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History of the Name |
The distinguished surname Petrie emerged among the industrious people of Flanders, which was an important trading partner and political ally of Britain during the Middle Ages. As a result of the frequent commercial intercourse between the Flemish and English nations, many Flemish migrants settled in Britain. In early times, people were known by only a single name. However, as the population grew and people traveled further afield, it became increasingly necessary to assume an additional name to differentiate between bearers of the same personal name. The manner in which hereditary surnames arose is interesting. One of the most common classes of surname is the patronymic surname, which was usually derived from the first name of the person's father. Flemish surnames of this type are often characterised by the diminutive suffix -kin, which became very frequent among the lower classes of England during the 14th century. The surname Petrie is derived from the personal names Peter and Patrick. These two names where frequently confused in Scotland since the Gaelic forms of Patrick were P�dair and P�tair. The Flemish Petrie family is believed to be descended from a family named Peters who migrated from Antwerp in Belgium to Cornwall during the 12th century. From there, the family moved to Kincardine, Aberdeen and Caithness in Scotland.
Flemish surnames are characterised by a large number of spelling variations. One reason for this is that medieval English lacked definite spelling rules. The spellings of surnames were also influenced by the official court languages, which were French and Latin. Names were rarely spelled consistently in medieval times, when most people were illiterate. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, and people often had their names registered in several different forms throughout their lives. One of the greatest reasons for change is the linguistic uniqueness of the Flemish settlers in England, who spoke a language closely related to Dutch. The pronunciation and spelling of Flemish names were often altered to suit the tastes of English-speaking people. In many cases, the first, final or middle syllables of surnames were eliminated. The name has been spelled Pitrie, Patry, Petree, Petrie, Petries, Petrys, Pitre and Patrie.
The medieval era was characterised by court intrigue and conflict between feudal lords and Barons. As a result, it was often necessary to register the people and wealth of the land. The findings were subsequently recorded in various ancient manuscripts such as the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, the Inquisition, the Ragman, Rolls, The Domesday Book, clan Genealogies, baptisimals, parish records, cartuliaries, and tax records. The history of the Flemish surname Petrie appeared in a significant number of these records and the earliest origins of the distinguished family were found in Scotland where Andrew Petrie was vicar of Wick in 1530. Hendrie Petrie is recorded as the owner of a large mansion in Aberdeen in 1612, and the Petrie family were noted as prominent businessmen in that area during that time. George Petrie was recorded in 1620 and James Petrie, son of Robert, was registered in 1688. In modern times, the seat of the Petrie family is at Fortlethen in Kincardine.
Throughout the Middle Ages the Petrie family and the English nation managed to flourish despite plagues, famine and the harsh realities of life at this time. However, during the modern era, England was devastated by religious and political conflict. Under the Tutors the problems of succession, strife between Catholics and Protestants, and the fear of foreign invasion had mainly been resolved. Later under the House of Stuart, there were conflicts between king and Parliament. The Stuarts were ousted from power first by Cromwell and then by the "Glorious Revolution" which resulted in the long series of Jacobite uprisings.
As a result of the chaos and upheaval at home, numerous English families voluntarily or involuntarily left England and migrated to Ireland. Protestant settlers and those who fought for or supported Cromwell were granted lands which had been confiscated from the Catholic Irish. While some of the confiscated lands were returned during the reign of King Charles II, most remained in the hands of the newcomers. Other English families migrated to Ireland in search of work in the newly created Irish industries.
