Show ContentsGutherie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Pictish clans of ancient Scotland were the ancestors of the first people to use the name Gutherie. It comes from in the barony of Guthrie in the county of Angus. The surname Gutherie belongs to the category of habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Gutherie family

The surname Gutherie was first found in Angus (Gaelic: Aonghas), part of the Tayside region of northeastern Scotland, and present day Council Area of Angus, formerly known as Forfar or Forfarshire, and in Forfar in the Barony of Guthrie. The first recorded member of the Guthrie family was a Guthrie who was sent to France after William Wallace in 1299.

Adam de Guthrie witnessed documents relating to a burgess of Dundee in 1348, and Jon of Guthere was a juror on the marches of Woodwrae in 1388.

"[Guthrie is] a parish, in the county of Forfar, 8 miles (N. W.) from Arbroath. This place confers its name upon the very ancient and distinguished family of the Guthries, one of whom, on the resignation of the guardianship of Scotland by Sir William Wallace, in 1299, and his retirement into France, was sent by the Scottish nobles to solicit the return of that hero, in order to assist his countrymen to expel the English invaders. His descendant, Sir David Guthrie, who was lord high treasurer of Scotland in the reign of James III., purchased from the monks of Arbroath, the church of Guthrie, which had for many years been attached to that abbey, and founded here a collegiate church for a provost and three prebendaries. Sir David Guthrie also erected a spacious and strongly-fortified baronial castle here, which is still entire; and on his decease, the manor passed to his son, Sir Alexander, who, with one of his sons and three of his brothers-in-law, fell in the battle of Flodden Field. " 1

Early History of the Gutherie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gutherie research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1457, 1461, 1479, 1492, 1600, 1612, 1620, 1636, 1649, 1661, 1665, 1676, 1890, 1964 and 1984 are included under the topic Early Gutherie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gutherie Spelling Variations

Translation has done much to alter the appearance of many Scottish names. It was a haphazard process that lacked a basic system of rules. Spelling variations were a common result of this process. Gutherie has appeared Guthrie, Guthree, Lahiff, Guttrie and others.

Early Notables of the Gutherie family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Sir David Guthrie (fl. 1479), Lord Treasurer of Scotland in 1461, the son of Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum; John Guthrie (d. 1492), Scottish prelate, Bishop of Ross; William Guthrie (1620-1665), a Scottish Puritan minister and author, best known for his book The Christian's Great Interest; John Guthrie (d. 1649), Scottish...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gutherie Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Gutherie family to Ireland

Some of the Gutherie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 62 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Gutherie migration to the United States +

Many Scots left their country to travel to the North American colonies in search of the freedom they could not find at home. Of those who survived the difficult voyage, many found the freedom they so desired. There they could choose their own beliefs and allegiances. Some became United Empire Loyalists and others fought in the American War of Independence. The Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up in the last century have allowed many of these disparate Scots to recover their collective national identity. A search of immigration and passenger ship lists revealed many early settlers bearing the Gutherie name:

Gutherie Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Robert Gutherie, who arrived in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1820 2
Gutherie Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Thomas Gutherie, aged 38, who immigrated to the United States, in 1903
  • Susan Gutherie, aged 18, who immigrated to America from Co. Clare, Ireland, in 1906
  • Margaret Gutherie, aged 38, who settled in America, in 1910
  • Marjorie Gutherie, aged 8, who immigrated to the United States, in 1910
  • T. Games Gutherie, aged 31, who landed in America from Glasgow, Scotland, in 1914
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Gutherie (post 1700) +

  • Brett Gutherie, American Steadicam operator for Cold Blood Canyon (2007)
  • Camille Gutherie, American producer of Skating Romance II (1996)


The Gutherie 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: Sto pro veritate
Motto Translation: I stand for the truth


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


Houseofnames.com on Facebook