Trotter

The name of Trotter is said to derive from the French, ‘trotier’, a ‘runner’ or ‘messenger’. One legend says that this name was given to a brother of Lord Gifford for delivering a message to James III with great speed. The Borders clan bearing this name was headed by the Trotters of Prentannan in Berwickshire, who followed the Homes on their many forays across the border. One of the Trotter chiefs was killed at Flodden in 1513. A direct descendant fought under the banner of James Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, for James VII at the Battle of Killiecrankie. The Jacobite’s grandson, the Reverend Robert Trotter, was a distinguished academic who produced a work on the life of Christ and the Apostles which is still considered standard reading in many theology colleges. Dr John Trotter was a surgeon at Tynron in Dumfries who followed his family’s Jacobite sympathies, treating and concealing wounded Scots soldiers retreating from England. Other distinguished families of this name include the Trotters of Charterhall, of Catchelraw and of Mortonhall. The name is also now common in Northumberland and Durham. The Trotters of Mortonhall, which lies on the outskirts of Edinburgh, claim to have held their lands as far back as the reign of Robert II. William Trotter of Catchelraw was one of the knights charged with keeping the peace on the Borders under royal warrants of 1437 and 1450. One of his grandsons was treasurer of the city of Edinburgh. They were staunch adherents of Charles I, and in 1645 were fined for assisting the Marquess of Montrose. Robert Trotter of Bush was Postmaster General for Scotland. He died in 1807. Thomas Trotter of Mortonhall was killed serving with his squadron of Dragoons at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. In xxxx 1996 Major Alexander Trotter of Mortonhall was confirmed by the Lord Lyon as chief.