Urquhart

The name is derived from the place name of the district of Urquhart in the old sherriffdom of Cromarty. The Clan Urquhart is said to be of ancient origin, although it is doubtful whether they are, as stated by Sir Thomas Urquhart, 143rd in direct descent from Adam and Eve.

A marriage, by William Urquhart, Sherriff of Cromarty, added vastly to his lands, and his son also made a shrewd marriage to the daughter of Lord Abernethy, and was claimed to have sired twenty five sons, seven of whom were killed at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547. The eldest son, Alexander, gained lands in Ross-shire and Inverness-shire from James V.

Sir Thomas Urquhart was a 17th century royalist soldier and writer. The last of the male line was Colonel James Urquhart, who died in 1741. The chiefship then passed to the Urquharts of Meldrum.