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Ogilvy History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Ogilvy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland-Alt
Scotland
England

The Pictish clans of ancient Scotland were the ancestors of first people to use the name Ogilvy. The name was found in the county of Angus near Glamis. Although Bishop Leslie, a noted historian during the time of Mary Queen of Scots, lists the Ogilvies as being derived from the Border Country in the vicinity of Kelso, serious question must be made of the authenticity of the statement.

It seems more plausible to deduce this Clan to be of original Pictish stock, descended from Dubhucan, Earl of Angus (1115 AD), of the Mormaers of Angus. The root of the name is thought to be from the Welsh uchel, meaning "high." 1

Early Origins of the Ogilvy family

The surname Ogilvy 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, where Gilbert, son of Gillebride, 1st Earl of Angus, obtained a charter of the lands of Purin, Ogguluin and Kynmethan, in Angus between 1172 and 1177.

Gilbert is also on record as a witness of a grant of the church of Monyfode to the Abbey of Arbroath by his brother, Gilchrist, 3rd Earl of Angys between 1201-04. There is also early record of an Alexander de Oggoluin, who had a Charter of the lands of Belauht around 1232. Patrick Oggelville or Eggilvyn (of county Forfar) swore an oath of allegiance to King Edward the 1st of England in 1296.

Early History of the Ogilvy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ogilvy research. Another 445 words (32 lines of text) covering the years 1320, 1392, 1425, 1430, 1440, 1491, 1579, 1580, 1592, 1596, 1600, 1602, 1605, 1613, 1614, 1615, 1639, 1645, 1651, 1652, 1672, 1676, 1679, 1688, 1701, 1707, 1715, 1745, 1778, 1826, 1927 and 1976 are included under the topic Early Ogilvy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ogilvy Spelling Variations

In the Middle ages, spelling and translation were not yet regulated by any general rules. spelling variations in names were common even among members of one family unit. Ogilvy has appeared Ogilvie, Ogilvy, Oguilvie, Ogilby, Ogleby and many more.

Early Notables of the Ogilvy family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

Saint John Ogilvie (1579-1615), a Jesuit priest, and a cadet of Ogilvy of Findlater, who was arrested and hanged at Glasgow Cross for his defense of the spiritual supremacy of the papacy. He was beati...
Sir Walter Ogilvy or Ogilvie (d. 1440), of Lintrathen, "Lord High Treasurer of Scotland, was the second son of Sir Walter Ogilvy of Wester Powrie and Auchterhouse. The father was the 'gude Schir Walte...
Also of note was John Ogilby (1600-1676), a Scottish translator, impresario and cartographer, best known for publishing the first British road atlas; and Sir George Ogilvy of Barras (d. c. 1679), who...

Ogilvy migration to the United States +

Faced by this persecution and the generally unstable political climate of those days, many Scots chose to leave their homeland for Ireland, Australia, and North America in search of greater opportunity and freedom. The colonies across the Atlantic were the most popular choice, but a passage there was neither cheap nor easily suffered. Passengers arrived sick and poor, but those who made it intact often found land and more tolerant societies in which to live. These brave settlers formed the backbone of the burgeoning nations of Canada and the United States. It is only this century that the ancestors of these families have begun to recover their collective identity through the patriotic highland games and Clan societies that have sprung up throughout North America. Research into early immigration and passenger lists revealed many immigrants bearing the name Ogilvy:

Ogilvy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

James Ogilvy, who arrived in Virginia in 1666

Ogilvy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Henry Ogilvy, who settled in St. Kitts in 1716
George Ogilvy, who arrived in Maryland in 1756
Alexander Ogilvy, who landed in America in 1790 2

Ogilvy migration to Australia +

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

Ogilvy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Ogilvy, aged 33, a carpenter, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Telegraph"

Ogilvy 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:

Ogilvy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Ann Ogilvy, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Sandford" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th July 1856 3
Mr. Walter Ogilvy, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Sandford" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th July 1856 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Ogilvy (post 1700) +

Lyman Ogilvy, American Bishop
Captain David George Coke Patrick Ogilvy KT GCVO PC JP (1926-2023), 13th and 8th Earl of Airlie, a Scottish landowner, soldier, banker and peer, Chancellor of the Order of the Thistle (2007-2023), Lord Chamberlain of the Household (1984-1997)
David Ogilvy (1893-1968), 12th Earl of Airlie, Scottish peer, Lord Chamberlain of Britain (1937-1965) and (1936-1967)
David Ogilvy (1856-1900), 11th Earl of Airlie, Scottish soldier and representative peer
David Ogilvy (1826-1881), 10th Earl of Airlie, Scottish representative peer
David Ogilvy (1785-1849), 9th Earl of Airlie, Scottish representative peer, Lord Lieutenant of Angus (1826-1849)
Bernard James "Bernie" Ogilvy, New Zealand educator and politician
Princess Alexandra Ogilvy (b. 1936), member of the British Royal Family, 33rd in the line of succession to the British throne
Sir Angus James Bruce Ogilvy (1928-2004), British businessman, best known as the husband of Princess Alexandra of Kent, a first cousin of Queen Elizabeth II
David MacKenzie Ogilvy (1911-1999), Scottish (English born) advertising executive, known as "The Father of Advertising"

The Ogilvy 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: A fin
Motto Translation: To the end.

Citations +

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)
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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html