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The annals of Scottish history reveal that Abercombey was first used as a name by ancestors of the Pictish tribe of ancient Scotland. The Abercombey family lived in Fife from a place named Abercrombie (earlier Abarcrumbach), which is of Pictish origin, meaning "a place on the bendy river" or "crooked marsh." 1
Formerly known as St. Monan's, "this place, which appears to have been a distinct parish since the middle of the 12th century, is in ancient documents invariably called Abercrombie, or Abercrumbin." 2
The surname Abercombey was first found in the county of Fifeshire (Gaelic: Fìobh), in southeastern Scotland; an ancient Pictish kingdom, known as Fib, and still commonly known as the Kingdom of Fife. Arguably, the first mention of the Clan was in the Ulster Chronicle as one of the clans that King Malcolm Ceanmore took north to quell the claims of MacBeth for the throne of Scotland in 1057. Today, Abercrombie, or St. Monan's, is a parish, in the district of St. Andrew's.
One of the first records of the family was "William de Abercromby of the county of Fife did homage [to King Edward I of England] in 1296. His seal bears a boar's head and neck on a wreath, star in base and crescent above, and S' Will's de Ab'crumbi." 3
Also recorded as "William de Haberchrumbi, he was juror on an inquest in the same year which found that Emma la Suchis died seized in demesne in Fife. Johan de Abercromby of the same county also rendered homage in the same year, and in 1305 served on an inquest made at the town of St. John of Perth." 3
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Abercombey research. Another 168 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1456, 1534, 1561, 1603, 1613, 1656, 1684, 1702, 1716, 1734, 1756, 1774, 1780, 1793, 1800, 1801 and 1895 are included under the topic Early Abercombey History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before the first dictionaries appeared in the last few hundred years, scribes spelled according to sound. spelling variations are common among Scottish names. Abercombey has been spelled Abercrumby, Abircrumby, Abbircummy, Abbircromby, Abircombie, Abircromy, Abircrommbie, Abircromby, Abircrumme, Abircrumbye, Abercrombie, Abercromby, Abyrcrumby, Abyrcrumbie, Abbercrumbie, Abbercrommie, Ebercrombie and many more.
Notable amongst the Clan at this time was John Abercromby (d. 1561), Scottish monk of the Order of St. Benedict, a staunch opponent of the doctrines of the Reformation, and on that account was condemned to death and executed about the year 1561. 4
Robert Abercromby (1534-1613), a Scotch Jesuit, who, after entering the order, spent twenty-three years in assisting Catholics abroad, and nineteen years on the Scotch mission, where he suffered imprisonment. 4
Sir Alexander Abercromby of Birkenbog, 1st Baronet (c.1603-1684), was a Scottish politician; David Abercromby (died c. 1702), was a Scottish physician and writer.
Patrick Abercomby (1656-1716?), was a Scottish...
Another 142 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Abercombey Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In those unstable times, many had no choice but to leave their beloved homelands. Sickness and poverty hounded travelers to North America, but those who made it were welcomed with land and opportunity. These settlers gave the young nations of Canada and the United States a strong backbone as they stood up for their beliefs as United Empire Loyalists and in the American War of Independence. In this century, the ancestors of these brave Scots have begun to recover their illustrious heritage through Clan societies and other heritage organizations. Early passenger and immigration lists reveal many Scottish settlers bearing the name Abercombey: Hugh Abercrombie who arrived in Charles Town in South Carolina in 1772; John in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1778; Mary in Maryland in 1775; John Abercromby in Jamaica in 1716.