Some time ago I ran across a book that was written back in the 40's that showed the origin of Scottish surnames. The book, titled "The Surnames of Scotland, Their Origin, Meaning and History", written by George F Black, PhD has an entry for the surname Westray with the following explanation: "From the lands of Westray in the island of Westray, Orkney. Michael de Westray witnessed a charter by Henry de St. Clair, earl of Orkney, apud Kirkwaw, in 1391." Would someone help me understand the meaning of that statement as it applies to my surname research as my research may or may not extend to the Orkneys? My surname (WESTER) is occasionally intermixed with WESTRAY as I dig through 19th and 18th century records in Kentucky, North Carolina and Virginia, here in the US. Thank you so much. Don Wester in Minnesota