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The Glendinnings are a sept of the Douglas Clan and the history of the
name goes back to Adam de Glendonwyn who was alive during the reign of
Alexander III of Scotland, circa 1286.
According to the account given in Douglas's Baronage, and also in
Anderson's Scottish Nation, Glendinning, formerly spelt Glendoning,
anciently Glendonwyn, is a surname derived from " the territory known of
old by that name," which comprehended " a considerable district " of
Eskdale, Ewis, Liddesdale, and the west of Roxburghshire.
An unidentified sourse states that the name originates from the lands
of same name in Westerkirk in Dumfriesshire. But it goes on to say that,
prior to 1286, a charter was granted by John Macgill of that Ilk to Adam
de Glendonwyn of his part of the lands and baronies of Clifton and
Mertobel in Roxburghshire. Sir Adam obtained a discharge of all bygone
feu-duties from Archibald Douglas, lord of Galloway in 1313, and John of
Glendonwyne and Symoun of Glendonwyne were two of the ‘borowis’ for the
earl of Douglas’s bounds of the West March in 1398.
Educated men in Scotland spoke the language of their allies, the French,
and many surnames developed based on place names - de Glendonwyn meaning
of (or from) Glendonwyn.
Adam's descendants became knights and substantial landholders, fighting
alongside the Douglas clan leaders in their battles with the English and
were often to be found offering themselves to English Kings as hostage
for their countrymen's good behaviour.
The clan grew (that is the followers who took the name Glendinning and
who were not necessarily relations of the principal family) and
ultimately began to spread - across the border to England, over to
Ireland during the Plantation of Ulster in 1610 and on to the New
Worlds, Scots being leaders in emigration.
The most common reasons for the earliest border crossings were raids to
steal English sheep, cattle and horses. Some of these men, known as
reivers, just never went home and were eventually accepted by the
community they chose to settle in.
Margaret Douglas b c 1325, d by 7/1377 daughter of Sir John Douglas
of Lothian & Agnes Monfode; niece of Sir William Douglas of Lothian -
ancestor of the Douglases of Morton married in about 1342 Adam de
Glendonwyn of Glendonwyn
Adam de Glendonewyn occupied Glendonwyn in 1341-42. About 1342 Adam
married Margaret, daughter of Sir John Douglas of Lothian and his wife
Agnes Monfode, a niece of Sir William Douglas of Lothian. Margaret born
in about 1325, died before 1st August 1377. Her brother Sir James
Douglas of Dalkeith, born about l330, was beloved “kinsman” of Robert
II, King of Scotland.
In 1380 Sir Adam Glendonwyn was receiver of the Douglas revenues for
Eskdale, and received grants of the lands of Brecallow, i.e. Barntalloch
or Stapelgortoun.
Before 1383, Sir Simon Glendinning of Parton married Lady Mary
Douglas, daughter of Archibald Douglas, 4th Earl of Douglas and Margaret
Stewart, Lady of Galloway.
Sources for this article include:
• Clan Douglas Association of Australia (CDAA) Newsletter #82,
2009.
• Eskdale and Liddesdale Advertiser, 1879
See also:
• Douglas of
Glendinning
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