Show ContentsGuthrough History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The annals of Scottish history reveal that Guthrough was first used as a name by ancestors of the Pictish tribe of ancient Scotland. The Guthrough family lived in the barony of Guthrie in the county of Angus. The surname Guthrough belongs to the category of habitation names, which are derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads.

Early Origins of the Guthrough family

The surname Guthrough was first found in Angus (Gaelic: Aonghas), part of the Tayside region of northeastern Scotland, and present day Council Area of Angus, formerly known as Forfar or Forfarshire, and in Forfar in the Barony of Guthrie. The first recorded member of the Guthrie family was a Guthrie who was sent to France after William Wallace in 1299.

Adam de Guthrie witnessed documents relating to a burgess of Dundee in 1348, and Jon of Guthere was a juror on the marches of Woodwrae in 1388.

"[Guthrie is] a parish, in the county of Forfar, 8 miles (N. W.) from Arbroath. This place confers its name upon the very ancient and distinguished family of the Guthries, one of whom, on the resignation of the guardianship of Scotland by Sir William Wallace, in 1299, and his retirement into France, was sent by the Scottish nobles to solicit the return of that hero, in order to assist his countrymen to expel the English invaders. His descendant, Sir David Guthrie, who was lord high treasurer of Scotland in the reign of James III., purchased from the monks of Arbroath, the church of Guthrie, which had for many years been attached to that abbey, and founded here a collegiate church for a provost and three prebendaries. Sir David Guthrie also erected a spacious and strongly-fortified baronial castle here, which is still entire; and on his decease, the manor passed to his son, Sir Alexander, who, with one of his sons and three of his brothers-in-law, fell in the battle of Flodden Field. " 1

Early History of the Guthrough family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Guthrough research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1457, 1461, 1479, 1492, 1600, 1612, 1620, 1636, 1649, 1661, 1665, 1676, 1890, 1964 and 1984 are included under the topic Early Guthrough History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Guthrough 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. Guthrough has been spelled Guthrie, Guthree, Lahiff, Guttrie and others.

Early Notables of the Guthrough family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Sir David Guthrie (fl. 1479), Lord Treasurer of Scotland in 1461, the son of Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum; John Guthrie (d. 1492), Scottish prelate, Bishop of Ross; William Guthrie (1620-1665), a Scottish Puritan minister and author, best known for his book The Christian's Great Interest; John Guthrie (d. 1649), Scottish...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Guthrough Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Guthrough family to Ireland

Some of the Guthrough family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 62 words (4 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 Guthrough 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 Guthrough: Robert Guthrie who settled in New England in 1651; Thomas Guthrie with his wife and seven children settled in Savannah Georgia in 1774; Henry Guthree settled in New York in 1820..



The Guthrough 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: Sto pro veritate
Motto Translation: I stand for the truth


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


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