Turnbull

This name, like so many others, has a 
legend to explain its origins. The sixteenth-century historian, Boece, records that a Borders man by the name of Rule, saved Robert the Bruce by ‘turning an angry bull which was set to gore the king’. The king promptly named him Turnbull and rewarded him with lands which were named ‘bedrule’ after their fortunate new owner. Sadly, like so many such stories, the more likely derivation is from the old English ‘trumbald’, meaning ‘strong’or ‘bold’. Black notes that in Teviotdale the name is commonly pronounced ‘Trumell’, which tends to support the English derivation. The fact that the arms of this family bear three bulls heads is of little assistance, as they are clearly canting, or punning on the name. The Turnbulls were to become one of the most turbulent of the Borders families. Prior to the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333, Turnbull, accompanied by a huge mastiff, approached the English host and challenged anyone to single combat. He was to regret his audacity. Sir Robert Benhale accepted Turnbull’s challenge and, although apparently lacking Turnbull’s impressive stature, his skill was such that he dispatched the mastiff with a single blow and then dealt similarly with its master. He apparently severed Turnbull’s left arm, promptly followed by his head. The Turnbulls held land throughout the Borders. William Turnbull received a charter from Robert the Bruce in 1315 to land near Philiphaugh, and John Turnbull received the lands of Hundleshope from David II. John Turnbull, nicknamed ‘outwith sword’, for his fierce temper, is listed as a Scots prisoner of war in England around 1400. William Turnbull held a papal appointment in 1433 and this same name appears as one of the canons of Glasgow Cathedral in 1452. Stephen Tournebulle represented Scottish interests at the University of Orleans at the beginning of the sixteenth century. William Turnbull, Bishop of Glasgow, procured from the pope a charter to establish a university in the city in 1450. The bishop’s vision was realised when the University of Glasgow was founded in 1451. William Turnbull, a noted nineteenth-century American ornithologist, was born in Midlothian in 1820. Herbert Turnbull, who died in 1961, was a distinguished mathematician responsible for major contributions to the study of algebra.