Family Fortunes
THE FAMILIES of the Moray or Murray Clan are descended from the 12th-century Flemish warlord Freskin. The surname derives from his acquisition of the ancient kingdom of Moireabh (the modern district of Moray, pronounced 'Murray') through the gift of King David I. Freskin's grandsons included Hugh de Moravia (ancestor of the Gordon Earls of Sutherland) and William de Moravia. William was father to Walter de Moray of Pettie (ancestor of the Morays of Abercairny) and a brother (ancestor of the Murrays of Tullibardine later Dukes of Atholl). The Murrays of Tullibardine also derive a number of other clan members including the Murrays of Scone (Viscounts Stormont and Earls of Mansfield), the Murrays of Lochan, the Murrays of Dollerie and Ochtertyre, the Murrays of Strowan, and the Murrays of Tibbermuir.
We have no direct mention in any charter to Freskyn or Fretheskin I, the founder of the line, either of his Linlithgowshire lands at Strabrock, or of his estate near Spynie in Moray with its castle at Duffus. We believe him to have been born before 1100, and to have won his Duffus estate, as an addition to his lands at Strabrock, about 1120 or at latest 1130, before or after the crushing defeat, at Stracathro, of the Picts of Angus and Moray; and between these dates to have built the Castle of Duffus on the bank of Loch Spynie, in order to check Norse raids on the Moray coast while the Norse held Turfness or Burghead; and we know that he entertained King David I there during the whole summer of 1150, while that king was superintending the building of the Abbey of Kinloss. From notices in a charter of King William the Lion granting and confirming to Freskyn's son, William, his father's lands of Strabrock in West Lothian and of Duffus, Roseisle, Inchkeile, Macher and Kintrai, forming almost the whole parish of Spynie, we believe him to have been dead by 1166, or, at the latest by 1171, and we know that he held all these lands from King David I, with probably many more in Moray. Contrary to the general impression, it seems probable that Freskyn had not one son, but two sons, William and Hugo, who witnessed a charter granting Lohworuora, now Borthwick, Church to Herbert, bishop of Glasgow, about 1150.
William, son of Freskyn, held those lands in West Lothian and Moray probably until near the end of the twelfth century; and this William, son of Freskyn, had at least three sons, (1) Hugo Freskyn, the ancestor of the de Moravias, or Murrays, of Sutherland, (2) William of Petty, and (3) Andrew, parson of Duffus, who appears in a writ as a son of Freskyn, and as a brother of Hugo Freskyn of Sutherland. Andrew was alive in 1190, and lived probably till 1221, and has been taken to have been the same person as Andrew Bishop of Moray who built Elgin Cathedral. More probably he was that Bishop's uncle, and refused the bishopric of Ross. He witnessed the great Charter [pg 78]of Bishop Bricius founding the Cathedral at Spynie between 1208 and 1215. (Reg. Morav. c. 39). William, son of Freskyn, probably had several other sons from one of whom were descended the Earls of Atholl.
The most renowned member of the clan in the early days was Walter de Moray's grandson, Sir Andrew Moray of Bothwell, who fought with William Wallace against Edward I for an independent Scotland. Andrew died from wounds received at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 after leading his army to victory. Sir Andrew's grandson, Sir John Moray of Drumsargard, received the lands of Abercairny, Ogilvy and Glenservy as a dowry on marrying Mary, daughter of Malise, the Celtic Earl of Strathearn. Sir John's son, Maurice, was himself created Earl of Strathearn in 1344. In the 18th- and 19th-centuries the family acquired the additional surnames of Stirling, Home (pronouced 'Hume') and Drummond. Major Charles Moray had married the eldest daughter and heir of Sir William Stirling of Ardoch; and his daughter, Christian, then married Henry Home Drummond of Blair Drummond. The Stirling Home Drummond Moray family continue to live at Abercairny. William Stirling-Home-Drummond-Moray is the 22nd Laird of Abercairny.
The late David Maurice Stirling-Home-Drummond-Moray; William George Stirling-Home-Drummond-Moray, 22nd of Abercairny; John Robert Stirling-Home-Drummond-Moray The Chiefship of the Murrays fell into doubt amongst the various scattered branches of the name, who disputed the right to the chiefship, from Sutherland and Murray itself through Perthshire and Stirlingshire to Annandale and the Borders. It was not until the 16th-century that the Murrays of Tullibardine are recorded using the undifferenced Murray arms in the armorial of Lord Lyon Lindsay of 1542. This work predated the establishment of the Lyon register in 1672, and is considered to be of equal authority. The Tullibardine claim seems to have rested upon descent from Sir Malcolm, sheriff of Perth, around 1270, who was a younger brother of the first Lord of Bothwell. In order to consolidate their position, the Tullibardines promoted two ‘bonds of association’ in 1586 and 1589, whereby the numerous Murray lairds recognised the chiefship of Sir John Murray, later first Earl of Tullibardine. In the bond of 1586 it is stated, "with the hail name of Murray and others undersubscribing"...."as God forbid, the offendar to be object to (by) the rest, and accounted from thencefurth enemy to them all..." and signed by: "Sir John Murray of Tullibardine, Knight, Sir Andrew Murray of Aryngosk, William Moncrieff of that ilk, Robert Murray of Abercairny, Johnne Murray of Tibbermuir, James Murray of Pardens, William Murray of Airlywith, Alexander Murray of Airlywith, Johne Murray of Strowane, James Murray, Fiar of Strowane, David Murray, apparand of Letterbanachie, Patrick Murray of Ochtertyre, William Murray of Pitcairles, Alexander Murray of Drumdeway, Patrik Murray of Raith, William Murray, apparand of Abercairny, Mungow Murray of Fedalis, David Murray of Raith, Andro Murray of Lacok, Humphra Murray of Buchanty, Hew, son to Wm Moncrieff of that ilk, David Murray, Howmichael".
Lieutenant Colonel James Moray by Robert McInnes 1838 The bond of 1598 is styled a "Bond of Association of the Name Murray" and is signed by "Sir John Murray of Tulibardin, James Murray (younger) of Cockpuill, Blackbarony, Mr William Murray, Parson of Dysart, Androw Moray of Balvaird, Patrick Murray of Falahill, William Murray (younger) of Pomauis, Johne Morray, portioner of Arby, Antone Murray of Raith, Patrick Morray of Lochlan, Alexander Murray of Drumdeway, Colonel, John Murray of Tibbermuir, William Murray, appirand of Tullibardin, William Moray of Ochtertyre, (William) Murray of Abercairnay, Alexander Murray of Woodend, Walter Murray, portioner of Drumdeway, Johne Murray, portioner of Kinkell".
The Morays of Abercairny
Among the signatories were the Morays of Abercairny in Perthshire. Sir John Moray had married a daughter of the ancient Celtic royal house of Strathearn around 1320, and as part of her dowry she brought the lands of Abercairny. Sir Iain Moncreiffe has pointed out that when Sir John’s son, Sir Alexander, succeeded to Abercairny, he was probably the nearest heir to the house of Bothwell. Although by this family arrangement the Murrays of Tullibardine gained the ascendancy, Abercairny continued to prosper. The neo-gothic seat of the lairds was the largest house in Perthshire until it was demolished to make way for a more conveniently sized but still elegant 20th-century mansion. Although the bands entered into put beyond doubt the rights of the Murrays of Tullibardine to be chiefs of the clan, Abercairny still ranked high in the family, and in a magnificent portrait of Colonel James Moray [pictured above], the sixteenth laird, in his finery, commissioned for George IV’s visit to Scotland in 1822, three eagles’ feathers (normally worn only by a chief) can be seen in his bonnet.
Sir John Murray of Tullibardine was created the first Earl of Tullibardine in 1606. His son and heir married Lady Dorothea Stewart, heiress to the Earls of Atholl. She brought with her a vast state of over two hundred thousand acres. The Stewart earldom of Atholl became a Murray earldom in 1629, and a marquessate in 1676. In 1703 the Murrays reached the pinnacle of the peerage when they were created Dukes of Atholl.
Pictured below: James Moray, 14th Laird of Abercairney (1705-1777). The Armorial bearings of the House of Abercairny Recorded in Lyon Office, 1726-29: 1 and 4. Azure, three mullets argent within a double tressure flory-counter-flory or (Moray). 2 and 3. Or, two chevrons gules (Strathearn). CREST: An Earl's coronet surmounted of a star of twelve rays argent. SUPPORTERS: Two eagles proper. MOTTOES: "Sans tache" [Without stain] and "Tanti talent genuere parentes" [Such parents have produced such a man].
The wind of the Murrays
18th February 1729: A quaint tradition is still quoted regarding Mungo Maxtone, the 10th Laird of Cultoquhey, near Crieff. The Laird was, like most of his neighbours, a staunch Royalist and Episcopalian, but when in church he was not above adding a few lines of his own to the authorised litany. Each morning, so the story goes, he climbed the hill which rises at the back of the house at Cultoquhey, from whence he could see the surrounding estates. There, he offered up a litany for protection from his neighbours, the lairds of Monzie, Drummond Castle, Balgowan and Abercairney. These were all important local families.
“Frae the greed o' the Campbells,
Frae the ire o' the Drummonds,
Frae the pride o' the Grahams,
And frae the wind o' the Murrays,
Guid Lord deliver us.”
The story is told that the Duke of Atholl, the Chief of the Clan Murray, invited Cultoquhey to dinner and in the course of the evening requested him to repeat his addition to the litany , thinking he would not have the courage to do so in his presence. His Grace was mistaken as he heard the words spout from the lips of the author. “Cultoquhey – I will crop [horsewhip] your arse if you ever again take such liberty with my name!“ The cool reply came: “There my Lord, there’s the wind of the Murrays!“ On a further occasion Cultoquhey was visited by a gentleman by the name of Murray and remonstrated with him for so scandalising his clan. The Laird said not a word to the remonstrant but calling his servant quietly ordered him “to open that door and let out the wind of the Murrays!"
The Flemish in Moray
In this posting David Dobson examines the Flemish presence in the Moray area. Many people who carry the name Murray and Innes will be familiar with their possible ancestors, Freskin and Berowald, described below; but for others this posting offers an insight into an important medieval Flemish presence in the northern part of Scotland.
Background
The Flemish connection to the old Celtic Province of Moray dates from the reign of King David I (1124-1153). A rebellion in Moray was suppressed by the king’s forces, led by two Flemish knights. The lands of the rebel lords in the Laigh of Moray were forfeited to the crown and subsequently granted to loyal subjects, including those who had successfully defeated the rebels in 1130.
Among those acquiring land were the two Flemings, Freskin and Berowald. The evidence reveals that they had already been settled with lands in the Lothians. Freskin, who was granted the lands of Duffus, already held Strathbrock in West Lothian; while Berowald, who was given Innes and Nether Urquhart, already held what is now Bo’ness in West Lothian.
There were, in all probability, other Flemings, retainers or similar, who accompanied Freskin and Berowald to settle in the old Celtic Province of Moray. However, this migration occurred before the adoption of surnames by the majority of the population, thus making it difficult to identify them as Flemish. At the same time the king settled people of English and Norman origin in the region.
Freskin
Freskin is thought to have links to the Flemish settlers in Clydesdale. His descendants in Moray were the progenitors of such prominent families as Sutherland, Murray, and Duffus.
Freskin was a Flemish soldier of fortune who was rewarded for his services to the Scottish crown by King David I, through the grant of the lands of Straloch in West Lothian. Freskin was among the knights and retainers sent north to quell a rebellion in the Province of Moray.
Their success led to a migration of Norman, English and Flemish people north, to the lands forfeited by the rebels. Freskin and his family moved north to the Province of Moray in the 1120s, obtaining the important lordship of Duffus, and the lands of Roseisle, Inchkell, Macher, and Kintray, lying between the burgh of Elgin and the Moray Firth.
This was the foundation of three important families in the region – the Murrays, the Sutherlands, and the Duffuses. Freskin built a motte and bailey timber castle at Duffus, on the shores of Loch Spynie, by 1150. This was later replaced by a stone castle during the fourteenth century, the ruins of which can be visited today. Duffus was adopted as the surname by a branch of the descendants of Freskin.
Freskyn possibly had at least two sons – Hugh, the ancestor of the Sutherlands, and William, the progenitor of Murray and Duffus.
In 1150 Freskin was entertaining David I at the time the king was in the neighbourhood supervising the building of Kinloss Abbey, when Freskin died and was succeeded by his son William. William witnessed a charter granted at Perth by King Malcolm IV granting the land of Innes, Morayshire, to Berowald the Fleming in 1160. He witnessed other charters granted in Morayshire. It is possible that he may be related to the William Freskyn, sheriff of Invernaryn recorded in 1204. One of Freskyn’s great grandsons, Andrew, became bishop of Moray and was present at the foundation of Elgin Cathedral in 1224.
In 1197 King William the Lion granted the lands of Sutherland to Hugh, another son of Freskin. Soon his family adopted the territorial name as their surname, thus becoming the Sutherlands.
Through marriage the castle of Duffus passed into the hands of the Cheynes. By 1350 it was owned by a branch of the Sutherland family also descended from Freskin.
Berowald
The other Flemish knight that settled in Moray was Berowald, from whom were descended the following:
According to the Barony of Innes Writs, 1225-1767,[1] the family of Innes is derived from Berowald, a Fleming who was granted the lands of Innes in Morayshire in 1160 by King Malcolm IV. On 25 December 1160, the king granted a charter to Berrowald Flandrensis, granting him the lands of Innes and Easter Urquhart, in the Province of Elgin. In return he had to supply one soldier for the garrison of the royal castle of Elgin and he was also granted a house and toft in Perth.[2]
On 20 January 1226 a royal charter granted by King Alexander II to Walter, son of John, son of the above Berrowald, of the above lands of Innes and Easter Urquhart. Walter then adopted the place name as his surname, so establishing the family of Innes. The place name Innes is derived from a Gaelic word signifying ‘island’. On 25 March 1539 King James V confirmed Alexander Innes of that Ilk and his heirs in the lands of Innes, which together with various lands in Morayshire and Banffshire were formed into the free barony of Innes.[3]
David Dobson

Friday 16th October 2015
Dr. Dobson is currently a Post Doctoral Research Fellow at the University of Edinburgh and an Honorary Research Fellow with the Institute of Scottish Historical Research at the University of St Andrews. His research interests are focused mainly on the Scottish diaspora as well as Scottish history in the early modern period. His publications include Scottish Emigration to Colonial America, 1683-1783 (Georgia, 1994, 2004); Scottish Trade with Colonial Charleston, 1683-1783 (Glasgow, 2009), and over 125 historical and genealogical source books (Baltimore, 1983- 2013).
References
[1] The Barony of Innes Writs, 1225-1767 (The Scottish Records Society, Edinburgh, 1948).
[2] Registrum Episcopatus Moraviensis (Edinburgh, 1837).
[3] The Register of the Great Seal of Scotland, vol. III, charter 1957 (Scottish Record Society, Edinburgh, 1984).