Scotland
IrelandThe current generations of the Apernethy family have inherited a surname that was first used hundreds of years ago by descendants of the ancient Scottish tribe called the Picts. The Apernethy family lived at the place named Abernethy in southeastern Perthshire. The place name is of Pictish origin, meaning "mouth of the river Nethy." [1]
The surname Apernethy 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]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Apernethy research. Another 414 words (30 lines of text) covering the years 1264, 1296, 1320, 1380, 1399, 1465, 1358, 1644, 1641, 1204, 1596, 1609, 1407, 1228, 1295, 1351, 1338, 1424, 1426, 1833, 1560, 1764, 1831, 1764, 1765, 1680, 1740 and 1680 are included under the topic Early Apernethy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Scribes in the Middle Ages did not have access to a set of spelling rules. They spelled according to sound, the result was a great number of spelling variations. In various documents, Apernethy has been spelled Abernethy, Anernethie, Abernathy, Abernathie, Albirnyth, Abirnethie, Abernettie and many more.
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 grandfather, both of the same name, were Irish nonconformist divines, the second in descent especially...
Another 53 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Apernethy Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Migration of the Apernethy family to IrelandSome of the Apernethy 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.
The cruelties suffered under the new government forced many to leave their ancient homeland for the freedom of the North American colonies. Those who arrived safely found land, freedom, and opportunity for the taking. These hardy settlers gave their strength and perseverance to the young nations that would become the United States and Canada. Immigration and passenger lists have shown many early immigrants bearing the name Apernethy: John Abernathy who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1767; William and Anne Abernathy settled in San Francisco, Cal. in 1850; Robert Abernethy arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1871..
