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Clan Turnbull History
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Legend of Clan Turnbull. . . "And the courtiers hailed the man who turned the bull." So the beloved poem ends. According to the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, the name Turnbull, like so many other clan names, has a wonderful legend to explain its origins. The sixteenth-century historian, Boece, recorded as fact at the University of Aberdeen that a Borders man by the name of Rule, saved King Robert the Bruce by turning an angry bull which was set to gore him. The king promptly named him Turnbull, the man who turned the bull. The king rewarded him with lands which were named Bedrule, after their fortunate new owner. |
| English Derivation of Turnbull. . . Gaelic names were corrupted into English. The likely derivation of the modern pronunication of Turnbull is from the old English Trumbald, meaning strong or bold. The surname, Teviotdale, was commonly pronounced Trumell, which lends support to the English derivation of the name. | |
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Border History. . . The Turnbulls were 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 his master. He apparently severed Turnbull's left arm, promptly followed by his head! William Turnbull received a charter from Robert the Bruce in 1315 to land near Philiphaugh, and John Turnbull received the lands of Hunndleshope from David II. John Turnbull, nicknamed Outwith Sword for his fierce temper, is listed as a Scots prisoner of war in England around 1400. |
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Distinguished Turnbulls . . . 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. |
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| Border Clans . . . There is probably no region other than the Anglo-Scottish Borderlands which can claim such a protracted period of constant violence and unrest. The almost constant warring between England and Scotland changed the lives of the families living immediately north and south of the Border. Owing to their geographical position they were frequently harassed by passing armies who, at least, would require provisioning, often without payment, but were usually hell bent on destroying everything before them and causing as much damage and misery as they could. Crops were destroyed, homesteads burnt and the people murdered or dispersed. (Border information courtesy of The Border Reivers. Read more about it at www.borderreivers.co.uk). |
| Bedrule. . . Traditionally, the name Bedrule has been associated with the 'roar' of the Rule water, a tributary of the Teviot which runs its course along the western boundary of the parish of Bedrule. Read more about the Parish of Bedrule at www.bedruleparish.btinternet.co.uk. |
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Hector Beoce. . . Born: 1465 in Dundee, Scotland Died: 1536 Profession: Chronicler; Founder of the University of Aberdeen; Professor at College of Montaigu, Paris Education: Bachelor of Divinity; professor at the College of Montaigu Noteworthy: From about 1495, Boece was zealously aiding William Elphinstone, the learned Bishop of Aberdeen, to carry out the provisions of a Bull of Alexander VI, obtained at the request of James IV, chartering a university with all faculties in the city of Aberdeen. In 1505, they founded the collegiate church of St. Mary of the Nativity, later known as King's College, and regular teaching took the place of the occasional lectures of the canons. Besides his principalship, he held the offices of Canon of Aberdeen, and Rector of Tyrie. In 1527 appeared, also at Paris, his "Scotorum Historiæ" in seventeen books. Boece was preceded in the field of published Scottish history only by the learned work of Mair. The Scottish translation of this work by Bellenden, in 1536, was later used by Holinshed and thus indirectly by Shakespeare. As a historian, Boece has been praised for elegance, patriotism, and love of freedom; and most severely arraigned, even by contemporaries, for his credulity in the matter of historic origins. His literary honesty attacked in his own day, has more recently been defended. The impetus which he gave to historical studies at Aberdeen has been of lasting effect. (Hector Boece biography courtesy of NewAdvent.org) |