"PETIT ALTA"
{He seeks high deeds} 
Abercromby Motto








"The Scottish Gael"
The Abercromby Tartan
First recorded by 
James Logan in 1831
  




The lands of Abercromby lie in Fife. 
The earliest record of the name is found 
in 1296 when William de Abercromby did homage 
to Edward I of England in 1296 for his lands 
in the parish of Abercromby, Fife. The lineage 
of the family passed to the, House of Abercromby 
of Birkenbog in Banffshire in the early seventeenth 
century. The history of the Abercrombies intimately 
connected to religious discord, not only because the 
lands in Banff were granted to Alexander Abercromby 
by the Bishop of Aberdeen in 1362. Robert Abercromby 
(1534-1613) was a Jesuit priest of the Scottish mission 
who vehemently opposed the Reformation and its effect 
on the Scottish church. Most notably, he is alleged to 
have converted Queen Anne of Denmark, wife of James VI, 
to Catholicism before her death. In a similar vein of 
religious dissent, Alexander Abercromby became a fervent 
Covenanter strongly opposed the imposition of an Episcopal 
church in Scotland by Charles I. This was a provocative 
and defiant stance that was punished by the quartering of 
troops at Birkenbog as part of a famous campaign to restore 
the authority of Charles I conducted by the Marquis of 
Montrose. David Abercromby became a Jesuit after study in 
Douai and followed in his kin's footsteps by opposing 
the Protestant faith on his return. However, he converted 
to Protestantism to the extent he published a significant 
tract against Papal power, "Protestancy Proved Safer Than 
Popery", in 1682.

A military connection is of equal importance to 
Abercromby history. 



Sir Ralph Abercromby (1734-1801), revered as one of the 
greatest military reformers, was a mentor to Wellington 
during the retreat from Europe in 1795 at the outset of 
the Napoleonic wars. The eventual success against Napoleon 
is attributed to Abercromby's restructuring of the army. 

Another notable success was the capture of the Spanish 
island of Trinidad for the British crown- the spoils of a 
conflict with the French in the West Indies that he had 
headed as Commander-in-Chief since 1795. He took an even 
more vital role in the Egypt campaign by commanding troops 
who took the strategic fortress of Aboukir from the French 
in the decisive Battle of Alexandria. Such achievement is 
reflected in the honours bestowed upon his descendants and 
equalled in other fields. 

His widow was created Baroness Abercromby of Aboukir and 
Tullibody, a title that reflects the influence of this 
clan beyond their own land. Sir Ralph's brother, Robert, 
was also in the military and was created a Knight of the 
Order of the Bath and commander-in-chief of the British 
forces in India. He later was Governor of Edinburgh Castle 
for almost 30 years.



Abercromby
 
Origin: Scottish
Spelling variations include: Abercrumby, 
Abircrumby, Abbircummy, Abbircromby, 
Abircombie, Abircromy, Abircrommbie, 
Abircromby, Abircrumme, Abircrumbye, 
Abercrombie, Abercromby, Abyrcrumby, 
Abyrcrumbie, Abbercrumbie, Abbercrommie, 
Ebercrombie and many more.

First found in the county of Fifeshire 
in eastern Scotland



ABERCROMBY TARANTS
  
ABERCROMBY  LOGAN      ABERCROMBY  MacKINLAY      ABERCROMBY WILSON




Account of the Clan provided by 
James Pringle Weavers

ABERCROMBY
The name comes from the Barony of 
Abercrombie in Fife, for which William de Abercromby 
swore fealty to Edward I in 1296. From William 
descended the Abercrombies of that Ilk, whose main 
line remained in Fife when a later second son of the 
family obtained the lands of Petmethan (Pitmeddan) 
in Aberdeenshire during the reign of Robert Bruce 
(1306-29). The stem family held Abercrombie and 
Balcormo in Fife, and acquired the lands of Murthly 
in Perthshire about 1443. Balcormo passed to the 
Arnots through marriage about 1518, and Murthly was 
sold to the Stewarts of Grandtully c.1620, just 
prior the demise of the principal family. The family 
were supporters of the Catholic Church, one having 
been Abbot of Scone, while another, Robert, a 
militant Jesuit father, escaped capture following 
the Battle of Glenlivet in 1594 and escaped abroad. 
The demise of the Fife line was hastened by the 
denouncement of Thomas Abercrombie for murder in 
1626, and during his exile in Ireland his lands 
passed to Gibb of Knock, a relative by marriage. 
Other Abercrombies were settled at Throsk near 
Stirling by 1456; at Gourdie, near Dundee by 1558, 
and in West Lothian by 1604, but the most unruly 
tribe settled at Pitelpie, near Scone, Perthshire, 
and frequently appear in 16th century records 
denounced as 'rebels'. Tradition relates a curious 
burial practice amongst the Abercrombies of that Ilk: 
On the death of a Laird his predecessor's skull was 
removed from the grave and stored in a niche in the 
church where 19 skulls were reputedly in situ by 
the 18th century. The Pitmeddan line's fortunes rose 
while their kinsmen's declined, for in addition to 
the establishment of numerous Houses at Fetternear, 
Glassaugh and elsewhere, Alexander, 12th of Pitmeddan 
was created 'Grand Falconer' by James VI, and his son 
became 1st Baronet of Birkenbog (1636). Some 
Abercrombies appear in Scots Guards Lists in France 
as "Abre Commier