Notes : Wallace Finlayson gave his name to the British Impost inspector in Boston, MA in June 1712 in his highland influenced pronunciation rendered "Fin-ti-son." His grandchildren started to use English spellings, mostly Fenderson, by the mid 1700's. Since that time various town, county, state and federal documents indicate as many as 19 different spellings.
The origin of the name is Finlayson, which is listed as a Sept of the Scottish clan Farquharson. Nevertheless, the Farquharsons are of Celtic origin. The ancestral home in Scotland is in the braes of Mar, (the head of Aberdeenshire) and adjacent counties. As is the case with most highland families, the ancient genealogies become difficult to trace amid the claims and counterclaims of rival families and landed gentry. Most Scottish historians subscribe to the constant tradition of the clan as originating from Shaw MacDuff of Rothiemurchus, who is said to have been appointed heriditary chamberlain of the royal lands of Braemar, about the upper waters of the Dee (Strathdee) by King Robert the Bruce. His son, founder of the family, was a Fearchar who lived during the reigns of Robert II and III. From him the clan takes it name of Mac'earchar, or Farquharson. The family took its name of Finlayson from the grandson of this Fearchar who was known as Finlay the Mor (from Moir or More, because of his great size and strength).
Finlay the Mor was a historic figure, to whom all branches of the Clan Farquharson ascribe the honor of being their founder and common ancestor and from whom they have their Celtic appellation of Clan or Siol Fhionlaidh. He was killed by an enemy ship's cannonball while carrying the Royal Banner during the Battle of Pinkie in 1547. His body lies interred in the Churchyard of Inveresk. The place is known as "Lang Highlandman's Grave." Some of his descendents who took the name Finlayson settled in the lowlands and southern uplands of Scotland, where there are many families by that name today. In 1645 Farquharson of Invercauld fought at the head of his clan under the famous Marquis of Montrose. The clan was well represented in the army of Prince Charlie in 1745. By virtue of the Lyon Court Decree of 1936 the Chiefship of the clan is held by the Farquharsons of Invercauld. |