FAMILY WEB PAGE
CRUICKSHANK
MAPS
Four geographical areas in Scotland are found in the Cruickshank story. These areas are:
1. Angus, where the Cruick Water flows
2. The Mearns, later called Kincardineshire, where the
Cruickshank name is first found (House of Names)
3. Atholl, for the Stewarts of Atholl, the Cruickshank clan
4. Aberdeenshire, specifically the part known as Buchan, from where our family tree emanates.
Old Map of Scotland
The map above is entitled "A New Map of Scotland" which was, of course, true when it was drawn. Based upon place names on this map it can be dated to the 12th century (1100's).
Of particular note on this map are: Angus, The Mearns (shown as Mernis), Atholl (shown as Athole), and Buchan.
This page starts from the earliest time in history and moves toward the present.
ANGUS
The earliest history of Cruickshank comes from the Cruick Water. This stream is entirely in Angus, beginning in the Parish of Fearn and emptying into the River Esk, near Stracathro.
As legend has it, an early king of Pictland named Cruithne (who was a son of Cinq) divided his land amongst his 7 sons, as illustrated on the map, Seven Sons of Cruithne, below. (On this map, just look at the names, because the geographic boundaries refer to a later division of lands.)
The modern-day council area of Angus traces its name to an eighth century Pictish king, Óengus son of Fergus (ruled 732-761AD). Óengus (Angus) hailed from Circinn, one of the Pictish kingdoms roughly coextensive with the modern county of Angus.
Seven Sons of Cruithne
The timing for Picts is variously reported as a period starting between the Mid to Late Iron Age (400BC to 250AD) and ending in the Early Medieval period (approx 900AD).
Angus changed its name to Forfarshire in the 18th century (1700's), then back to Angus in 1928.
KINCARDINESHIRE
The surname Cruickshank was first found in the Mearns, (Gaelic: A' Mhaoirne), where they held a family seat from very ancient times. Mearns means stewartry in Scottish Gaelic.
Kincardineshire, the area in white
The name "Kincardineshire" was given to the area previously known as "The Mearns" when King William the Lion (reigned 1165 until 1214) established a Royal Hunting Park at Kincardine, essentially making Kincardine the county town and thus the name "Kincardineshire" was adopted for the region;
This now extinct shire was on the northeast coast of the Grampian region of Scotland. It has been part of the Aberdeenshire Council Area since 1996.
ATHOLL
Cruickshank is a sept of clan Stewart of Atholl
One of the sons of Cruithne was named Fotla or (Foclaid) who received land including what would later be considered (northern) Atholl. While this is difficult to date, another son, Fib, is said to have ruled his area between 715BC and 691BC.
Seven Sons of Cruithne
Kenneth MacAlpin united the Scottish kingdoms in 843AD, and over time, areas of land were re-divided, combined, and re-divided again.
Mormaers were rulers of areas smaller than all of Scotland. For example, Dubdon of Atholl (active 960s AD) was Mormaer of Atholl during the reign of King Dub of Scotland.(reigned 963 to 967AD).
Map of Mormaerdoms
Malcolm III (reigned 1058 to 1093) appears to have introduced the idea of shires, governed by shire-reeves (sheriffs) as part of a policy of replacing previous forms of government with Norman feudal structures. This policy was continued by Edgar (reigned 1097 to 1107), Alexander I (reigned 1107 to 1124), and in particular David I (reigned 1124 to 1153).
Under King Edgar, Atholl went from a mormaerdom to an earldom. The first recorded Earl of Atholl was Matad, some time in the 1100's.
King Robert II (B1316 - D 1390), was the first Earl of Atholl from the Stewart family. This is the Stewart connection to Atholl. When he became king, Robert II passed the Earldom of Atholl to this son John Stewart. In time John Stewart became King Robert III.
Area of Atholl
in dark blue
In 1305 Edward I of England, who had deposed John Balliol, King of Scots, issued an Ordinance for the Government of Scotland. This document listed the twenty-three shires then existing and either appointed new sheriffs or continued heritable sheriffs in office.
Key to Counties Until 1890
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1. Caithness
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2. Sutherland
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3. Ross-shire
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6. Nairnshire
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8. Banffshire
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10. Kincardineshire
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11. Forfarshire
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12. Perthshire
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13. Argyll
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14. County of Bute
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15. Ayrshire
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16. Renfrewshire
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17. Dunbartonshire
18. Stirlingshire
19. Clackmannanshire
20. Kinross-shire
21. Fife
22. Linlithgowshire
24. Haddingtonshire
25. Berwickshire
Counties Until 1890
26. Roxburghshire
27. Dumfriesshire 28. Kirkcudbrightshire 29. Wigtownshire
30. Lanarkshire
31. Selkirkshire
32. Peeblesshire
On the map above, the land of Angus was known as Forfarshire (#11) and the land of Atholl became the northern part of Perth County or Perthshire (#12)
In 1703, Atholl was made a dukedom (with a Duke) which has higher status than an earldom (with an Earl).
In 1746, the right of the Earls of Atholl to hold courts for the area were ended by the Heritable Jurisdictions Act, and the province was subsequently only subject to the jurisdiction of the sheriff of Perthshire.
In 1889, counties were created by the Local Government (Scotland) Act which replaced the ancient provinces by new Counties (shires), aligned to sheriffdom boundaries.
Again, Angus is alternately called Forfarshire (#2) and Atholl had formed the northern portion of Perthshire (#24).
SHIRES from 1890 to 1975
The 1947 map at right (or below
for portable devices) includes:
-Counties and Districts,
-Cities,
-Large and Small Burghs
For more clarity: Try your View tab and Zoom 150%
1947 Administrative Map
ABERDEENSHIRE
Many with the surname Cruickshank trace their lineage to Aberdeenshire. Over the centuries this shire became larger, absorbing other lands into it.
Aberdeenshire
Current Map of North East Scotland
Aberdeenshire has expanded over the years to include lands that were previously (parts of) other shires.
The name Aberdeen can be translated "at the mouth of the Dee." Aberdeen has always been between the Don and Dee rivers, and Aberdeenshire takes its name from this principle city.
Present Day
Aberdeenshire
During the reign of King David I (reigned 1124 until 1153), Aberdeen became a royal borough and the shire of Aberdeenshire was established.
The map above provides a number of the smaller towns where members of the Cruickshank family lived. The area shown goes slightly beyond Aberdeenshire
In 1975, shires ceased to be used for local government purposes, and local government regions were developed. Today local government is based upon Council Areas. The Council Areas have adopted some shire names but the boundaries are not necessarily the same as the shires were. Atholl forms the northern part of the Council Area of Perth and Kinross, which itself is made from the 2 older shires (counties) of Perth and Kinross. The remainder of Atholl is approximately in the present day council area of Stirling.
Towns and villages in the area previously called Atholl include Aberfeldy, Ballinluig, Blair Atholl, Dunkeld, Kirkmichael, Logierait, Pitlochry and Weem.
Present Day
Council Areas and their Capitals