Re: Glooscap translation?

[Niven Sinclair <niven@niven.co.uk>]

At 08:33 31/08/00 +0200, you wrote:
> Sinclair
>  
> Where can one read more about Gillascop,
> please?
> And do the Scrymgeours have a web site where can one
> read more about their clan gathering?
>  
> Mark Anderson
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: Privateers
> > To: sinclair@matrix.net 
> > Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2000 3:21 AM
> > Subject: Re: Glooscap translation?
> >
> > Dear Bro Bill
> >  
> > off list
> >  
> > Gillascop is Gaelic for Archibald.  I have spelt Scrymgeour both the old and new ways. 
> >
> > On August 1, 1240, in what appears to be the earliest royal grant of lands ever made in the region of Argyll, which encompasses much of western Scotland, Gillascop and Eoghan became the recipients of a charter provided by Scotland s King Alexander II. The grant was made in apparent gratitude for the support rendered by the two brothers for the king s successful military campaign against the Norse who controlled the western islands. The grant was however a formality in that Gillascop and Eoghan were already in possession of the land --- land approximating 100,000 acres which they had inherited from their father. Among the lands recorded as belonging to Gillascop were the five pennylands of Fynchairn (or, Fincharn), the two Rudols which bordered Fincharn, and Glenfynport and Letherlochake which were on the Cowal side of Loch Fyne. Belonging to Eoghan were the lands of Crageneure (Cragenywyr), the pennyland of Penig Corthen, and Naheass which was probably Achachois. 
> >  
> > Dudhope Castle is the ancient home of the Scrimgeour clan John Graham of Claverhouse (Bonnie Dundee) was a Scrimgeour 'on the distaff side . Earl and Countess of Dundee are chief of the clan they live in Birkhill Cupar Fife and host the annual clan gatherings.  The Wallace monument in Stirling has a tribute to Alexander Scrimgeour, one of Wallace's principal supporters. 
> >  
> > as ever
> > Sinclair
> > > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > > From: William Buehler 
> > > To: sinclair@matrix.net 
> > > Sent: Wednesday, August 30, 2000 11:00 PM
> > > Subject: Glooscap translation?
> > >
> > > Subject: word "glooscap/gillascop"
> > >  
> > > To anyone who knows any form of Gaelic, old English or French:
> > >  
> > > I'm wondering if anyone has ever tried to translate the "name" Glooscap or Gillascop (as in "Gillascop Scrymgeour, hereditary Bannerman of the Scottish monarchy"). Supposing that we are looking at a title rather than a family name? This might be an official, semi-official or just a familiar nick-name used as a title. The title includes the idea of an unofficial office or function of some sort ...for example: "Sparks" as a radio operator. 
> > >  
> > > Just to amuse myself in an idle hour I checked Dwelly's for the three word sounds in the "name." There are a number of translations and connections that I find quite intriguing but I'm interested in hearing other from persons with firm accepted translations, if any. Also if any source of the name is available. 
> > >  
> > > Bill Buehler


Gill = follower.  Hence, e.g. McGilchrist = the son of the follower of Christ.
Gillascop = "of the kindred of Columba".  It was a title which the Maclaclans 
had used (see Moncrieffe pp 87, 95, 97) and, when Agnes of Glassary married
Alexander Scrymgeorin 1370, he asumed all her lands and titles including the
right to be called Gillascop.

We believe that an Alexander Scrymgeour attended the meeting in Kirkwall
(23rd April, 1391) with Prince Henry Sinclair about which J.Storer Clouston,
the noted Orcadian historian, wrote: "Nothing confirmed the princely magnificence
of the Sinclairs more than the names of those attending that meeting".

The surname "Scrimgeour" was first bestowed on Sir Alexander Carron by King
Alexander I  in 1107 when he had a special grant from the King to himself and
to his heir male of his body to be hereditary standard bearers to the Kings of
Scotland.

Scrimgeour = hardy fighter

An earlier Sir Alexander Scrymgeour  was an associate of Sir William
Wallace who bestowed on him the office of Constable of Dundee and made it hereditary
in his family.  This grant was conferred on him at Torphichen, on 29th March 1298.
Torphichen which was associated with the Knights Templar in Scotland because of
its large silver mines - silver being the main 'currency' of the Templars.  A Sir John
Sandilands (who was the Preceptor of the Knights of St John which Order took over much 
of the Templar property) was known as the "silver knight".  He married the third daughter
of Prince Henry Sinclair.

If, as is likely, a James Scrimgeour accompanied Prince Henry Sinclair to the New
World in 1398 he certainly returned because he was killed at the Battle of Harlaw in
1411.  Earlier, his grandfather, John Scrimgeour, had been killed at the Battle of Halidon
Hill in 1333 - such was the price of being the standard bearer.

Niven Sinclair