Clan Guthrie

Clan Guthrie is a Scottish clan.

History

Origins of the clan

The family of Guthrie took their name from the lands of the same name in the county of Angus, Scotland and their name is one of the oldest in that county. The origin of the name Guthrie is not known, although there is a tradition that the lands were named Guthrie by an early king of Scots, after a fisherman gut three fish to serve his hungry monarch.

In about 1178 William the Lion granted the lands of Gutherin to Arbroath Abbey. The family were royal falconers and subsequently purchased these lands.

Wars of Scottish Independence

The Laird of Guthrie was sent to France in 1299 to invite William Wallace to return to Scotland. The mission was successful and Guthrie landed with Wallace at Montrose, Angus. The early charters of the Guthrie family have since been lost but it seems certain that they obtained the Barony of Guthrie from David II of Scotland.

15th century

In August 1442, Alexander Guthrie of Guthrie witnessed a charter by Alexander Seton, lord of Gordon to Lord Keith. He acquired the lands of Kincaldrum near Forfar in 1446 and became Baillie of Forfar. Sir David Guthrie of Guthrie was armour bearer to the king, captain of the guard and was appointed Lord Treasurer of Scotland in 1461. He also obtained a charter under the great seal to build Guthrie Castle in 1468 and in 1473 was appointed Lord Chief Justice of Scotland. David greatly increased the Guthrie estates and founded a collegiate church at Guthrie which was confirmed in a Papal bull of 1479.