An Introduction to Flemish Names in Scotland
One of the goals of the Scotland and the Flemish People Project is to develop a comprehensive list of family names in Scotland that have Flemish roots. Over the last year, we have compiled a preliminary list of Flemish rooted names, which appears at the end of this blog post. Names have been separated into “actual”, “probable” and “possible” categories. This is a “living” list and we welcome suggestions for any names not currently on the list, preferably names for which there is supportive evidence of a Flemish origin.
While it will not be possible to do genealogical research on all the possible Flemish names, so as to validate their inclusion on the list, we would encourage readers, and especially those who have a name on the list, to join our DNA project and submit their genealogical data. It is hoped, as genetic techniques are refined, to determine whether a person carrying a specific name has a good probability of having origins in Flanders.
List of actual, probable and possible Flemish origin names in Scotland
Actual
Core Flemish names
Fleming
Flemming
Flanders
Flanderensis
Examples of Variants on Fleming
Flemyng
Fleeming
Flamang
Flammang
Flamank
Flament
Flement
Probable
List of names identified in Beryl Platts, Scottish Hazard: The Flemish Nobility and their Impact on Scotland, London, 1985 as of Flemish origin on the basis of heraldic research.
Abernethy
Anstruther
Baird
Balliol (+ Bell, Beal, Beale, le Bel, Bailey etc. from Bell Roots by J. E and F. J. Bell)
Boswell
Brodie
Bruce
Cameron
Campbell
Comyn
Crawfurd
Douglas
Erskine
Hamilton
Innes
Leith
Leslie
Lindsay
Lochore
Montgomerie
Murray
Oliphant
Seton
Stewart
Stirling
Possible(submitted by the interested public)
Hazel, Hazeel, Hazell
Waddell, Woodall, Weddell etc
Morrens, Morran
Binnie, Binning, Bennie and Porteous
Bremner Plender, Plenderleith
Dewar, De War (Walloons?)
Younger, Junker
Mutch
Deurs
Preynne (1685) to Prayne to Pren (1705) to Prenn (1749) to Prain
Kettle, Pundler, Stein, Clow, Hally, Frizall, Clemmet, Houbron Flucker, Flockhart
Dowie
Petrie
Kessen
Swankie
Sutherland
Beaton
Holm
Mortimer
Baitchler, Bachelor Landreth
Cleland
Cant
Moyes
Rutherfurds
Other
List of names of Flemish people who came to Scotland around 1601, often via Norwich.
These names were identified in David Dobson, Huguenot and Scots Links (1575-1775), Baltimore, 2005
Bart (p.4)
Bishop (p.7)
Byschop (p.11)
Clasen (p.19)
Cowart (p.22)
De Corte (p.28)
Den Turk (p.36)
De Pyel (p.37)
Henman (p.53)
Le Rouge (p.65)
Roche (p.82)
Sturman (p.87)
Van der Broeck (p.90)
Van Houte (p.90)
Vermont (p.91)
In future posts, we will highlight many other aspects of the genealogical and historical research undertaken by the personnel of the Scotland and the Flemish People Project. Make sure to check this blog every Friday for the most recent information and discussions on the project. Next week’s post will feature a discussion of the DNA project.
For details of our DNA Project go to: http://www.familytreedna.com/public/Flemish_in_Scotland
Alternatively, if you have questions contact Alasdair Macdonald at alasdair@familytreedna.com or Alex Fleming at aefleming007@comcast.net.
Project Website: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/flemish/
Institute of Scottish Historical Research, University of St Andrews: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/ishr/index.htm