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![Show Contents]() Borthick History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland
The noble Viking settlers who came to the rocky shores of Scotland in the Middle Ages brought with them the ancestors of the Borthick family. They lived in the old barony of Borthwick, next to 'Borthwick Water' between Selkirk and Roxburghshire. "This place, anciently called Locherwart, assumed the appellation of Borthwick about the time of the Reformation, from the family of that name." 1 Bearers of this surname have inhabited this area since at least the 14th century. Documents first mention 'Quondam' Thomas de Borthwick, who held lands in Middleton, Midlothian, and who had a charter from John of Gordon, Lord of that Ilk, for the lands near Lauder, between 1357 and 1367. 2 Early Origins of the Borthick familyThe surname Borthick was first found in Roxburghshire where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated at the Barony of Borthwick along the coastline of Borthwick water in the parish of Roberton in that shire. Thomas Borthwick was a tenant of Lord Gordon in the lands of Ligertmood in 1357. William Borthwick in 1378 acquired the lands of Cateune in Midlothian, and changed the name of the estates to Borthwick. The family prospered through an uncertain era of raiding, feuding and warring in Southern Scotland. By 1400, the Border feuds had taken shape into a Code, which although to us at this time may seem like straight outlawry, was a strict set of rules governing the apparent indiscriminate burning of homes and theft of cattle, horses and even women. Early History of the Borthick familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Borthick research. Another 258 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1411, 1423, 1424, 1430, 1450, 1458, 1483, 1485, 1503, 1513, 1542, 1566, 1570, 1582, 1599, 1600, 1616, 1623, 1650, 1666, 1675, 1690, 1706, 1905 and 1986 are included under the topic Early Borthick History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Borthick Spelling VariationsScottish names from the Middle Ages vary enormously in their spellings. This is a result of the fact that there were no universal standards like dictionaries for scribes to judge by. The recorded spelling variations of the name Borthick include Borthwick, Borthwicke, Barthwick, Barthwicke, Borthock, Borthok and many more. Early Notables of the Borthick familyNotable amongst the family at this time was Sir William Borthwick, 1st Lord Borthwick (c.1411-c.1458), Scottish peer and ambassador; William Borthwick, 2nd Lord Borthwick (died 1483), Scottish ambassador to England; Sir William Borthwick, 3rd Lord Borthwick (d. 1503), Scottish nobleman, ambassador, and Master of the King's Household in 1485; William Borthwick, 4th Lord...
Another 52 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Borthick Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Borthick familySettlers found farms all along the eastern part of what would become the United States and Canada. They provided a base and a backbone that would strengthen two great nations in the making. In the 20th century, the ancestors of those brave Scots have rediscovered their heritage through highland games and Scottish historical societies. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Scottish name Borthick or a variant listed above, including: James Borthwick who settled in Virginia in 1732; Robert Borthwick arrived in Philadelphia in 1822; John Borthurck arrived in Philadelphia in 1876.
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: Qui conducit
Motto Translation: One who serves
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- 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)
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