Show ContentsCarruthers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The age-old Scottish surname Carruthers was first used by the Strathclyde-Briton people. The Carruthers family lived in the land of Carruthers in the parish of Middlebie, Dumfriesshire. Interestingly in that area, the name is pronounced "Cridders." [1]

Early Origins of the Carruthers family

The surname Carruthers was first found in Dumfriesshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Dhùn Phris), a Southern area, bordering on England that today forms part of the Dumfries and Galloway Council Area, where by the 12th century the family had become hereditary Stewards of the Annandale district of the border allied to the Bruces and the Stewarts.

One of the first records of the name was Simon Carruthers, parson of Middlebie, who swore an oath of allegiance to King Edward I of England in 1296. A few years later, John de Carutherys received a charter of the lands of Musfald and Appliltrewayt in 1320. "Sir Nigel de Karrutheris, a cleric, who obtained the rectory of Rivel (Ruthwell) in 1330 is mentioned again in 1337 and 1351 as Nigel de Carrothorys, canon of Glasgow. In 1340 we find Sir Nigel de Karuther high chamberlain to the Regent, and in 1344, as Sir Nigel de Carother, he is named as chancellor of Robert Steward of Scotland. A charter was granted at Moysfald in 1361 in favor of John de Carotheris, Simon de Carrutheris witnessed a deed in 1394, and John of Carrutheris was one of the 'borowis' for the earl of Douglas's bounds of the West March in 1398." [1]

Some of the family drifted south to England where Simon Carruders was listed in Northumberland, temp. Edward VI. By the 17th century, some were even found in London, which we shall explore in more detail later. [2]

Early History of the Carruthers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Carruthers research. Another 214 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1329, 1330, 1344, 1361, 1370, 1375, 1398, 1405, 1429, 1446, 1452, 1460, 1468, 1537, 1572, 1587, 1625, 1628, 1673, 1759, 1770, 1799, 1824, 1827, 1828, 1831, 1832, 1852, 1878 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Carruthers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Carruthers Spelling Variations

In Medieval times, spelling and translation were not nearly so highly developed as today. They were generally carried out according to the sound and intuition of the bearer. For that reason spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. Carruthers has been spelled Carruthers, Carothers, Carouthers, Carrothers, Carruther, Carruthirs, Carruthers, Carrutherys, Cridders, Gridders and many more.

Early Notables of the Carruthers family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • Andrew Carruthers (1770-1852), a Scotch Catholic prelate, "born at Glenmillan, near New Abbey in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, on 7 Feb. 1770. He studied for six years in the Scotch college at Douay...
  • His brother James Carruthers (1759-1832), the Scottish historian, "was a native of New Abbey in the stewartry of Kirkcudbright. He was educated in the Scotch college at Douay, and on his return to Sco...
  • Finally, Robert Carruthers (1799-1878), was a Scottish miscellaneous writer, born at Dumfries 5 Nov. 1799, the son of a small farmer in the parish of Mousewald. He received only a scanty education, an...

Carruthers Ranking

In the United States, the name Carruthers is the 6,237th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. [3]

Ireland Migration of the Carruthers family to Ireland

Some of the Carruthers family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 82 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Carruthers migration to the United States +

Unrest, poverty, and persecution caused thousands to look for opportunity and freedom in the North American colonies. The crossing was long, overcrowded, and unsanitary, though, and came only at great expense. Many Strathclyde families settled on the east coast of North America in communities that would form the backbone of what would become the great nations of the United States and Canada. The American War of Independence caused those who remained loyal to England to move north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the 20th century, Strathclyde and other Scottish families across North America began to recover their collective heritage through highland games and Clan societies. Among them:

Carruthers Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John and Sarah Carruthers, who arrived in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1772
Carruthers Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John Carruthers, who arrived in New York in 1804
  • Robert and William Carruthers who arrived in New York in 1804
  • James Carruthers, who landed in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1815 [4]
  • John Carruthers, who arrived in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1815 [4]
  • Joseph Carruthers, who arrived in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1815 [4]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Carruthers migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Carruthers Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Carruthers, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cleveland" in 1839 [5]
  • Mary Carruthers, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Cleveland" in 1839 [5]
  • Miss. Agnes Carruthers, (b. 1816), aged 31, British Convict who was convicted in Dumfries, Scotland for life for murder, transported aboard the "Asia" on 9th March 1847, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), she died in 1879 [6]
  • Miss Ann Carruthers, (Crothers) who was convicted in Knutsford (Nether Knutsford), Cheshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Cadet" on 4th September 1847, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [7]
  • William Carruthers, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Spartan" in 1849 [8]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Carruthers migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Carruthers Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Edwin Carruthers, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • George Carruthers, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • John Carruthers, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Midlothian" in 1859
  • William D. Carruthers, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "African" in 1860
  • Elizabeth Carruthers, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "African" in 1860
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Carruthers (post 1700) +

  • George Robert Carruthers (b. 1939), American inventor and physicist
  • Peter Carruthers (b. 1952), American philosopher
  • Phil Carruthers, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Minnesota, 2004 [9]
  • John F. Carruthers, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Texas, 1960 [9]
  • Jim Carruthers, American Republican politician, Elected Arizona State House of Representatives 5th District 1998 [9]
  • Jeff Carruthers, American Libertarian politician, Candidate for Texas State Senate 21st District, 2002 [9]
  • William C Carruthers FRS (1830-1922), Scottish botanist, keeper of the Botanical Department at the Natural History Museum from 1871 to 1895
  • David Carruthers (b. 1957), Scottish CEO of online gambling company BETonSPORTS plc
  • Robert Carruthers (1799-1878), Scottish journalist and writer
  • John Carruthers (1900-1959), English footballer
  • ... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. John Carruthers, British Lead Writer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking [10]


The Carruthers Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Promptus et fidelis
Motto Translation: Ready and faithful.


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CLEVELAND 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Cleveland.htm
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th February 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1847
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cadet/
  8. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SPARTAN 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Spartan.htm
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 12) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  10. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html


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