Show ContentsArbuthnot History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Arbuthnot family were part of an ancient Scottish tribe called the Picts. They lived in the old barony of Arbuthnot in Kincardineshire where the name was found since very early times. As surname usage became more prevalent in the 11th century, names based on the name of the localisty of the bearer where quite common. The first bearer of this name on record was Hugh de Aberbothenoth, also known as "Dominus" and "Thanus" de Aberbuthenoth, who lived in the time of King William I, the Lion of Scotland (1143-1214.)

Early Origins of the Arbuthnot family

The surname Arbuthnot was first found in the county of Kincardineshire (Gaelic: A' Mhaoirne), a former county on the northeast coast of the Grampian region of Scotland, and part of the Aberdeenshire Council Area since 1996, from very ancient times, being from the old barony of Arbuthnot. [1] [2] [3]

"The first of the name in record appears to have been Hugh de Aberbothenoth, who flourished in the reign of William the Lion, and was variously designated 'Dominus' and 'Thanus' de Aberbuthenoth. He obtained his lands from Walter Olifard, son or nephew of Osbert Olifard, sheriff of the Mearns, who died before 1206." [1]

In 1150, Hugh Arbuthnot obtained the lands from William Olifard in a dispute with then sheriff of Mearns. He is the first recorded Chief, although it is contended that the Clan records go back to 1105 A.D. "Philip de Arbuthnott who succeeded in 1335 (or 1355) appears to have been the first designated dominus ejusdem, 'of that Ilk.'" [1] He was directly descended from the aforementioned Hugh Arbuthnot.

"In the early part of the eighteenth century the Arbuthnets are described as 'the most thriving name' in Peterhead." [1]

Arbuthnott is a small village in northeast Scotland, 26 miles south of Aberdeen.

Early History of the Arbuthnot family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Arbuthnot research. Another 181 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1105, 1150, 1335, 1538, 1583, 1585, 1625, 1641, 1654, 1655, 1667, 1674, 1682, 1689, 1702, 1705, 1707, 1721, 1735 and 1920 are included under the topic Early Arbuthnot History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Arbuthnot Spelling Variations

Prior to the invention of the printing press in the last hundred years, documents were basically unique. Names were written according to sound, and often appeared differently each time they were recorded. Spelling variations of the name Arbuthnot include Arbutnott, Arbuthnott, Arbuthnet, Arbuthnett, Arbuthnoth, Arbutton, Arbothnet, Erbutnott and many more.

Early Notables of the Arbuthnot family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

  • Alexander Arbuthnot (1538-1583), a Scotch divine and poet, second son of Andrew Arbuthnot, of Pitcarles
  • Alexander Arbuthnot or Arbuthnet (d. 1585), Scottish merchant burgess and printer of Edinburgh who with Thomas Bassandyne, brought out the first Bible issued in Scotland
  • Robert Arbuthnot (c.1625-1655), created 1st Viscount of Arbuthnott in 1641 by Charles I of England, a Scottish Peer and Privy Counsellor
  • Robert Arbuthnot, 2nd Viscount of Arbuthnott (d. 1682)
  • Alexander Arbuthnot of Knox, Sr (1654-1705), a Scottish politician, Shire Commissioner for Kincardine (1689-1702)


United States Arbuthnot migration to the United States +

The freedom of the North American colonies was enticing, and many Scots left to make the great crossing. It was a long and hard journey, but its reward was a place where there was more land than people and tolerance was far easier to come by. Many of these people came together to fight for a new nation in the American War of Independence, while others remained loyal to the old order as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of Scots in North America have recovered much of this heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and other such organizations. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important and early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Arbuthnot:

Arbuthnot Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • David Arbuthnot, who arrived in Long Island in 1656 [4]
Arbuthnot Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • James Arbuthnot, who landed in Leeward Islands in 1705 [4]
  • John Arbuthnot who settled in Philadelphia in 1747
Arbuthnot Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Arbuthnot, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 [4]
  • George V Arbuthnot, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1849 [4]
  • John Arbuthnot, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1849 [4]
  • Samuel Arbuthnot, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1852 [4]
  • James Arbuthnot, who settled in Maryland in 1864
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Arbuthnot migration to Australia +

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

Arbuthnot Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Arbuthnot, aged 50, a farm servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Standard" [5]
  • George Arbuthnot, aged 19, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Standard" [5]
  • James Arbuthnot, aged 17, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Standard" [5]
  • Nancy Arbuthnot, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Standard" [5]
  • Sarah Arbuthnot, aged 20, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Standard" [5]

Contemporary Notables of the name Arbuthnot (post 1700) +

  • Mariot Arbuthnot (1711-1794), British Royal Navy Admiral during the American War for Independence [6]
  • Charles Arbuthnot (1767-1850), Scottish diplomatist and politician, one of the sons of J. Arbuthnot
  • John Arbuthnot (1754-1800), 7th Viscount of Arbuthnott
  • John Arbuthnot (1703-1791), 6th Viscount of Arbuthnott
  • Charles Arbuthnot (1737-1820), Scottish abbot of the Scots Monastery, Regensburg, Germany and a mathematician
  • John Arbuthnot (1667-1735), Scottish physician and writer
  • Sir Hugh Fitzgerald Arbuthnot (1922-1983), 7th Baronet of Edinburgh, Master of the Duke of Buccleuch's Hounds
  • Thomas Arbuthnot (1776-1849), Irish lieutenant-general, the fifth son of John Arbuthnot, of Rockfleet, County Mayo [6]
  • Sir Robert Arbuthnot (1773-1853), Irish lieutenant-general, the fourth son of John Arbuthnot, of Rockfleet, County Mayo, brother of the Right Honourable Charles Arbuthnot [6]
  • George Arbuthnot (1802-1865), British civil service, son of Lieutenant-general Sir Robert Arbuthnot, eponym of Arbuthnot Road, Hong Kong [6]
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


The Arbuthnot 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: Laus Deo
Motto Translation: Praise be to God.


  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. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  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. South Australian Register Friday 14 October 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Standard 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/standard1853.shtml
  6. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 17 Apr. 2019


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