MUIRHEAD, William of Lauchope, Sir ²

   User ID: Z730.

  General Notes:

"The reign of King Robert III lasted until 1406. During that reign, in 1393, the surname of Muirhead appeared in a public record for the first time.(1.15) Archibaldus Comes de Douglas, earl of Galloway and Bothwell deeded to Willielmo de Muirhead 'his Lands of Muirhead, in Baronia de Bothwel'."

"In 1401 the name of William de Murehede was written by the man who witnessed a charter involving lands of the Cranshaws. The charter between the Earl of Douglas and Sir John de Syntoun was recorded on 20 October, 1401 at Dunbar. Another charter witnessed by a Sir William Muirhead was recorded in 1407."

"In Rymer's Fœdera Angliæ of 1402 there is an entry naming Dom. Willielmus de Muirhead, miles. (knight)"

" Apart from the evidence suggested by the appellation of 'de Muirhead', there is no evidence to prove where the family that would eventually become known as 'of Muirhead' originally resided within the general vicinity of the village of Muirhead. At some time during the reign of King Robert III (1390-1406), a charter was granted to Sir William Murheid of the lands of Eister Quhitburn in the Sheriffdom of Edinburgh by Adam Forrester of Corstorphine. But this reference does not actually pinpoint the location of the property."

"The first residence to be associated with the family of Muirhead is that of the estate of Lauchope where the newlyweds, Willielmo and Jean de Muirhead, took up residence."

from Mother Bedford website ^{1 2}

  Research Notes:

MUIRHEAD

The Mother Bedford website goes into which Muirhead the family of Muirheads were lairds of, but it is unconvincing in pinpointing the home of the Lauchope Muirheads as the village of Muirhead, near Chryston, Lanarkshire.

The two elements in the name 'muir' and 'head' might point to a great many areas in west-central Scotland around the area where Lauchope House was situated. The Muirhead pinpointed is at some distance from there, previously, until the mid-20th century, a mere hamlet in the parish of Cadder.

William married Jean HAY, daughter of Sir William HAY of Locherworth and Yester, Sheriff of Peebles and Christian WARDLAW.¹ (Jean HAY was born about 1376.)

  Marriage Notes:

"Concerning the family life of Willielmo de Muirhead, Alexander Nisbet, albeit in error, tells us that:

'This knight of Muirhead, of the houƒe of Lachop, married dame Jean Hay, daughter of Sir William Hay of Lochernard, anceƒtor of the lords of Yeƒter, and of the earls and marquƒses of Tweddale: by whom he had Willielmus de Muirhead, Dominus de Lachop, in 1445.' "

"Willielmo and Jean de Muirhead raised a family of four children: William (1415-), Andrew (1418-), Vedestus (1420-) and Janet (1422-)."

from Mother Bedford website ¹