The origin of the name
January 24, 2011
It’s been a little while since I posted anything on the blog mainly because I have been having trouble sourcing anything on my own Gilmour heritage. But in the meantime there have been some fantastic additions by way of comments to the Ballantyne & Gilmour pages. The most recent this weekend from Sophia Ballantyne who writes on the Ballantyne page;
“While I was interested to read about your version of the name, we have always believed that this comes directly from the gaelic, Baille ( a farmer)-an- (in the or of the)deadhain (valley, fertile ground. As far as I know up until the 16th centuary, agriculture was the family buisiness until the 17th centuary when William became a weaver in Galashiels and his decendant, Henry founded a mill which was the beginnings of Henry Ballantyne and Sons – in the 20th centuary – branching outinto hosiery with the famous Ballantyne’s cashmere being made in the neighbouring village of Innerleithen”
Absolutely fascinating stuff and there is equally exciting historical background on the Gilmour & Curtis pages. If you can add to the wider picture please get in touch.
February 13, 2011 at 1:02 pm
I would like to hear from any family members
of Captain John Ballantyne.
He was in Liverpool in 1861. I especially would like
to know where he was born and what happened to him after 1863.
Best Wishes
Maureen Savage