PRINGLE-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: [Pringle] Pringle surname history
Date: Fri, 5 Nov 1999 00:10:25 EST

This info was sent to me by Colin G. Pringle who had done some excellent work
on the history of the Pringle family. We are not a clan according to most
references, but a family instead. We should have a family chief, but the
position has been vacant since abt. 1825.

The Pringles originated just inside Scotland and over the border from
England. Many of the "Border families" were also know as "reivers,' and the
Pringles were chief among those. This means that many members of these
border families went over the border into England at night and stole
livestock. Then the English border families would come into Scotland and
steal them back. This went on for ages and brought about the "Steel
Bonnets," if you have read about them.

Following is information that Colin sent about the first written record of a
PRINGLE:
The Hospice of Soutra, was founded by Malcolm IV of Scotland in 1164 for the
entertainment of pilgrims traveling the hills by "Malcolm's Road" to the
Border abbeys. It was four and a half miles north from Hoppringill (look for
Galashiels near the sea just inside the border of Scotland). The remains of
the Hospice, now known as Soutra Aisle, can still be seen at the side of the
B6368.

The first written record of a person of the names Pringle is Robert de
Hoppryngill, who was witness to a charter of Edward de Alba Fonte (Quhytwell)
granting lands to the House of Soltre (Soutra), along with the Archdeacon of
the Lothians, Sir William de St. Clair and the Sheriff of Edynburgh.
Although undated, the document is known to date from the period of 1265-1275
(the reign of Henry III in England).

I hope this will be of interest to some of you!
Dolores

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