Edmonstone

The Edmonstones are first noted as being prominent in Scotland around Edinburgh where lands of that name are to be found. ‘Tun’ means ‘noble residence’ or ‘small village’. The ‘Edmund’ is suggested by Black to have been Aedmund, son of Forn, witness to a charter by Thor, son of Swane, in 1150. Henry de Edmundston witnessed a charter around 1200. Sir John de Edmonstone seems to have been a person of note at the court of David II, being employed on various embassies to England. He received as reward the barony of Boyne in Banffshire. Nisbet states that John Edmundstone received the barony of Ednam, which became the family’s principal designation, from Robert II. He married Isabel, widow of James, Earl of Douglas, who was the king’s own daughter. This is confirmed in a subsequent royal charter where David de Edmistoun is designed as ‘our kinsman’. The family also acquired the lands of Duntreath, and numerous cadet houses have sprung from the main stem. James VI appointed Sir William Edmundstone of Duntreath to be captain of Doune Castle and steward of Monteith. The lands of Edmonstone near Edinburgh came to the family of Wauchope of Niddrie, and one of that name took the title of Lord Edmonstone when appointed to the Supreme Court Bench. Sir Archibald Edmonstone of the Duntreath line was created a baronet in 1774. The fifth Baronet of Duntreath was groom-in-waiting to Edward VII from 1907 to 1910.

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