This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: chukndee Surnames: Elliot, Eliott, Elliott Classification: queries Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/surnames.elliott/4437.5/mb.ashx Message Board Post: The Elliot Clan Society research on the name of Elliott is as follows: Twelve families named Elwald or Elwood came down from the area of Angus on the upper east coast of Scotland in the early 1300's. They reportedly had lived in what is now the foot of Glenshie for many years. There is a small river now named Elliot in Angus. They came in support of Robert the Bruce, and settled in Liddesdale on the border of Scotland and England. In spite of the spelling which appears in old documents, including land grants, it is said that the pronounciation was Ellot. By the 16th century, this was the most common spelling in documents of the time. For several centuries, the Ellots, Armstrongs, Scotts, Kerrs, etc. dominated the borders and created a domain of lawlessness. A good reference book is "The Steel Bonnets", by George MacDonald Fraser (1971, Harper Collins). In 1603 James VI of Scotland became James I of England and proceded to "pacify" the borders. Some Ellots were hung, some made peace and stayed in the borders, others were transported to Northern Ireland as "diluters" of the population there. Some time in the 1600's the "i" was added to the Ellot and another variation became Eliott, the present name of the Clan Chief, Lady Margaret Eliott of Redheugh. It is believed that the mixing of deported Elliots and Eliotts in Ireland resulted in the Elliott spelling. I understand that the records in Ireland are not too good, but that large poulations of Elliotts are still resident in Northern Ireland. As a footnote, Sir Arthur Eliott, founder of The Elliot Clan Society, noted in his book "The Elliots, The Story of a Border Clan", that "the introduction of an "i" into the name "Ellot" was, without doubt, unfortunate. It immediately confused the Clan with the well-known English Norman family of St. Germains, settled in trhe West Country and South Wales and in no way related, whose name was derived from "Alyot"." Over the centuries the Scots-Irish Elliotts moved in many ways, including back to scotland, To England, and to America before and after the revolution. I hope this sheds a bit of light on the origins of Elliotts. My line lies in Pennsylvania in the early 1800's and I have not found the line going back to Ireland, Scotland or England. However, I cling to the idea that I descend from those bold border reivers of long ago. Yours aye, Chuck Elliott Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.