Clan Irvine

Erewine and Erwinne are old English personal names, and Gilchrist, son of Erwini, witnessed a charter of the Lord of Galloway sometime between 1124 and 1165. The Brythonic ‘ir-afon’ means ‘green water’. The lands which first bore the name of Irvine appear to have been in Dumfriesshire. Family tradition asserts that the origin of the chiefly family is linked with the early Celtic monarchs of Scotland. Duncan Eryvine, was the brother of Crinan, who, through the lay Abbots of Dunkeld, claimed descent from the High Kings of Ireland. Crinan married the daughter and heiress of Malcolm II, and their eldest son became King Duncan, whose murder forms the basis for Shakespeare’s Macbeth.

It was King Robert the Bruce who first brought the Irvine family to Drum. For many years legends have suggested that William was armour-bearer and secretary to the King, however recent detailed research of contemporary charters and documents, by members of the Irvine family have challenged these legends. It is now more probable that William de Irwyn hailed from the town of Irvine in Ayrshire. Later he was a clerk in the royal chancellry, where he was a protégé of Bernard, Abbot of Arbroath, Chancellor of Scotland. Nevertheless he was sufficiently well regarded in the royal household, to have been worthy of being made the King's representative in the Royal forest of Drum. He was given ownership of the Tower of Drum and was granted the Barony of Drum in 1323. .... more

Drum Catle

• A1. Irwyn of Bonshaw;
  • B1. William de Irwin, 1st of Drum;
    • C1. William de Irwin, 2nd of Drum, m. N. Montford;
      • D1. Sir Robert de Irwin, 4th of Drum, m. Elizabeth Keith;
        • E1. Alexander Irvine, m. N. Abernethy;  ==>  Clan Abernethy
          • F1. Alexander Irvine, Sheriff of Aberdeenshire, d:1493, m. Elizabeth Forbes;  ==>  Clan Forbes
            • G1. Sir Alexander Irvine, Sheriff of Aberdeen, m. Janet Keith;
              • H1. Elspeth Irvine, m. Sir George Ogilvy;  <==  Clan Ogilvy
              • H2. Alexander Irvine, m. Janet Allardice;
                • I1. Alexander Irvine of Lonmay, m. Elisabeth Ogilvy;
                  • J1. Alexander Irvine, 8th of Drum, d:1603, m. Elisabeth Keith;  ==>  Clan Keith
                    • H1. Elisabeth Irvine, m. James Ogilvy;  <==  Clan Ogilvy
        • E2. Robert Irvine, 1st of Beltie, d:1452;
          • F1. Alexander Irvine, 2nd of Beltie, d:1508;
            • G1. Alexander Irvine, 3rd of Beltie, d:1519;
              • H1. Robert Irvine, 4th of Beltie, d:1560;
                • I1. Alexander Irvine, d:1558;
                  • J1. Alexander Irvine, 5th of Beltie, d:1614, m. Agnes Forbes;  ==>  Clan Forbes
                    • K1. Alexander Irvine of Wester Beltie, b:1550, m. Janet Duncan;
                      • L1. Katherine Irvine, lvd:1582/1662, m. Robert Gordon;  <==  Clan Gordon