Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 040

Academy of Saint Gabriel Report 040

This report is available at http://www.s-gabriel.org/040

This is one of the Academy's earliest reports. We are not confident that these early reports are accurate. Please use it with caution.

Greetings,

Here's the information we found on "Robert Heron of the Isles."

In "The Surnames of Scotland," the standard source for Scottish surnames, George Black says "The old family of Heron in the Stewartry claim descent from the Herons of Chipchase who appear in Northumberland [northern England] in the 11th century. Jordan Hyrun is in record c. 1150 and Walterus de Hayroun was clerk to William the Lion c.1178-80."

Other examples: Robert Heyrun 1292; Roger Heron 1321; Roger Hayron 1330; Thomas de Heron 1329; David Herroun 1526; John Herrowne 1505.

Black gives no origin for the name, but it may be from a place-name; he does refer to the "barony of Heron" in 1688. On the other hand, he says that in Ulster, the name is said to be an Anglicized form of the Gaelic name "M'Ilheron" which is itself from "mac Giolla Chearain," which means "son of the servant of Cearan."

We would recommend that you not use "of the Isles." "King of the Isles" and later, "Lord of the Isles," was a title used by the chieftain of the MacDonald clan, and we found no record of any other people using "of the Isles" in their name. "Robert Heron" or "Robert de Heron" is an excellent name for any time in our period after 1100.

Arval D'Espas Nord and Ivanor of Sighty Crag assisted with your name.

In Service,
Alan Fairfax
Academy of St. Gabriel