Show ContentsAthol History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Athol family

The surname Athol was first found in Perthshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Pheairt) former county in the present day Council Area of Perth and Kinross, located in central Scotland, where they were anciently, recorded in the 8th century, seated in their territories. The Pictish influence on Scottish history diminished after Kenneth Macalpine became King of all Scotland. They were said to have been borne of seven sons of the King Cruithne. But those east coast families still played an important role in government and were more accessible to Government than their western highland counterparts. The family name became associated as a sept of the Clan Dukes of Atholl. Allegiances were important to Scottish middle age survival. Later they held a family seat at Glen Garry.

Early History of the Athol family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Athol research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1291, 1592 and 1745 are included under the topic Early Athol History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Athol Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Atholl, Athol, Athole, Athetle, Athet and others.

Early Notables of the Athol family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

  • the family that held the title of Atholl, that was first an earldom, then a marquisate and finally a dukedom

Migration of the Athol family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Margaret Atholl who went to Pictou, Nova Scotia, as a Scottish emigrant in 1801. There is also a record of Francis Athole settling in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1838..


Contemporary Notables of the name Athol (post 1700) +

  • Thomas Athol Rafter (1913-1996), New Zealand teacher and nuclear chemist
  • Athol Guy (b. 1940), Australian musician, member of the Australian pop music-folk music group the Seekers
  • Athol Stanley Mortimer Tymms (1886-1949), Australian rules footballer
  • Athol Gordon Townley (1905-1963), Australian politician and Minister for Defence
  • Athol Charles Meech (1907-1981), Canadian rower who won the Bronze in the 1928 Summer Olympics
  • Athol Moffitt (1914-2007), eminent Australian jurist


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