Show ContentsDalrimble History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The roots of the name Dalrimble are found among the Strathclyde-Briton people of the ancient Scottish/English Borderlands. Dalrimble was originally found in Ayrshire (present day Strathclyde region) and comes from the Gaelic "dail chruim puill", which means "field of the crooked stream." Another source claims the translation a little differently: "this place derives its name, in the Celtic language signifying "the dale of the crooked water," from the situation of its village on a bend of the river Doon. " [1]

Early Origins of the Dalrimble family

The surname Dalrimble was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire.

"The barony, which in ancient times was held by a family who took their name from the lands, was, in the reign of David II., divided into two portions, and held by two families named Dalrymple, descended from one common ancestor." [1]

Early records of Clan members mention James Dalrymple, who was a witness on a charter of Robert, Earl of Fife in around 1390. John de Dalrympil was provost of Edinburgh in 1392. Gilbert of Dalrympille was held in the Tower of London as a Scottish prisoner of war; he was released in 1413. James Dalrymple of Stair (1619-1695), was created Viscount of Stair in 1690 by King William. His third son Hew Dalrymple (1652-1737), who held the title of Lord North Berwick was created Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1698. Descended from Hew was Marion (1708-40), who created much controversy in the Clan when she turned down a proposal of marriage in 1732 from the infamous 11th Lord Fraser of Lovat. She would marry Donald Mackay, 4th Lord Reay later in that same year. [2]

Dalrymple Clansmen fought in the Scots guard of France, where their name was recorded in the Muster Rolls as "de Romple".

Early History of the Dalrimble family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dalrimble research. Another 205 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1371, 1413, 1619, 1648, 1650, 1652, 1665, 1673, 1692, 1695, 1698, 1704, 1707, 1719, 1720, 1721, 1737, 1747, 1751, 1797 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Dalrimble History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dalrimble Spelling Variations

In the era before dictionaries, there were no rules governing the spelling or translation of names or any other words. Consequently, there are an enormous number of spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names. Dalrimble has appeared as Dalrymple, Dalrimple, Dalremple, Dalrympel, Dalrimpel and many more.

Early Notables of the Dalrimble family

Notable amongst the family at this time was James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount of Stair (1619-1695), Scottish lawyer and statesman; John Dalrymple the Master of Stair (1648-1707), a Scottish noble; Sir James Dalrymple, 1st Baronet (1650-1719), a Scottish writer, Principal Clerk of Session; Sir Hew Dalrymple, Lord North Berwick (1652-1737), a Scottish judge and politician, Lord President of the Court of Session (1698-1737); Sir David...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dalrimble Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Dalrimble family to Ireland

Some of the Dalrimble family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dalrimble family

The freedom, opportunity, and land of the North American colonies beckoned. There, Scots found a place where they were generally free from persecution and where they could go on to become important players in the birth of new nations. Some fought in the American War of Independence, while others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these Scottish settlers have been able to recover their lost national heritage in the last century through highland games and Clan societies in North America. Among them: Archie Dalrymple who settled in North Carolina followed by Mary in 1775; and William in 1775.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. 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)


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