Show ContentsDawrymple History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Among the the peoples of ancient Scotland, the first to use the name Dawrymple were the Strathclyde-Britons. Dawrymple was a name for someone who lived in Ayrshire (present day Strathclyde region) and comes from the Gaelic "dail chruim puill", which means "field of the crooked stream." Another source claims the translation a little differently: "this place derives its name, in the Celtic language signifying "the dale of the crooked water," from the situation of its village on a bend of the river Doon. " [1]

Early Origins of the Dawrymple family

The surname Dawrymple was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire.

"The barony, which in ancient times was held by a family who took their name from the lands, was, in the reign of David II., divided into two portions, and held by two families named Dalrymple, descended from one common ancestor." [1]

Early records of Clan members mention James Dalrymple, who was a witness on a charter of Robert, Earl of Fife in around 1390. John de Dalrympil was provost of Edinburgh in 1392. Gilbert of Dalrympille was held in the Tower of London as a Scottish prisoner of war; he was released in 1413. James Dalrymple of Stair (1619-1695), was created Viscount of Stair in 1690 by King William. His third son Hew Dalrymple (1652-1737), who held the title of Lord North Berwick was created Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1698. Descended from Hew was Marion (1708-40), who created much controversy in the Clan when she turned down a proposal of marriage in 1732 from the infamous 11th Lord Fraser of Lovat. She would marry Donald Mackay, 4th Lord Reay later in that same year. [2]

Dalrymple Clansmen fought in the Scots guard of France, where their name was recorded in the Muster Rolls as "de Romple".

Early History of the Dawrymple family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Dawrymple research. Another 205 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1371, 1413, 1619, 1648, 1650, 1652, 1665, 1673, 1692, 1695, 1698, 1704, 1707, 1719, 1720, 1721, 1737, 1747, 1751, 1797 and 1800 are included under the topic Early Dawrymple History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Dawrymple Spelling Variations

Medieval Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. This is due to the fact that scribes in that era spelled according to the sound of words, rather than any set of rules. Dawrymple has been spelled Dalrymple, Dalrimple, Dalremple, Dalrympel, Dalrimpel and many more.

Early Notables of the Dawrymple family

Notable amongst the family at this time was James Dalrymple, 1st Viscount of Stair (1619-1695), Scottish lawyer and statesman; John Dalrymple the Master of Stair (1648-1707), a Scottish noble; Sir James Dalrymple, 1st Baronet (1650-1719), a Scottish writer, Principal Clerk of Session; Sir Hew Dalrymple, Lord North Berwick (1652-1737), a Scottish judge and politician, Lord President of the Court of Session (1698-1737); Sir David...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Dawrymple Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Dawrymple family to Ireland

Some of the Dawrymple family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Dawrymple family

Many Scots were left with few options other than to leave their homeland for the colonies across the Atlantic. Some of these families fought to defend their newfound freedom in the American War of Independence. Others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these families have recently been able to rediscover their roots through Clan societies and other Scottish organizations. Among them: Archie Dalrymple who settled in North Carolina followed by Mary in 1775; and William in 1775.



  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. 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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