Show ContentsAbernethy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Abernethy

What does the name Abernethy mean?

The Pictish clans of ancient Scotland were the ancestors of the first people to use the name Abernethy. It comes from at the place named Abernethy in southeastern Perthshire. The place name is of Pictish origin, meaning "mouth of the river Nethy." 1

Early Origins of the Abernethy family

The surname Abernethy was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland at Abernethy, a parish that " derives its name from Aber, signifying in Gaelic, in conjunction with Nethy, the 'termination of Nethy' which is descriptive of the situation of the church, near the entrance of that river into the Spey." 1

The Abernethy family appear in ancient records as lay abbots of the Culdee Monastery of Abernethy in Strathearn in the 12th century. "This would seem to show that they were descended from original native stock and not of Saxon or Norman origin. The first of the Abernethys on record is Hugh, who appears to have died about the middle of the twelfth century. His son Orm probably succeeded his father as lay abbot. He appears as witness to a charter by Emulphus or Arnold, bishop of St. Andrews, granted before 1162. He also witnessed a charter of William the Lion. He is the first of the family found bearing the territorial appellation de Abernethy.' It is conjectured that he may have given name to the lands of Ormiston (c. 1160, Ormystone), an estate contiguous to that of Salton, East Lothian, with which his descendants became identified in after days, though Orm was not an uncommon name in those early days. Between 1189 and 1196 King William the Lion granted the church of Abernethy to the Abbey of Arbroath, while about the same time Lawrence, son of Orm de Abirnythy. conveys to the church and monks of Arbroath his whole right "in the advowson of the church of Abernethy". He retained the land and position of dominus' or Lord of Abernethy." 2

Early History of the Abernethy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Abernethy research. Another 414 words (30 lines of text) covering the years 1204, 1228, 1264, 1295, 1296, 1320, 1338, 1351, 1358, 1380, 1399, 1407, 1424, 1426, 1465, 1560, 1596, 1609, 1641, 1644, 1680, 1740, 1764, 1765, 1831 and 1833 are included under the topic Early Abernethy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Abernethy 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. Abernethy has appeared Abernethy, Anernethie, Abernathy, Abernathie, Albirnyth, Abirnethie, Abernettie and many more.

Early Notables of the Abernethy family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

  • John Abernethy (1764-1831), an eminent surgeon, "born in London 3 April 1764, the son of John Abernethy, a London merchant belonging to an Irish family of Scotch extraction, whose father and grandfath...
  • but his baptismal certificate, dated 24 April 1765, at St. Stephen's, Walbrook, is given by Macilwain (Life of Abernethy, i. 16), who states other facts on the authority of Abernethy himself. " 3

Abernethy Ranking

In the United States, the name Abernethy is the 8,681st most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Abernethy family to Ireland

Some of the Abernethy family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Abernethy 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 Abernethy name:

Abernethy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Abernethy, who arrived in Connecticut in 1718 5
Abernethy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Abernethy, who landed in America in 1804 5
  • William Abernethy, who arrived in America in 1804 5
  • William Abernethy, aged 20, who arrived in New York in 1812 5
  • Abel Abernethy, aged 27, who landed in New York in 1812 5
  • William Abernethy, who landed in New York in 1818 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Abernethy migration to Australia +

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

Abernethy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Abernethy, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 8th December 1839, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
  • Elizabeth Abernethy, aged 26, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1858 aboard the ship "Melbourne"

Contemporary Notables of the name Abernethy (post 1700) +

  • Robert Gordon "Bob" Abernethy (1927-2021), American journalist, best known for his 42-year career with NBC News
  • George Abernethy (1807-1877), American pioneer, entrepreneur, and first Governor of Oregon
  • Virginia Deane Abernethy (b. 1934), American professor of psychiatry and anthropology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
  • Arthur Talmage Abernethy (1872-1956), American journalist, scholar, theologian and poet, the first North Carolina Poet Laureate (1948)
  • Thomas Abernethy (1803-1860), Scottish seafarer, gunner in the Royal Navy, and polar explorer; as member of the James Clark Ross's team of six, Abernethy was in the first party ever to reach the North Magnetic Pole in 1831
  • James Abernethy FRSE (1814-1896), Scottish civil engineer, responsible for the Swansea docks, Aire and Calder Navigation and the Cardiff Docks
  • John Abernethy (1764-1831), English-born surgeon, born in London 3 April 1764, the son of John Abernethy, a London merchant belonging to an Irish family of Scotch extraction 7
  • Roy Abernethy (1906-1977), American businessman, CEO of American Motors Corporation from February 1962 to January 1967
  • Glen Abernethy (b. 1971), Canadian politician, Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories (2007)
  • Thomas Gerstle Abernethy (1903-1998), American politician, member of the U.S. House of Representatives
  • ... (Another 2 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMAS Sydney II


The Abernethy 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: In Christo salus
Motto Translation: Salvation is in Christ.


  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)
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  5. 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)
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
  7. Wikisource contributors. "Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900." Wikisource . Wikisource , 4 Jun. 2018. Web. 17 Apr. 2019
  8. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp


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