Arbuthnet History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

The annals of Scottish history reveal that Arbuthnet was first used as a name by ancestors of the Pictish tribe of ancient Scotland. The Arbuthnet family lived in the old barony of Arbuthnot in Kincardineshire where the name was found since very early times. As surname usage became more prevalent in the 11th century, names based on the name of the localisty of the bearer where quite common. The first bearer of this name on record was Hugh de Aberbothenoth, also known as "Dominus" and "Thanus" de Aberbuthenoth, who lived in the time of King William I, the Lion of Scotland (1143-1214.)

Early Origins of the Arbuthnet family

The surname Arbuthnet was first found in the county of Kincardineshire (Gaelic: A' Mhaoirne), a former county on the northeast coast of the Grampian region of Scotland, and part of the Aberdeenshire Council Area since 1996, from very ancient times, being from the old barony of Arbuthnot. 1 2 3

"The first of the name in record appears to have been Hugh de Aberbothenoth, who flourished in the reign of William the Lion, and was variously designated 'Dominus' and 'Thanus' de Aberbuthenoth. He obtained his lands from Walter Olifard, son or nephew of Osbert Olifard, sheriff of the Mearns, who died before 1206." 1

In 1150, Hugh Arbuthnot obtained the lands from William Olifard in a dispute with then sheriff of Mearns. He is the first recorded Chief, although it is contended that the Clan records go back to 1105 A.D. "Philip de Arbuthnott who succeeded in 1335 (or 1355) appears to have been the first designated dominus ejusdem, 'of that Ilk.'" 1 He was directly descended from the aforementioned Hugh Arbuthnot.

"In the early part of the eighteenth century the Arbuthnets are described as 'the most thriving name' in Peterhead." 1

Arbuthnott is a small village in northeast Scotland, 26 miles south of Aberdeen.

Early History of the Arbuthnet family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Arbuthnet research. Another 181 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1105, 1150, 1335, 1538, 1583, 1585, 1625, 1641, 1654, 1655, 1667, 1674, 1682, 1689, 1702, 1705, 1707, 1721, 1735 and 1920 are included under the topic Early Arbuthnet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Arbuthnet Spelling Variations

Before the first dictionaries appeared in the last few hundred years, scribes spelled according to sound. spelling variations are common among Scottish names. Arbuthnet has been spelled Arbutnott, Arbuthnott, Arbuthnet, Arbuthnett, Arbuthnoth, Arbutton, Arbothnet, Erbutnott and many more.

Early Notables of the Arbuthnet family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

Alexander Arbuthnot or Arbuthnet (d. 1585), Scottish merchant burgess and printer of Edinburgh who with Thomas Bassandyne, brought out the first Bible issued in Scotland

Migration of the Arbuthnet family

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 Arbuthnet: John Arbuthnot who settled in Philadelphia in 1747; James and William Arbutton settled in Philadelphia in 1798 as well as James Arbuthnot, who came to Maryland in 1864..

The Arbuthnet 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: Laus Deo
Motto Translation: Praise be to God.

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)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.