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On this page you will find just those variations and misspellings of the name "Borthwick" that I have come across in my searches for the family of John Borthwick (who married Elizabeth Dinwoodie in Edinburgh in 1781). Some are real name variants, some are spellings used when names were recorded (by ministers or registry clerksfor example) and some may be typographical errors. I have marked the variants that I am certain about with #. Please let me know if you have (or know someone with) a surname listed below but not yet marked #. If you know of other variants or misspellings I'd be glad to hear as they may help other Borthwick researchers around the world. Please email me and I will add your contributions to the table below.
And from a Borthwick website (URL to be found and cited) ...The earliest trace of the name is to 1057 a.d., Andreas, son of a lord of the castle "Burtick" in Livonia, came to Scotland and is said to have obtained from King Malcom Canmore, some lands in the country of Selkirk; called Borthwick," in honor, it is thought, of his father's castle, "Burtick." The name in those early days was spelled as Borthwic, Borthwik, Borthwike, Borthwyk, Borthewyk, Borthyk, Bordewich, Bordewick, Borthuik, Boirthuik, Borwit. Whatever the truth there may be in the tradition, there are today in Selkirkshire, two towns by the name of Borthwickshiels and Borthwickbrae, both located on a stream called the Borthwick Water. It is claimed that the first Borthwick in Scotland arrived as an escort to Princess Margaret when she arrived from Hungary to marry Malcolm of Canmore in 1056. The name Borthwick is apparently very common in Hungary. The early Hungarian version may have been something like "Borteviche". However Black in Surnames of Scotland, says that there is no proof for the statement that the family of Borthwick are descended from a Livonian Knight, Andreas Burtick, who was attached to the Court of Hungary. (p90) And from another site entitled "Borthwick History: This name is of territorial Celtic origin and is held by a prominent Border family, it seems likely to have been assumed from lands on Borthwick Water in Roxburghshire. The family is one of the most ancient in Scotland and some recent research suggests that they may have come to Britain with Caesar's legions. It is traditionally asserted that the progenitor of this noble house was Andreas, who accompanied the Saxon Edgar the Aetheling and his sister, Margaret, later queen and saint, to Scotland in 1067, another rescued his Scottish host from the Saracens and recaptured the heart of Robert the Bruce. From "Electric Scotland" This a wonderful site for Scottish history, genealogy and culture. The Electric Scotland site credits James Pringle Weavers for the following information: "BORTHWICK: The House of Borthwick, one of the most ancient in Scotland, trace their origins from Hungary - the first coming to Scotland in the train of Margaret Atheling, St. Margaret, who married Malcolm Canmore, 1071. Her mother was a daughter of the King of Hungary, and he, or his offspring were granted lands in Southern Scotland known as the Forest of Ettrick. Their lands, on the north side of upper Teviotdale were named the Valley of the Borthwick Water. Sir William Borthwick, in 1330, joined Lord James Douglas on his crusade with Bruce's heart, but returned home after their costly encounter with the Moors in Spain during which he is said to have beheaded their leader,and a moor's head still remains the crest of the chiefly family. In about 1378 they acquired the Lothian lands of Catcune, but before long they won from the Hays the much richer property of Locherworth and there built about 1430 the majestic Borthwick Castle. The 1st Lord Borthwick was created c.1430, and from this period onwards the Lords Borthwick had immense possessions and great influence in Midlothian. After the 9th Lord, who died without issue in 1672, there was a gap before the title was revived in 1762 by the descendant of an earlier Lord. Since the death of the 21st Lord in 1910, the title has been claimed by the head of the most senior branch, that of Crookston, who also owns Borthwick Castle. CHIEF: Major John H. S. Borthwick of Borthwick and Crookston - granted the undifferenced arms of the Name of Borthwick by the Lord Lyon in 1944. TARTAN: Borthwick "
The name is believed to be of Celtic origin. A Borthwick is recorded as having accompanied the Princess Margaret Aetheling from England to Scotland in 1061, and another rescued his Scottish host from Saracens and recaptured the heart of Robert the Bruce. Ignoble
Deeds?
Cattle Rustlers? One story is that the Borthwicks were a scurrilous lot who came from cattle/sheep rustlers stealing animals across the Scottish / English borders. Does any Borthwick researcher have further information about this gem of family history! A Theory Found somewhere on the web ... The Borwick has potentially Norse roots - you will also find Borthwick, similar, and with Norse connections, as in Borthwicks in the south of Scotland, Borthwick Castle not far from Edinburgh, and so on. The word "wick" is the same as "vik" (as in Vik-ings), meaning a cove or small bay. It is common in Shetland, Orkney and any Norse country - for instance, we have Sandvik (Sandy cove) here, and Reykjavik (Smoking bay), and on and on. The Bor - in the Old Norse which is very close to the old Norn dialect of Orkney - it means either a borer or drill, or a small hole. Either could apply as the name of a place. I'll check my map of Orkney to see if I can see a place name like that. As to the Hunto, not sure about that, but it could also be a derivation of a Norse name. Possibly one of Pictish origin, since Picts were there (Orkney at least, and possibly Shetland) as earliest settlers. 'The
Surnames of Scotland' by George Black
This is the Borthwick entry in Surnames of Scotland:
Borthwick History This name is of territorial origin, and it seems likely to have been assumed from lands on Borthwick Water in Roxburghshire. The family is one of the most ancient in Scotland and some recent research suggests that they may have opposed Caesar’s legions. It is traditionally asserted that the progenitor of this noble house was Andreas, who accompanied the Saxon Edgar the Aetheling and his sister, Margaret, later queen and saint, to Scotland in 1067. The family soon became prominent in Scottish affairs. Sir William Borthwick possessed substantial lands in Midlothian and the Borders, and he obtained a charter confirming his lands of Borthwick around 1410. During the 15th century, the Borthwicks acquired immense influence and became Lords of Parliament. The Borthwicks fought alongside James IV at the ill-fated Battle of Flodden in 1513. William, Lord Borthwick, succeeded his father who fell at Flodden, and was given command of the strategic Stirling Castle and charged with the safety of the infant James V. His son, William, was a staunch friend and confidant of Queen Mary, who was a frequent visitor to Borthwick Castle. She took refuge there with her husband, Bothwell, but they were forced to flee before a substantial force under Lords Murray and Morton. David Borthwick of Lochhill was a prominent lawyer who became the King’s Advocate, or principal legal adviser, in 1573. He may have been the first to bear the title, "Lord Advocate", still in use today for the Government’s chief law officer in Scotland. Various branches of the family disputed the right of succession in the 18th and 19th centuries, but in June 1986, Major John Borthwick of Crookston was recognised by the Lord Lyon, King of Arms, as The Lord Borthwick of that Ilk and chief of the name and arms of Borthwick. His son succeeded to the titel when he died. 
 Copyright: Ann Carson 2001/2002 All rights reserved. Created: 17 Feb 2001 Updated: 7 April 2002 |
