Show ContentsDelrympale History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Delrympale

What does the name Delrympale mean?

In ancient Scotland, the first people to use Delrympale as a surname were the Strathclyde-Britons. It was a name 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 Delrympale family

The surname Delrympale 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 Delrympale family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Delrympale 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 Delrympale History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Delrympale Spelling Variations

The origin of rules governing the spelling of names and even words is a very recent innovation. Before that, words and names were spelled according to sound, and, therefore, often appeared under several different spelling variations in a single document. Delrympale has been spelled Dalrymple, Dalrimple, Dalremple, Dalrympel, Dalrimpel and many more.

Early Notables of the Delrympale 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 Delrympale Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Delrympale family to Ireland

Some of the Delrympale 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 Delrympale family

The persecution faced in their homeland left many Scots with little to do but sail for the colonies of North America. There they found land, freedom, opportunity, and nations in the making. They fought for their freedom in the American War of Independence, or traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In both cases, they made enormous contributions to the formation of those great nations. Among them: Archie Dalrymple who settled in North Carolina followed by Mary in 1775; and William in 1775.



The Delrympale 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: Be firm


  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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