Clan Trotter
Encyclopedia
Clan Trotter is a Lowland Scottish clan
. Several distinguished families of this name include the Trotters of Charterhall, of Catchelraw, of Prentannan and of Mortonhall.
with great speed. The Borders clan bearing this name was headed by the Trotters of Prentannan in Berwickshire, who followed the Clan Home
on their many forays across the border.
The name Trotter Trottman, or Trottier are also found to be of English descent. As an occupational name, 'the trotter' i.e. a messenger, one who trotted back and forth with messages. This name is found in many ancient manuscripts of England from the 16th century onwards. These may have been Trotters who left Scotland and settled in England.
The name is also 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 King Robert II of Scotland
. 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.
of the 16th century the Clan Trotter fought at the Battle of Flodden Field
against the English in 1513, where their chief was killed.
, and in 1645 were fined for assisting the royalist commander James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
. 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.
During the latter half of the 17th century, after the Civil War the Clan Trotter fought in support of the early Jacobite risings led by John Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee
. The Clan Trotter fought at the Battle of Killiecrankie
in 1689 where they were victorious, led by a chief who descended directly from the chief killed at Flodden in 1513.
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.
, DL
.
Scottish clan
Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs recognised by the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which acts as an authority concerning matters of heraldry and Coat of Arms...
. Several distinguished families of this name include the Trotters of Charterhall, of Catchelraw, of Prentannan and of Mortonhall.
Origins of the clan
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 King James III of ScotlandJames III of Scotland
James III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...
with great speed. The Borders clan bearing this name was headed by the Trotters of Prentannan in Berwickshire, who followed the Clan Home
Clan Home
The Homes are a Scottish family. They were a powerful force in medieval Lothian and the Borders. The chief of the name is David Douglas-Home, 15th Earl of Home.-Origins of the clan:...
on their many forays across the border.
The name Trotter Trottman, or Trottier are also found to be of English descent. As an occupational name, 'the trotter' i.e. a messenger, one who trotted back and forth with messages. This name is found in many ancient manuscripts of England from the 16th century onwards. These may have been Trotters who left Scotland and settled in England.
The name is also common in Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
and Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
. The Trotters of Mortonhall, which lies on the outskirts of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, claim to have held their lands as far back as the reign of King Robert II of Scotland
Robert II of Scotland
Robert II became King of Scots in 1371 as the first monarch of the House of Stewart. He was the son of Walter Stewart, hereditary High Steward of Scotland and of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert I and of his first wife Isabella of Mar...
. 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.
16th century & Anglo-Scottish Wars
During the Anglo-Scottish WarsAnglo-Scottish Wars
The Anglo-Scottish Wars were a series of wars fought between England and Scotland during the sixteenth century.After the Wars of Scottish Independence, England and Scotland had fought several times during the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. In most cases, one country had attempted to...
of the 16th century the Clan Trotter fought at the Battle of Flodden Field
Battle of Flodden Field
The Battle of Flodden or Flodden Field or occasionally Battle of Branxton was fought in the county of Northumberland in northern England on 9 September 1513, between an invading Scots army under King James IV and an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey...
against the English in 1513, where their chief was killed.
17th century & civil war
During the Civil War the Trotters of Mortonhall were staunch adherents of King Charles ICharles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
, and in 1645 were fined for assisting the royalist commander James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed...
. 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.
During the latter half of the 17th century, after the Civil War the Clan Trotter fought in support of the early Jacobite risings led by John Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee
John Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee
John Graham of Claverhouse, 1st Viscount Dundee , known as the 7th Laird of Claverhouse until raised to the viscounty in 1688, was a Scottish soldier and nobleman, a Tory and an Episcopalian...
. The Clan Trotter fought at the Battle of Killiecrankie
Battle of Killiecrankie
-References:*Reid, Stuart, The Battle of Kiellliecrankkie -External links:* *...
in 1689 where they were victorious, led by a chief who descended directly from the chief killed at Flodden in 1513.
18th to 19th centuries
The grandson of the chief who fought at the Battle of Killiecrankie was 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.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
Battle of Waterloo
The Battle of Waterloo was fought on Sunday 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in present-day Belgium, then part of the United Kingdom of the Netherlands...
in 1815.
Clan chief
Alexander Richard Trotter of Mortonhall, and 5th of Charterhall, and chief of the Name and Arms of Trotter, JPJustice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
.
Clan profile
- Arms: Quarterly, 1st & 4th, Argent, a fess Gules between three mullets in chief Sable and a crescent in base Azure; 2nd & 3rd, Argent, a chevron between three boars’ heads couped Sable.
- Crest: A knight in armour Proper, holding his courser Argent caparisoned Gules.
- Motto: In promptu (In readiness).
- Supporters: Dexter, a lion rampant Gules, armed and langued Azure; sinister, a horse Argent maned and hoofed Or.