The Brownhill Family of Scotland

 

Next in antiquity come the Scottish Brownhills and the question that arises is whether they are a branch of the Cheshire Brownhills or are a totally separate and independent family. So far I have found nothing to suggest that they were of separate Scottish origin: although a place named Brownhill exists in the far north of Scotland, it has no apparent connexion with the family. Therefore, at present I am inclined to the view that the Scottish Brownhills are a cadet branch of the Cheshire Brownhills. Let us consider the evidence for this.

 

The first references we have are in 1344 when Adam de Bronhull  and Hugo de Brounhill, an Alderman of Edinburgh,  witnessed a charter in Edinburgh. In 1361 Thomas de Brownhill was a bailee in Edinburgh and made donations to St. Giles Church. Ade de Bronhull was a burgess of Edinburgh in 1367 and was authorised to sit in the Scottish Parliament. A folio dating from 1369 records that Ade de Bronhull held lands from the Estate of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the Parish of Edinburgh whilst Hugo de Brounhill made a donation to the  Church. Clearly this family was of substance and influence in Edinburgh in the middle of the fourteenth century.

 

So what of its origin? At the end of the thirteenth century Robert de Bruce established his right to the Scottish throne. King Edward of England endeavoured to impose his rule on Scotland as overlord but was resisted by Robert de Bruce. Both kings were supported by Norman lords and knights, many of whom held lands in both countries; the Normans were, therefore, the ruling class. In the ensuing wars families were divided in their allegiances  and often changed sides. However, Edinburgh remained in English hands and loyal to the English king. It is, therefore, reasonable to assume that the chief families of Edinburgh -  which, from the evidence, clearly included the Brownhill Family - were from Anglo-Norman landed families. Only one such family existed at the time bearing the Brownhill name - The Brownhill Family of Cheshire!

 

After the wars Edinburgh became an integral part - indeed it was the Capital - of Scotland. The Brownhills remained and references to them appear in the records throughout the next few centuries. For example in 1660 George Brownhill is listed in the Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses and James Brownhill was similarly listed in 1671; whilst earlier John Brounhill, mason, was a burgess of Dundee. Another James Brownhill was made a burgess of Edinburgh in 1706 and was a renowned local builder, being responsible for the construction of James' Court and other notable places!

 

At the end of the eighteenth century the family split into two sections: one going to Alloa in Clackmannan; the other to Haddington in East Lothian. Most of their descendants have been traced and from the 1780's their family trees are reasonably complete but there are gaps in the record! 

The Brownhill Family of Alloa, Scotland.            -              compiled by Frank Brownhill.

The Brownhill Family of Haddington, Scotland.  -               compiled by Frank Brownhill