Clan Durie

Clan Durie is a Lowland Scottish clan.

History

There is a persistent myth that the origin of the name Durie is from the French 'Du Roi' but there is no evidence for this. Rather, a younger son of the Earl of Strathearn was granted the existing lands of Durie (from the Gaelic for a small or black stream) and took the name. Another discredited story is that the Duries rose to prominence as administrators to Princess Joan, sister of King Henry III of England and wife of King Alexander II of Scotland.

The Duries have been in Fife from the 1200s.

14th to 16th century

The Duries briefly held Rossend Castle at Burntisland in the 1500s. Rossend was built in 1382 but has an armorial tablet bearing arms of a Durie and the date of 1554. In 1563 the castle was occupied by Mary, Queen of Scots. Rossend Castle and the surrounding estates were confiscated during the Reformation.

The Duries were also granted the estate of Craigluscar near Dunfermline where a house was built in 1520. The lands were in the family until the early 1900s. The house had a stone shield bearing the Durie arms and initials of a George Dury and his wife Margarat Bruce.

17th century

The other Durie estates in Scoonie near Leven were sold in 1614 to Sir Alexander Gibson. He became a judge in 1621 and took the judicial title of Lord Durie.

Margarat McBeth the wife of Henry Durie was renowned for her skills with herbs and a favorite of Anne of Denmark. It is said that Margarat saved the life of King Charles I when other physicians had failed.

In the late 17th century George Durie was a Captain in King Louis XIV of France's Scots Guards and also a provost of Dunfermline.

Chief of the Name and Arms of Durie

The Duries were chiefless for some time until the recognition of Lt-Col Raymond Durie of Durie in 1988. He established his descent through his grandmother, Elizabeth Durie of Craigluscar from Abbot George. Raymond had a distinguished military career which spanned 35 years with Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. His actions were distinguished during the Chinese Civil War and Japans invasion of China. He died in 1999 and the chieftainship passed to his son, the present chief Andrew Durie of Durie, CBE

Lands and castles

The main seat of the family of Durie of that Ilk was Durie Castle in the parish of Scoonie, Leven Castle, Fife. Another branch, that of the present Chief, had Craigluscar Castle, near Dunfermline, Fife. Briefly, they held Rossend Castle (Burntisland, Fife) and Grange Castle near Kinghorn, Fife.