Inglis

There are very early records of this name in the south of Scotland, and Black states that it is derived from the old English for ‘Englishman’. Richard Anglicus witnessed a charter of David I to Melrose Abbey sometime prior to 1153. Walter de Inglis, John de Inglis and Philip de Inglis were in possession of considerable lands when Edward I of England invaded Scotland in 1296. Sir William Inglis was a knight of great renown in the reigns of Robert II and Robert III: in 1395, he met in single combat Sir Thomas Struthers, the English champion, and killed him on the spot. The Inglises were rewarded with the barony of Manner by royal charter in 1396, and the family subsequently traced their descent from Sir William. Nisbet states that the family were closely connected to the Earls of Douglas and added the three stars of Douglas to their own coat of arms to indicate their dependence upon that great house. The barony of Manner was sold in 1709 and the representation of the family devolved upon Charles Inglis of Craigend who was a lawyer in Edinburgh and who died in 1743. The family of Inglis of Cramond flourished in Edinburgh, where they acquired great wealth and the lands of Cramond, purchased from the Bishop of Dunkeld in 1624. A fine tower, all that remains of the bishop’s palace, still stands in the grounds of Cramond House, the splendid mansion house built by John Inglis of Cramond in 1680 shortly before his death. Sir James Inglis of Cramond was created a baronet in March 1687. His son was Postmaster General of Scotland until 1725. The baronetcy became extinct in 1817 for want of a male heir and the estate passed to Lady Torphichen, daughter of Sir John Inglis. The fine house was not abandoned and at the height of the Victorian era it was a fashionable society address. In 1860 the Duchess of Kent, mother of Queen Victoria, stayed there for several weeks. The queen herself, en route for Balmoral, made an unexpected visit in September 1860 when, along with the Prince Consort, she attended a service in Cramond Kirk. The house is still in use today and belongs to Cramond Kirk.