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The Ramsay family is of
ancient Anglo-Norman origin who came north to Scotland with David I, who granted them
lands in Lothian. Simon de Ramsay was the first recorded in Scotland in the 12th century.
The principal family of the name was the Ramsays of Dalhousie, the first of that designation being William Ramsay who was a member of the council of magnates of the realm in
1255. His successor also named William became eventually a devoted adherent
of Robert the
Bruce and one of those who signed the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320. Sir Alexander
Ramsay of Dalhousie continued to support the Bruce line to the throne and he sent
reinforcements from sea to Black Agnes, the Countess of Dunbar who was holding out
against the English. Unfortunately, however, when he was appointed constable of the castle
of Roxburgh his rival Sir Willaim Douglas, through jealousy, seized him and shut him up in
Hermitage Castle where he is said to have starved to death. His descendants survived and
in 1618 Sir John Ramsay of Dalhousie and Melrose was created Lord Ramsay of Melrose and in
1633 his son William was created first Earl of Dalhousie. The Earls of Dalhousie through
marriage with the de Maule family also acquired Brechin Castle in Angus. Queen Victoria's
granddaughter, Princess Partrica of Connaught and Strathearn married the Hon. Alexander
Ramsay, son of the 13th Earl of Dalhousie in 1919. The Ramsays of Banff descend from Neis
de Ramsay, physician to Alexander II.
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