All artwork and text copyright © Scots Connection 2012. None of the images and text on this website are in the public domain. Images may not be hotlinked, downloaded (except through normal viewing through browser) nor copied, transmitted, altered, or stored. Non-web use in educational and charitable projects requires prior written permission.

Guthrie Clan

Guthrie Crest: A dexter arm, holding a sword, Proper.

Guthrie Clan Motto: Sto Pro Veritate (I stand on account of truth).

Guthrie Clan History:

The surname originates from the Barony of Guthrie, near Forfar, in Angus, although it has also been suggested that it comes from Guthrum, a 9th century Scandinavian prince. It was the Laird of Guthrie who accompanied  Sir William Wallace back to Scotland from France in 1299, and this is the earliest mention on record.  In 1348, Adam de Guthrie appears as a witness in Dundee.

In the 15th century, Alexander Guthrie of Guthrie witnessed a Charter between Alexander Seton, Lord Gordon, and Lord Keith, and Sir David Guthrie became King's Treasurer. It was he who in 1468, built Guthrie Castle, near Friockheim, in Angus. In 1473, he was appointed Lord Chief Justice of Scotland, and raised a Collegiate Church at Guthrie. The current house was erected around 1760 and connected to the original tower in 1848.

Sir David's eldest son, Sir Alexander Guthrie, died at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.  Mid-sixteenth century, a feud developed between Clan Guthrie and their neighbours, the Gardynes, leading to the assassination of the then Alexander Guthrie. The Guthries responded in kind, but were given a Royal Pardon in 1618.

In 1636, John Guthrie, Bishop of Moray, became 11th Chief of the Name.  His younger son Andrew was a supporter of the Marquis of Montrose and after being taken prisoner at the Battle of Philiphaugh was executed in Edinburgh. The Bishop's daughter, however, married her cousin Francis Guthrie of Gagie, near Dundee, and the Guthrie estate remained in the family.

The last male Chief of the Guthries was Lieutenant Colonel Ivan Guthrie of Guthrie who commanded the 4th Battalion of the Black Watch. On his death in 1964, he was succeeded as Chief by his daughter Moyra, who died in 1984. Alexander Guthrie of Guthrie is the current 21st Chief of Clan Guthrie and lives abroad. Guthrie Castle is no longer owned by the family.

Thomas Guthrie (1803-73) was born at Brechin, and in 1817 became Minister of Old Greyfriars Church in Edinburgh, later of St John's Church in Edinburgh. In 1847, he wrote Plea for Ragged Schools, and in 1857, The City; Its Sins and Sorrows. Sir James Guthrie (1859-1930) was born at Greenock and studied law before turning to painting landscapes and figure studies.

Torosay Castle on the island of Mull was acquired in 1865 by Arbuthnot Charles Guthrie, the prosperous younger son of the co-founder of a small merchant bank called Chalmers Guthrie of Dundee and London. The castle was inherited in 1945 by David Guthrie-James who as a young man had rounded Cape Horn as a deck hand on the Viking, one of the last of the purely commercial Finnish four master barques, and was latterly Member of Parliament for North Dorset. It is now the home of his son Christopher James.

There is an active Clan Guthrie organisation  based in the USA.

Place of Interest: Guthrie Castle, Friockheim, Angus, was built by Sir David Guthrie in 1468. The current house was built around 1760 and connected to the original tower. At the National Museum of Scotland can be seen the Guthrie Bell-shrine from the church at Guthrie.

Click here to buy a unique personalised Clan Guthrie certificate.

Click here for Guthrie tartan.

Click here for Guthrie Kilts and Highland Dress.