The House of Burnett (Burnet, Burnette, Burnard, Bernard) is a
Lowland
Upland and lowland are conditional descriptions of a plain based on elevation above sea level. In studies of the ecology of freshwater rivers, habitats are classified as upland or lowland.
Definitions
Upland and lowland are portions of ...
and
Border
Borders are usually defined as geographical boundaries, imposed either by features such as oceans and terrain, or by political entities such as governments, sovereign states, federated states, and other subnational entities. Political borders c ...
Scottish family composed of several branches. The
Chief of the Name and Arms
The Scottish Gaelic word means children. In early times, and possibly even today, Scottish clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the clan, after whom the clan is named. The clan chief (''ceannard c ...
of Burnett is James Comyn Amherst Burnett of Leys.
Origins of the name
It remains uncertain if the name of Burnett is of Saxon or Norman origins.
It has been suggested that the name Burnett is derived from the
Old French
Old French (, , ; Modern French: ) was the language spoken in most of the northern half of France from approximately the 8th to the 14th centuries. Rather than a unified language, Old French was a linkage of Romance dialects, mutually intelligib ...
''burnete'', ''brunette'', which is a
diminutive
A diminutive is a root word that has been modified to convey a slighter degree of its root meaning, either to convey the smallness of the object or quality named, or to convey a sense of intimacy or endearment. A (abbreviated ) is a word-formati ...
of ''brun'' meaning "brown", "dark brown". Another proposed origin of the name is from ''burnete'', a high quality wool cloth originally dyed to a dark brown colour.
[''Crannog to Castle; A History of the Burnett Family in Scotland'', ed. Eileen A. Bailey (Banchory: Leys Publishing, 2000), pp. 2-3] There is also evidence which suggests that Burnett stems from the English surname of ''Burnard'', a derivative of the Anglo-Saxon name "Beornheard".
Spelling variations of the name in early documents show Burnet and Burnard/Bernard being used interchangeably for the same family and at times for the same person.
It is likely that the family of de Bernard first came to
Scotland
Scotland (, ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a border with England to the southeast and is otherwise surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the ...
with the return of
David I of Scotland
David I or Dauíd mac Maíl Choluim (Modern: ''Daibhidh I mac haoilChaluim''; – 24 May 1153) was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians from 1113 to 1124 and later King of Scotland from 1124 to 1153. The youngest son of Malcolm ...
and that they settled in
Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh ( gd, Siorrachd Rosbroig) is a historic county and registration county in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It borders Dumfriesshire to the west, Selkirkshire and Midlothian to the north-west, and Berw ...
.
Early Burnetts in Scotland
There is documented evidence of the family of Burnard in England from the
Norman Conquest
The Norman Conquest (or the Conquest) was the 11th-century invasion and occupation of England by an army made up of thousands of Norman, Breton, Flemish, and French troops, all led by the Duke of Normandy, later styled William the Conque ...
in 1066, but not before. These are found in the
Domesday Book
Domesday Book () – the Middle English spelling of "Doomsday Book" – is a manuscript record of the "Great Survey" of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086 by order of King William I, known as William the Conqueror. The manusc ...
, the Chartulary of
St Neots Priory
St Neots Priory was a Benedictine monastery beside the town of St Neots in the historic county of Huntingdonshire, now a non-metropolitan district in the English county of Cambridgeshire.
Anglo-Saxon monastery
A monastery was first founded here ...
and in charters concerning the
Waltham Abbey
Waltham Abbey is a town and civil parish in the Epping Forest District of Essex, within the metropolitan and urban area of London, England, north-east of Charing Cross. It lies on the Greenwich Meridian, between the River Lea in the west and E ...
.
[George Burnett, ''The Family of Burnett of Leys; With Collateral Branches'', ed. James Allerdyce (Aberdeen: The New Spalding Club, 1901), p. 3] Roger Burnard was the Domesday tenant of Alrichesey and also held a manor in Rodedie hundred, Hampshire and the manors of Celdretone and Coteford in Wiltshire; all of which were held of
William De Ow
William De Ow was a Norman landholder. At the time of the '' Domesday Book'' he held properties in Dorset, Gloucestershire, and Somerset, and he was the owner of what is now known as Stonehouse Manor, a grade II listed manor in the Cotswolds t ...
. He, his wife Margaret and his son Odo were named in several charters of St. Neot's and in one there is a mention of a daughter, Magilia Burnard. Among the English who came north in the train of
David I of Scotland
David I or Dauíd mac Maíl Choluim (Modern: ''Daibhidh I mac haoilChaluim''; – 24 May 1153) was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians from 1113 to 1124 and later King of Scotland from 1124 to 1153. The youngest son of Malcolm ...
were Burnards who settled in the
County of Roxburgh
Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh ( gd, Siorrachd Rosbroig) is a historic county and registration county in the Southern Uplands of Scotland. It borders Dumfriesshire to the west, Selkirkshire and Midlothian to the north-west, and Berwi ...
and owned the considerable barony of Farningdoun (aka. Fairnington). They were benefactors of
Melrose Abbey
St Mary's Abbey, Melrose is a partly ruined monastery of the Cistercian order in Melrose, Roxburghshire, in the Scottish Borders. It was founded in 1136 by Cistercian monks at the request of King David I of Scotland and was the chief house of ...
and other religious houses.
They soon move on to the Northeast of Scotland, where Alexander Burnard settled near Banchory. This Alexander Burnard is considered "The first of the Deeside Burnards, or Burnetts as they were later called".
[ George Burnett, ''The Family of Burnett of Leys; With Collateral Branches'', ed. James Allerdyce (Aberdeen: The New Spalding Club, 1901), p. 6]
Burnets of Farningdoun
Roger Burnard of Faringdoun gave two grants of land of that barony; one being witnessed by his sons Geoffrey, Walter, Ralph and Richard.
[Eileen A. Bailey, 'The Burnets in Southern Scotland', Eileen A. Bailey, 'Saxon or Norman?',''Crannog to Castle; A History of the Burnett Family in Scotland'', ed. Eileen A. Bailey (Banchory: Leys Publishing, 2000), p. 7] Ralph, his son and heir appears in the Episcopal Records of Glasgow in 1208 as providing fuel in the form of
peat
Peat (), also known as turf (), is an accumulation of partially decayed vegetation or organic matter. It is unique to natural areas called peatlands, bogs, mires, moors, or muskegs. The peatland ecosystem covers and is the most efficien ...
to the Bishop of Glasgow. In 1252 Richard Burnard of Farningdoun sold the Eastmeadow of Faringdoun to the Abbey of Melrose, confirmed in a charter of
Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III (Medieval ; Modern Gaelic: ; 4 September 1241 – 19 March 1286) was King of Scots from 1249 until his death. He concluded the Treaty of Perth, by which Scotland acquired sovereignty over the Western Isles and the Isle of Man. His ...
that same year.
After 1381 the link between the Burnards and Fairingdoun seems to have been lost.
[Eileen A. Bailey, 'The Burnets in Southern Scotland', ''Crannog to Castle; A History of the Burnett Family in Scotland'', ed. Eileen A. Bailey (Banchory: Leys Publishing, 2000), p. 8]
Burnets of Burnetland and Barns
The Burnards or Burnets owned lands in
Peeblesshire
Peeblesshire ( gd, Siorrachd nam Pùballan), the County of Peebles or Tweeddale is a historic county of Scotland. Its county town is Peebles, and it borders Midlothian to the north, Selkirkshire to the east, Dumfriesshire to the south, and Lan ...
named for them, Burnetland.
A Robert de Burnetland ( la, Robertus de Burnetvilla) was a witness to the foundation charter of
Selkirk Abbey
Kelso Abbey is a ruined Scottish abbeys, Scottish abbey in Kelso, Scottish Borders, Kelso, Scotland. It was founded in the 12th century by a community of Tironensian monks first brought to Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland in the reign of Alexander ...
by David I prior to his becoming king, and to several charters afterwards.
[Montgomery Burnett, ''Genealogical account of the family of Burnet, of Burnetland and Barns'' (Edinburgh: 1853), p. 13] An indicator of when this family became of Barns is from the will of William Burnet of Barns, Treasurer-Clerk of Scotland, dated 30 April 1656 stating that his predecessors had held Barns for three hundred years. This would date the family's connections to Barns to at least 1356.
The genealogy of the Burnet family of Burnetland and Barns traces down to when the estate was sold in 1838. At times the family of Burnet of Barns and that of Leys have contended for the chiefship of the House of Burnet.
Burnard of Ardross and Currie
Thought to be originally of the Burnards of Farningdoun, John Burnard owned part of the lands of Ardross in
Fife
Fife (, ; gd, Fìobha, ; sco, Fife) is a council area, historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area of Scotland. It is situated between the Firth of Tay and the Firth of Forth, with inland boundaries with Perth and Kinross (i ...
and of a part of those in
Currie
Currie ( gd, Currach, IPA: kʰuːᵲəx is a village and suburb on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Scotland, situated south west of the city centre. Formerly within the County of Midlothian, it now falls within the jurisdiction of the City of Edi ...
in
Midlothian
Midlothian (; gd, Meadhan Lodainn) is a historic county, registration county, lieutenancy area and one of 32 council areas of Scotland used for local government. Midlothian lies in the east-central Lowlands, bordering the City of Edinburgh, ...
. He accompanied king
David II of Scotland
David II (5 March 1324 – 22 February 1371) was King of Scots from 1329 until his death in 1371. Upon the death of his father, Robert the Bruce, David succeeded to the throne at the age of five, and was crowned at Scone in November 1331, becom ...
on his journey south in 1346 and in the attack on the fort of
Liddell where John Burnard was severely wounded and left at
Roxburgh Castle
Roxburgh Castle is a ruined royal castle that overlooks the junction of the rivers Tweed and Teviot, in the Borders region of Scotland. The town and castle developed into the royal burgh of Roxburgh, which the Scots destroyed along with the ca ...
where he later died of his wounds.
[Eileen A. Bailey, 'The Burnets in Southern Scotland', ''Crannog to Castle; A History of the Burnett Family in Scotland'', ed. Eileen A. Bailey (Banchory: Leys Publishing, 2000), p. 23] But before he died Roxburgh surrendered to the English and it was assumed John Burnard was a traitor who joined the English. As a result, his lands were forfeited and given to Alexander Maitland. When David II was released from captivity the truth was known and the lands were restored by royal charter to John Burnard's nearest kinsman, William of Dishington.
The Dishington's continued ownership until about 1700 when the lands were sold.
Burnetts in north-east Scotland
Burnetts who settled in the north-east of Scotland are primarily located in
Kincardineshire
Kincardineshire, also known as the Mearns (from the Scottish Gaelic meaning "the Stewartry"), is a historic county, registration county and lieutenancy area on the coast of northeast Scotland. It is bounded by Aberdeenshire on the north and w ...
and
Aberdeenshire
Aberdeenshire ( sco, Aiberdeenshire; gd, Siorrachd Obar Dheathain) is one of the 32 Subdivisions of Scotland#council areas of Scotland, council areas of Scotland.
It takes its name from the County of Aberdeen which has substantially differe ...
. These branches stemmed from the family of Leys, the ancestors of the present Chief of the Name of Burnett, James C. A. Burnett of Leys.
Burnett of Leys
![Arms of Burnett of Leys](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c3/Arms_of_Burnett_of_Leys.svg)
Alexander Burnard, almost certainly of Farningdoun, is considered "The first of the Deeside Burnards, or Burnetts as they were later called".
Alexander was an adherent of
Robert the Bruce
Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (Scottish Gaelic: ''Raibeart an Bruis''), was King of Scots from 1306 to his death in 1329. One of the most renowned warriors of his generation, Robert eventual ...
and for his services to the king he was rewarded in 1323 with land in
Banchory
Banchory (, sco, Banchry, gd, Beannchar) is a burgh or town in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. It is about west of Aberdeen, near where the Feugh River meets the River Dee.
Prehistory and archaeology
In 2009, a farmer discovered a short cist ...
and a position as the Royal Forester of Drum.
He also received a charter of that king of the lands of Kilhenach, Clerech, and other lands in Aberdeenshire dated 28 March 1324. This was about the time the Burnard or Burnett family first took up residence on an artificial island called a
crannog
A crannog (; ga, crannóg ; gd, crannag ) is typically a partially or entirely artificial island, usually built in lakes and estuarine waters of Scotland, Wales, and Ireland. Unlike the prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps, which were bu ...
, on the Loch of Leys.
The history of the family from this time onward is recorded in detail. During the next three centuries the Burnetts came to gain prominence in the area by making connections with the church, granting lands and other endowments.
John Burnet "of Leyis", the fifth
laird
Laird () is the owner of a large, long-established Scottish estate. In the traditional Scottish order of precedence, a laird ranked below a baron and above a gentleman. This rank was held only by those lairds holding official recognition in ...
, was the first in this family to bear the distinction "of Leys" which from this time onward was applied both to the lands and to the family who held them. His son, Alexander Burnet of Leys was the first '
Baron
Baron is a rank of nobility or title of honour, often hereditary, in various European countries, either current or historical. The female equivalent is baroness. Typically, the title denotes an aristocrat who ranks higher than a lord or knig ...
of Leys' during the reigns of
James II of Scotland
James II (16 October 1430 – 3 August 1460) was King of Scots from 1437 until his death in 1460. The eldest surviving son of James I of Scotland, he succeeded to the Scottish throne at the age of six, following the assassination of his father. ...
,
James III and
James IV
James IV (17 March 1473 – 9 September 1513) was King of Scotland from 11 June 1488 until his death at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. He inherited the throne at the age of fifteen on the death of his father, James III, at the Battle of Sauchi ...
. In 1553, Alexander Burnet of Leys, the ninth lord of Leys began construction on
Crathes Castle
Crathes Castle (pronounced ) is a 16th-century castle near Banchory in the Aberdeenshire region of Scotland. It is in the historic county of Kincardineshire. This harled castle was built by the Burnetts of Leys and was held in that family for a ...
, which was finished by his great-grandson, another Alexander, the twelfth lord, in 1596. Alexander Burnett, 12th Laird of Leys (d. 1619), Laird of Crathes Castle, acquired
Muchalls Castle
Muchalls Castle stands overlooking the North Sea in the countryside of Kincardine and Mearns, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The lower course is a well-preserved Romanesque, double-groined 13th-century tower house structure, built by the Frasers of ...
about 1600 and commenced its early 17th-century reconstruction. Having died in 1619, the completion of Muchalls Castle was carried out by Alexander Burnett's son,
Sir Thomas Burnett, 1st Baronet
Sir Thomas Burnett, 1st Baronet of Leys (died 27 June 1653) was a feudal baron and leading Covenanter who had represented Kincardineshire in the Scottish Parliament in 1621.
Early years
The eldest surviving son of Alexander Burnett of Leys and ...
. Ownership of Muchalls Castle passed from the Burnett of Leys family about 1882. Crathes remained in the ownership of the Burnett family descendants for over 350 years, until 1952 when
Sir James Burnett, 13th Baronet
Major-General Sir James Lauderdale Gilbert Burnett, 13th Baronet, (1 April 1880 – 13 August 1953) was a British Army officer.
Military career
Born the son of Colonel Sir Thomas Burnett, 12th Baronet and Mary Elizabeth Cumine and educated at W ...
gave it to the
National Trust for Scotland
The National Trust for Scotland for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, commonly known as the National Trust for Scotland ( gd, Urras Nàiseanta na h-Alba), is a Scottish conservation organisation. It is the largest membership organ ...
as part of Scotland's heritage.
Heraldic history
![Crathes Castle 2](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a8/Crathes_Castle_2.jpg)
There were no known seals for Burnett of Leys before 1621. In 1550 Burnet of Burnetland (later Barns) appealed to the then
Lord Lyon King of Arms
The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grant ...
to change his motto to that already in use by Burnett of Leys, ''Virescit vulnere virtus'' (strength draws vigour from an injury).
[Charles J. Burnett, Ross Herald, 'The Heraldry of the Burnett Family', ''Crannog to Castle; A History of the Burnett Family in Scotland,'' ed. Eileen A. Bailey (Banchory: Leys Publishing, 2000), p. 178] Apparently successful, the Burnett of Leys lord then began using the motto ''Alterius non sit qui potest esse suus'' (he would not be another's who could be his). The earliest arms for Burnett of Leys was found on a carved panel dated to some thirteen years later showing the
impaled arms of Burnett and Hamilton commemorating the marriage between Alexander Burnett (1500–1574) and Janet Hamilton (d.1557).
The arms of Burnett of Leys in 1553 used a shield, charged with three holly leaves and a hunting horn, blazoned: ''Argent, three holly leaves in chief vert and a hunting horn in base sable stringed Gules.'' The crest, a hand holding a knife shown pruning a vine had the motto: ''Alterius non sit qui potest esse suus'' (same meaning as above) or a variant: ''Alterius non sit qui suis esse potest'' (who can be his would not be another's).
[Charles J. Burnett, Ross Herald, 'The Heraldry of the Burnett Family', ''Crannog to Castle; A History of the Burnett Family in Scotland,'' ed. Eileen A. Bailey (Banchory: Leys Publishing, 2000), p. 179] The next progression was that of Thomas Burnett of Leys, knighted in 1620, whose seal of Bore a shield with holly leaves and hunting horn, set within foliage decoration with his name and rank but no crest or motto.
By 1627 and upon completion of Muchalls Castle, the impaled arms of Sir Thomas Burnet and his second wife Janet Moncreiffe now had supporters. On the
dexter side was a huntsman in contemporary dress with a hunting horn suspended from his shoulder while the
sinister
Sinister commonly refers to:
* Evil
* Ominous
Sinister may also refer to:
Left side
* Sinister, Latin for the direction " left"
* Sinister, in heraldry, is the bearer's true left side (viewers' right side) of an escutcheon or coat of arms; see ...
supporter was a greyhound with a collar.
[Charles J. Burnett, Ross Herald, 'The Heraldry of the Burnett Family', ''Crannog to Castle; A History of the Burnett Family in Scotland,'' ed. Eileen A. Bailey (Banchory: Leys Publishing, 2000), p. 180] In addition to the current motto, displayed beneath the supporters, was the motto above the hand, knife and crest, apparently ignoring the ruling of 1550 by the Lord Lyon Sir David Lindsay, the previous Burnett motto: ''Virescit vulnere virtus''.
In 1672 the Scottish Parliament decided to record every coat of arms in Scotland, a project that took over twenty years to complete just the first volume.
[Charles J. Burnett, Ross Herald, 'The Heraldry of the Burnett Family', ''Crannog to Castle; A History of the Burnett Family in Scotland,'' ed. Eileen A. Bailey (Banchory: Leys Publishing, 2000), p. 181] Appearing in folio 122 in the first volume were the arms of
Sir Thomas Burnett, 3rd Baronet
Sir Thomas Burnett of Leys, 3rd Baronet, (ca. 1658 – January 1714), Lord Clerk Register, PC, MP. He was, at Stonehaven, 21 April 1664, retoured as heir to his father, Sir Alexander Burnett, 2nd Baronet who had died the previous year. The 3rd ...
(1663–1714). This version had no supporters and only one motto: ''virescit vulnere virtus.''.
In 1822
King George IV visited Scotland and encouraged by Sir
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), was a Scottish novelist, poet, playwright and historian. Many of his works remain classics of European and Scottish literature, notably the novels ''Ivanhoe'', ''Rob Roy (n ...
highland chiefs were to appear before the king in their appropriate
tartan
Tartan ( gd, breacan ) is a patterned cloth consisting of criss-crossed, horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours. Tartans originated in woven wool, but now they are made in other materials. Tartan is particularly associated with Sc ...
.
Many of these chiefs had no idea what their tartan was and a Mr. Wilson, a weaver of
Bannockburn
Bannockburn (Scottish Gaelic ''Allt a' Bhonnaich'') is an area immediately south of the centre of Stirling in Scotland. It is part of the City of Stirling. It is named after the Bannock Burn, a stream running through the town before flowing int ...
near Stirling was quick to come up with numerous designs which was the start of the commercial tartan industry in Scotland.
In a petition to the Lord Lyon, Sir Thomas, the head of an established lowland house decided the Burnetts should be considered highlanders, possibly to impress the king, and petitioned the Lord Lyon to change the huntsman supporter to a highlander with kilt. This
achievement was recorded in Folio 33, in the fourth volume of the
Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland
The Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, established in 1672, is an official register of Scottish coats of arms maintained by the Lyon Clerk and Keeper of the Records. As a public register, it can be seen by anyone on application, ...
(24 October 1838).
The next significant change came one hundred and twenty-nine years later when the current head of the House of Burnett, James Comyn Amherst Burnett of Leys, Baron of Kilduthie, petitioned the Lord Lyon to confirm him as heir of the undifferenced arms of Burnett of Leys.
[Charles J. Burnett, Ross Herald, 'The Heraldry of the Burnett Family', ''Crannog to Castle; A History of the Burnett Family in Scotland,'' ed. Eileen A. Bailey (Banchory: Leys Publishing, 2000), p. 182] The third matriculation of the Burnett arms were granted to him on 22 May 1967 with changes: a silver shield with three holly leaves, black hunting horn decorated in gold with a red strap, and the crest is a hand with a knife pruning a vine. The crest sits on a red baronial chapeau, symbolising the baronies of Leys and Kilduthie. Above the crest is the established motto: ''Verescit vulnere virtus'' and the kilt of the highlander supporter is the official Burnet of Leys tartan.
The two supporters stand on a compartment (in the form of a grassy mound) with a ribbon bearing the motto: ''Alterius non sit qui suus esse potest'' not used since 1550.
Following a meeting of Burnett kin in 1993 the title was formally changed to the House of Burnett.
A fourth petition was made to the Lord Lyon for a
Standard and a Pinsel recognising the head of the house of Burnet which was duly granted.
The current
Chief of the Name and Arms
The Scottish Gaelic word means children. In early times, and possibly even today, Scottish clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the clan, after whom the clan is named. The clan chief (''ceannard c ...
of Burnett, James C. A. Burnett,
Baron of Kilduthie, arranged with the National Trust for Scotland for a room on the top floor of Crathes Castle to display items of interest for members of the Burnett family worldwide including armorial bearings.
Ramsays of Balmain
Through a marriage between
Sir Thomas Burnett, 6th Baronet of Leys and the sister of
Sir Alexander Ramsay, 6th Baronet of Balmain, the Burnetts became heirs of the line of Ramsay of Balmain.
[George Burnett, ''The Family of Burnett of Leys; With Collateral Branches'', ed. James Allerdyce (Aberdeen: The New Spalding Club, 1901), p. 101] When Sir Alexander died in 1806
s.p. his estates passed to the immediate younger brother of his heir of that line, Alexander, second son of Sir Thomas Burnett of Leys.
Alexander resigned the Sheriffdom of Kincardineshire on his succession to Balmain and after some time traveling he returned and built an elegant mansion called
Fasque House
Fasque, also known as Fasque House or Fasque Castle, is a mansion in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, situated near the village of Fettercairn, in the former county of Kincardineshire.
Fasque was the property of the Ramsays of Balmain, and the prese ...
.
By Royal licence he assumed the name and arms of Ramsay and on 13 May 1806 he was created a
Baronet
A baronet ( or ; abbreviated Bart or Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (, , or ; abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. The title of baronet is mentioned as early as the 14th ...
of the United Kingdom as Sir Alexander Ramsay of Balmain.
He died at Fasque on 17 May 1810 and his descendants retained the name of Ramsay dropping the surname of Burnett altogether.
Burnetts of Craigmyle
James Burnett, son of
Alexander Burnett of Leys and next younger brother of
Sir Thomas Burnett, 1st Baronet
Sir Thomas Burnett, 1st Baronet of Leys (died 27 June 1653) was a feudal baron and leading Covenanter who had represented Kincardineshire in the Scottish Parliament in 1621.
Early years
The eldest surviving son of Alexander Burnett of Leys and ...
of Leys. Upon his marriage in 1608 to Elizabeth Burnet, daughter of Thomas Burnett of Craigmyle and Tillihaikie, the grandson of William Burnett of Craigour, Campbell and Tillihaikie who fell at the
Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
The Battle of Pinkie, also known as the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh ( , ), took place on 10 September 1547 on the banks of the River Esk near Musselburgh, Scotland. The last pitched battle between Scotland and England before the Union of the Cro ...
in 1547. He and his wife had
sasine
Sasine in Scots law is the delivery of feudal property, typically land.
Feudal property means immovable property, and includes everything that naturally goes with the property. For land, that would include such things as buildings, trees, and unde ...
of the lands of Craigmyle, Pitmedden and the Mill of Craigmyle.
[George Burnett, ''The Family of Burnett of Leys; With Collateral Branches'', ed. James Allerdyce (Aberdeen: The New Spalding Club, 1901), p. 112] By this marriage he became almost as considerable a laird as his brother Sir Thomas.
[Eileen A. Bailey, 'The Burnets of Craigmyle & Crimond', ''Crannog to Castle; A History of the Burnett Family in Scotland'', ed. Eileen A. Bailey (Banchory: Leys Publishing, 2000), p. 89] He was known as a peacemaker and negotiator in his time.
The cadet line of Craigmyle died out in the male line after 1750.
Burnetts of Crimond
This branch descends from
Robert Burnet, Lord Crimond
Robert Burnet, Lord Crimond (1592 – 24 August 1661Dalrymple of Hailes, p. 373) was a Scottish advocate and judge.
Background
He was the fourth son of Alexander Burnett of Leys by his wife Katherine, daughter of Alexander Gordon of Lesmoir, a ...
, another brother of Sir Thomas Burnett, 1st Baronet. He was the third son of Alexander Burnet, above-mentioned, and Katherine Gordon.
[Eileen A. Bailey, 'The Burnets of Craigmyle & Crimond', ''Crannog to Castle; A History of the Burnett Family in Scotland'', ed. Eileen A. Bailey (Banchory: Leys Publishing, 2000), p. 92] Robert studied law in France for several years and in 1617 was admitted to the Scottish Bar.
He was a Scottish advocate and Judge of the
Court of Session
The Court of Session is the supreme civil court of Scotland and constitutes part of the College of Justice; the supreme criminal court of Scotland is the High Court of Justiciary. The Court of Session sits in Parliament House in Edinburgh ...
in 1661 as Lord Crimond.
His heir was his third son Alexander Burnett. His fifth son was
Gilbert Burnet
Gilbert Burnet (18 September 1643 – 17 March 1715) was a Scottish philosopher and historian, and Bishop of Salisbury. He was fluent in Dutch, French, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Burnet was highly respected as a cleric, a preacher, an academic, ...
,
Bishop of Salisbury
The Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset. The see is in the City of Salisbury where the bishop's seat ...
.
Burnetts of Kemnay
James Burnett, the next younger brother of Sir Thomas Burnett, 1st Baronet, married Elizabeth Burnett as mentioned above. Their second son, Thomas Burnett of Kemnay was the first laird of Kemnay.
[Bernard Burke, ''A Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Landed Gentry of Great Britain & Ireland'', Vol. I (London: Harrison & Sons, 1894), p. 256] Thomas was a writer in Edinburgh and married Margaret Pearson, daughter of John Pearson, a merchant in Edinburgh. He purchased Kemnay from
Sir George Nicolson, Lord Kemnay, a Lord of
Session in 1688.
Thomas died in November 1688 and is buried in Kemnay parish church.
The older residence that the newer mansion replaced, was built by Sir Thomas Crombie, had been owned previously by the
Auchinleck
Auchinleck ( ; sco, Affleck ;
gd, Achadh nan Leac s and the Douglases of
Glenbervie
Glenbervie (Scottish Gaelic: ''Gleann Biorbhaidh'', Scots: ''Bervie'') is located in the north east of Scotland in the Howe o' the Mearns, one mile from the village of Drumlithie and eight miles south of Stonehaven in Aberdeenshire. The river ...
.
[Eileen A. Bailey, 'The Burnetts of Kemnay', ''Crannog to Castle; A History of the Burnett Family in Scotland'', ed. Eileen A. Bailey (Banchory: Leys Publishing, 2000), p. 97] The current laird of Kemnay is Susan Letitia Burnett, 9th of Kemnay.
Burnetts of Monboddo
![Monboddo House - geograph](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/25/Monboddo_House_-_geograph.org.uk_-_537121.jpg)
This branch stems from James Burnet of Lagavin, the third son of James Burnett of Craigmyle and his wife Elizabeth Burnett.
[The Family of Burnett of Leys, ''Aberdeen University Studies'', No. 4 (Aberdeen: University of Aberdeen, 1901), pp. 143-44] In 1642 James married Isobel Forbes who died a short time later after which James married secondly Elizabeth Irvine, daughter of Robert Irvine of
Monboddo
James Burnett, Lord Monboddo (baptised 25 October 1714; died 26 May 1799) was a Scottish judge, scholar of linguistic evolution, philosopher and deist. He is most famous today as a founder of modern comparative historical linguistics. In 1767 ...
and Elizabeth Douglas of Glenbervie.
About 1671 James purchased Monboddo from his brothers-in-law. In addition to Monboddo, which became the seat of this branch, James acquired Kair, Whitefield, Sillyflat, Hallgreen,
Johnshaven
Johnshaven is a coastal village along the North Sea located in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. About southwest of Johnshaven lies Milton Ness, which includes a red sandstone cliff landform.
The flax industry, sailmaking and fishing have historically b ...
and Ballandro in Kincardineshire and Aberdeenshire.
His grandson, James Burnett, the third laird of Monboddo supported the Stuart cause and was captured at the
Battle of Falkirk Muir
The Battle of Falkirk Muir (Scottish Gaelic: ''Blàr na h-Eaglaise Brice''), also known as the Battle of Falkirk, took place on 17 January 1746 during the Jacobite rising of 1745. Although it resulted in a Jacobite victory, their inability to ...
. He was held prisoner for some time but was liberated through the influence of powerful friends.
But subsequent events caused him to have to sell all but Monboddo and Lagavin, which he sold to his eldest son,
James Burnett, Lord Monboddo
James Burnett, Lord Monboddo (baptised 25 October 1714; died 26 May 1799) was a Scottish judge, scholar of linguistic evolution, philosopher and deist. He is most famous today as a founder of modern comparative historical linguistics. In 1767 ...
, the fourth laird who rose to become an eminent scholar and judge.
Burnetts of Camphill
This branch is apparently descended from William Burnett of Craigour, Wester Camphill and Tillihaikie who fell at the
Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
The Battle of Pinkie, also known as the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh ( , ), took place on 10 September 1547 on the banks of the River Esk near Musselburgh, Scotland. The last pitched battle between Scotland and England before the Union of the Cro ...
in 1547.
[Eileen A. Bailey, 'The Burnetts of Camphill, Elrick and Kirkhill', ''Crannog to Castle; A History of the Burnett Family in Scotland'', ed. Eileen A. Bailey (Banchory: Leys Publishing, 2000), pp. 128-30] His son Andrew Burnett succeeded him to the lands of Camphill. In 1605 these lands were part of the Leys estate and at that time William Burnett, the son of Andrew Burnett held Camphill as a tenant.
A Thomas Burnett of Camphill, mentioned in the Aberdeenshire Poll Book of 1696, was at the time living in
Aberdeen
Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...
.
Burnetts of Elrick
The eldest son of the abovementioned Andrew Burnett of Camphill, John Burnett (1625–1666) was the 1st of Elrick John Burnett acquired these lands by
assignation from William Innes of Kinnermonie who had a charter for Elrick in 1663.
[Eileen A. Bailey, 'The Burnetts of Camphill, Elrick and Kirkhill', ''Crannog to Castle; A History of the Burnett Family in Scotland'', ed. Eileen A. Bailey (Banchory: Leys Publishing, 2000), pp. 130-32] The barony of Elrick included the lands of that estate, along with the mill and
croft
Croft may refer to:
Occupations
* Croft (land), a small area of land, often with a crofter's dwelling
* Crofting, small-scale food production
* Bleachfield, an open space used for the bleaching of fabric, also called a croft
Locations In the Uni ...
, Smiddieland and Broomiebrae of Elrick, the lands and town of Monacabback, Ord and Scrogley of Monacabback and the lands of Snellen.
The lands were still in this family after the death of
Peter
Peter may refer to:
People
* List of people named Peter, a list of people and fictional characters with the given name
* Peter (given name)
** Saint Peter (died 60s), apostle of Jesus, leader of the early Christian Church
* Peter (surname), a sur ...
Burnet of Elrick in 1870.
Burnetts of Kirkhill
The first of Kirkhill, in the parish of
Dyce
Dyce ( gd, Deis) is a suburb of Aberdeen, Scotland, situated on the River Don about northwest of the city centre. It is best known as the location of Aberdeen Airport.
History
Dyce is the site of an early medieval church dedicated to the 8 ...
near Aberdeen, was Alexander Burnett (1620–1685), the son of Thomas Burnett, merchant, and his wife Margaret Johnston.
[Eileen A. Bailey, 'The Burnetts of Camphill, Elrick and Kirkhill', ''Crannog to Castle; A History of the Burnett Family in Scotland'', ed. Eileen A. Bailey (Banchory: Leys Publishing, 2000), pp. 138-39] As a
Baillie
A bailie or baillie is a civic officer in the local government of Scotland. The position arose in the burghs, where bailies formerly held a post similar to that of an alderman or magistrate (see bailiff). Baillies appointed the high constables ...
of Aberdeen Alexander Burnett was designated ''Polls'' or ''Poles'' indicating a merchant with strong trading ties to Poland, a designation his son, the 2nd laird Thomas took as a nickname.
The great granddaughter of the first laird, Margaret Burnett (born 1719) eventually succeeded to Kirkhill and by her marriage to Alexander Bannerman of Frendraught, also a merchant in Aberdeen, the lands of Kirkhill passed to the Bannerman family.
Notable Burnet(t)s
*
Gilbert Burnet
Gilbert Burnet (18 September 1643 – 17 March 1715) was a Scottish philosopher and historian, and Bishop of Salisbury. He was fluent in Dutch, French, Latin, Greek, and Hebrew. Burnet was highly respected as a cleric, a preacher, an academic, ...
(1643–1715), a Scottish historian, author, theologian and the
Bishop of Salisbury
The Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury. The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset. The see is in the City of Salisbury where the bishop's seat ...
.
[''Dictionary of National Biography: Index and Epitome'', ed. Sidney Lee (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1903), p. 173] He was educated at
Marischal College
Marischal College ( ) is a large granite building on Broad Street in the centre of Aberdeen in north-east Scotland, and since 2011 has acted as the headquarters of Aberdeen City Council. However, the building was constructed for and is on long- ...
, Aberdeen where he studied law, divinity and history.
In 1663 he was a probationer of the Scottish church and in 1664 he studied Hebrew in
Amsterdam
Amsterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Amstel'') is the Capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, most populous city of the Netherlands, with The Hague being the seat of government. It has a population ...
.
Burnett was a professor of divinity at Glasgow in 1669 and was the king's chaplain to
Charles II of England
Charles II (29 May 1630 – 6 February 1685) was King of Scotland from 1649 until 1651, and King of England, Scotland and Ireland from the 1660 Restoration of the monarchy until his death in 1685.
Charles II was the eldest surviving child of ...
until he was dismissed by that monarch .
He was appointed the Bishop of Salisbury in 1689.
The Bishop died in 1715.
*
James Burnett, Lord Monboddo
James Burnett, Lord Monboddo (baptised 25 October 1714; died 26 May 1799) was a Scottish judge, scholar of linguistic evolution, philosopher and deist. He is most famous today as a founder of modern comparative historical linguistics. In 1767 ...
(1714–1799), a member of the Scottish bar he was appointed to the Court of Session where he assumed the title Lord Monboddo in 1767.
["James Burnett, Lord Monboddo", ''Encyclopædia Britannica Online'' 2013](_blank)
/ref> He was the author of ''Of the Origin and Progress of Language'' (6 vol., 1773–92). Also ''the Decisions of the Court of Session 1738–60''. His pre-Darwinian theories traced the origins of man to the orangutan earning him a reputation as an eccentric. Yet he was regarded as a cultured original thinker of great intellect.
* George Burnett (1822–1890), born at Kemnay, admitted to the Scottish bar in 1845, and appointed Lyon Depute at the Court of the Lord Lyon
The Court of the Lord Lyon (the Lyon Court) is a standing court of law, based in New Register House in Edinburgh, which regulates heraldry in Scotland. The Lyon Court maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All A ...
in 1863. In 1866 he became the Lord Lyon King of Arms
The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grant ...
which office he held until his death on 23 January 1890.
* Major-General Sir James Burnett, 13th Baronet
Major-General Sir James Lauderdale Gilbert Burnett, 13th Baronet, (1 April 1880 – 13 August 1953) was a British Army officer.
Military career
Born the son of Colonel Sir Thomas Burnett, 12th Baronet and Mary Elizabeth Cumine and educated at W ...
was a colonel of the Gordon Highlanders
Gordon may refer to:
People
* Gordon (given name), a masculine given name, including list of persons and fictional characters
* Gordon (surname), the surname
* Gordon (slave), escaped to a Union Army camp during the U.S. Civil War
* Clan Gordon, ...
and commanded a brigade during the World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typ ...
twice, mentioned in dispatches eleven times and was invested as a companion of the Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I of Great Britain, George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate medieval ceremony for appointing a knight, which involved Bathing#Medieval ...
by Britain and the Légion d'honneur
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...
by France.
* Charles Burnett (1940–), a Scottish antiquarian, museum curator, and officer of arms
An officer of arms is a person appointed by a sovereign or Sovereign state, state with authority to perform one or more of the following functions:
* to control and initiate coat of arms, armorial matters;
* to arrange and participate in ceremo ...
at the Court of the Lord Lyon
The Court of the Lord Lyon (the Lyon Court) is a standing court of law, based in New Register House in Edinburgh, which regulates heraldry in Scotland. The Lyon Court maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All A ...
.['Charles J Burnett, Esq', People of Today, ''Debretts'', 2013](_blank)
/ref> In 1983 he was appointed Dingwall Pursuivant
Dingwall Pursuivant of Arms is a current Scottish pursuivant of arms of the Court of the Lord Lyon.
Dingwall Pursuivant was formerly a private officer of arms in the service of the Lord of the Isles, but along with Kintyre Pursuivant, Ross Hera ...
of Arms, and from 1988–2010 he served as Ross Herald of Arms. In 2011 he became the Ross Herald
Ross Herald of Arms Extraordinary is a Scottish herald of arms Extraordinary of the Court of the Lord Lyon. The office is however held in Extraordinary after the retirement of the last holder in Ordinary.
The title of the office is derived fro ...
of Arms Extraordinary which post he holds currently.
* Rear Admiral
Rear admiral is a senior naval flag officer rank, equivalent to a major general and air vice marshal and above that of a commodore and captain, but below that of a vice admiral. It is regarded as a two star "admiral" rank. It is often regarde ...
Philip Whitworth Burnett (10 October 1908 - 6 October 1996) was a Senior British Military Commander who served in the Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
during the Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
.
* Nicholas Ridley (c. 1500 – 16 October 1555) was an English Bishop of London and Westminster, related to the Burnett Family Clan.
* Air Chief Marshal
Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer originating from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. An air chief marshal is equivalent to an Admir ...
Sir Charles Stuart Burnett (3 April 1882 - 9 April 1945), was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the first half of the 20th century. He was Air Officer Commanding Iraq Command during the early 1930s. During the Second World War, he served as Chief of the Air Staff of the Royal Australian Air Force
* Admiral
Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...
Sir Robert Lindsay Burnett was an officer in the Royal Navy.
Notable Descendants
* Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales (born Diana Frances Spencer; 1 July 1961 – 31 August 1997) was a member of the British royal family. She was the first wife of King Charles III (then Prince of Wales) and mother of Princes William and Harry. Her ac ...
(1961-1997) [Evans, Richard K. The Ancestry of Diana, Princess of Wales: For Twelve Generations. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2007. p.1 p. 212, p.335, p. 459]
* William, Prince of Wales
William, Prince of Wales, (William Arthur Philip Louis; born 21 June 1982) is the heir apparent to the British throne. He is the elder son of King Charles III and his first wife Diana, Princess of Wales.
Born in London, William was educat ...
(b.1982) [Evans, Richard K. The Ancestry of Diana, Princess of Wales: For Twelve Generations. New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2007. p. 1]
* Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, (Henry Charles Albert David; born 15 September 1984) is a member of the British royal family. He is the younger son of Charles III and his first wife Diana, Princess of Wales. He is fifth in the line of succe ...
(b.1984)
Family castle
The Burnett family of the chiefly line now resides in the House of Crathes, close to Crathes Castle
Crathes Castle (pronounced ) is a 16th-century castle near Banchory in the Aberdeenshire region of Scotland. It is in the historic county of Kincardineshire. This harled castle was built by the Burnetts of Leys and was held in that family for a ...
. In the early 17th century the Burnetts acquired Muchalls Castle
Muchalls Castle stands overlooking the North Sea in the countryside of Kincardine and Mearns, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The lower course is a well-preserved Romanesque, double-groined 13th-century tower house structure, built by the Frasers of ...
.
See also
* Burnett Baronets
*Crathes Castle
Crathes Castle (pronounced ) is a 16th-century castle near Banchory in the Aberdeenshire region of Scotland. It is in the historic county of Kincardineshire. This harled castle was built by the Burnetts of Leys and was held in that family for a ...
Notes
References
{{Scottish clans
Scottish families
Scottish surnames
Scottish Lowlands