from Affleck in Angus. The first of this name on record in Scotland was Richard of Auchinlec in Lanark in 1263. In Angus, John of Aghleck who did homage in 1306 is the first of the name recorded in that area. These Angus Afflecks were the hereditary armour bearers to the earls of Crawford.
For a long time, the Lindsays were the real Kings of Forfarshire, holding vast territories in Angus and Mearns. In 1459 the Earl of Crawford, as superior, is averred to have renewed the marshes of Aghelek, or Auchinleck. The Auchinlecks of that Ilk held the allies, perhaps the vassals, of the powerful Lindsays. Influential in the counsels of the Lindsays the Auchinleks had been, for when the former were at the zenith of their power Auchinleck of that Ilk was on the that select circle, that Privy Council, that at the headquarters of the
Lindsays guided their policy.
The Lindsays held the Castle of Monikie, in the neighbourhood of Affleck.
Arms of Auchinleck of that Ilk.
The Slains Roll, ca. 1567, folio 112/1.
In the town of Dundee the Lindsays lived in splendour and there too, in the then aristocratic Seagate, the Auchinlecks had their town house. The Records of the City of Dundee, preserved in the Town House, contain numerous references to the Auchinleck family.
Black: Surnames of Scotland, 1946
Dundee Year Book, Facts and Figures for 1912
Information Leaflet, Her Majesty’s Stationary Office, 1969.
Buyers Byers
These names are derived from the old barony of Byres in East Lothian. For centuries the barony was the property of the family of Lindsay and gave title to Lindsay of Byres. The names first appear on record in the early fourteenth century.
Black: Surnames of Scotland, 1946.
Cobb
This name first appears on record in Scotland in the late fifteenth century. In the early sixteenth century, it appears on record in Brechin, land of the Lindsays. An unrecorded individual of this name gave name to Cobbisland in Brechin. Some say it is a diminutive of Jacob, but there was also a first name “Cobba”.
Black: Surnames of Scotland, 1946
Crawford
As it was the custom for many years most people took the name of the area in which they lived. The Crawfords took their name from the mountain territory of Crawford, later the barony of Crawford, in the upper ward of Lanarkshire. The first of this name on record in Scotland was John de Crawford around the middle of the twelfth century. For the next 150 years, there is charter evidence of Crawfords in St. Andrews, Arbroath, Ayr, Edinburgh, Kelso, etc. Walter de Lindeseia was the first Lindsay to be associated with the territory of Crawford. He came in the early part of the twelfth century as one of Prince David’s knights. When this Prince became King of Scotland, Walter was given Ercildoune (Earltson) and later Luffness and Crawford. David Lindsay of Glenesk, descendant of Walter, was created Earl of Crawford in 1398 by Robert, III.
Though the Lindsays were now situated in Glenesk, Crawford was their principal fief and remained so until the 5th Earl resigned the superiority of the various lands in the barony of Crawford.
The Crawfurds of Craufurdland, near Kilmarnock, were one of the oldest families in Ayrshire. Sir Reginald de Craufurd was the sheriff of Ayr in the early thirteenth century. He established the family fortune by marrying the Loudoun heiress in about 1200. On his death his estates were divided up among his sons, one of whom John, became the first laird of Craufurdland. Family records relate that the third Laird helped his cousin, Sir William Wallace, become Warden of Scotland in 1297 and that the seventh Laird fought valiantly against the English in France at the siege of Creyult in 1423, for which he was awarded a knighthood by James I.
Black: Surnames of Scotland, 1946
Cantlie: Ancestral Castles of Scotland.
Arms of Crawfurd of Drongane
The Slains Roll, ca. 1567, folio 129/4
Arms of Crawfurd of Auchencross
The Slains Roll, ca 1567, folio 130/1
Deuchar Deuchars
These names originated in the lands of Deuchar in the lordship of Fern or Fearn in Angus. They were considered to be one of the oldest families in the district and are said to have come into possession of the lands of Deuchar c. 1230. Sir Alexander Lindsay of Glenesk granted a charter of the lands to them in 1369. They were evidently vassals of the Lindsays at that period. Their connection with the lands ceased in 1819 when the lands were sold and the late owner left Scotland for the colonies.
Black: Surnames of Scotland, 1946.
Downie
This name originated in the old Scottish barony of Duny or Downie in 1331 in the parish of Monikie not too far from Affleck Castle in Angus. Jervise’s suggestion that the Downies were probably vassals of the Lindsays, as the name is so rarely found in the earlier records, is probably correct. The surname is still common in the district.
Black: Surnames of Scotland, 1946. Jervise: Land of the Lindsays, 1853.
Fotheringham
Arms of Fotheringham of Powrie.
The Slains Roll, ca. 1567, folio 154/1.
This family is from the parish of Inverarity in Angus, a race that settled early in the province and are said to have descended from Henry de Fedringhay who received the lands of Balewny, near Dundee, from Robert II prior to 1377.
Black: Surnames of Scotland, 1946.
Rhind Rhynd
Arms of Rynd of Carse.
The Slains Roll, ca. 1567, folio 209/1.
When surnames gained popular usage, many people took the name of the place where they lived. These names originated in the parish of Rhynd in Perthshire. Although this family is now somewhat rare in Angus it is of considerable antiquity in that county.
Black: Surnames of Scotland, 1946.
Summers
These names are listed under Symmers, an old Angus family of whom little is known. They possessed Balzordie in 1450. In 1682, Symmer of Balzordie was described as “ane familie and chief of the name.” They continued to be considered “chief of the name” until about the middle of the eighteenth century when the male branch failed.
Black: Surnames of Scotland, 1946.
The Families of Clan Lindsay Accepted Spellings
Now, to make things more interesting, over the years the spelling of these names changed. This makes your genealogy search a little complicated. To assist you with these various acceptable spellings, we have provided them for you here. . .