Saturday, August 30, 2014

The Walkers of Scotland




In September of 2014, I traveled to the Western Highlands of Scotland to see some spectacular sights as I researched Scotland's past for some historical romances I'll be writing.

My traveling companion, author Kaki Warner, and I took several trains, including the Jacobite train that crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct:



I thought it was fitting I should do a post on the Walkers of Scotland. So here is The Walker “clan” for you to enjoy!

From what I can tell, there is more than one belief on how the surname Walker came about. Some say it refers to the men who walked about the castle to watch for intruders or thieves. Others say Walker originates from Waulker, “son of the fuller or cloth maker,” and refers to those who walked on the wool that was cleaned and thicken by being soaked in water and trampled under foot. In any event, the name is widespread throughout Scotland. (It is the 21st most common name in Scotland.)

The Highland or Gaelic version of the name Walker is MacNucator and derives from "Mac an fhucadair" (son of the fuller of the cloth), of which the old Scots equivalent is Waulker. In modern times, the name is associated with both the Stewarts and the McGregors.


 
My mother once told me that we were “papists in Scotland and Protestants in Ireland.” I decided that meant we were rebels all around, though I think she was speaking of Clan Donald, my mother's kin. Still, in the 17th century, the Walkers were fined for harboring fugitives of the outlawed Clan Gregor!
 
Clansmen of the name followed the Stewarts of Appin in support of Prince Charles Edward Stuart in 1745. The Appin Stewarts, known as “The Loyal Clan,” are a part of the West Highland branch of the royal surname Stewart. They are associated with Castle Stalker in Argyll. Their motto is Quihidder Wil Zie (Whither will ye? That is, what/which will you..choose…war or peace?) I'm reading a Scottish historical romance now, Lady of the Glen, that shows the Stewarts of Appin fighting alongside the MacDonalds at Killiecrankie.


Castle Stalker, Argyll



Prior to the majority of the MacNucator clan changing their name to Walker in the 18th century, the MacNucators appear to have been located in and around Knapdale, where historians have associate them with Clan Macmillan. They are also a sept of Stewart.

Loch Caille Bharr in Knapdale



Those who consider themselves to be members of the Clan Macmillan, use the emblems of kinship of that clan. (OK, so it's not a red based tartan!)




Walkers of note:
As far as I could ascertain, the earliest known Walkers to immigrate to America were John, Roger and Isabel Walker who immigrated to Virginia in 1623.

Patrick Nowcatter was Procurator Fiscal for Argyll in 1655, and Martine McNaucater held the same office in 1667.

In the 18th century, Helen Walker (d.1791) walked from Scotland to London to petition for the life of her sister who had been condemned to death for infanticide. Her story provided the inspiration for Sir Walter Scott's epic tale of Jeanie Deans in The Heart of Midlothian. A statue was erected in Kirkpatrick-Irongray, Kirkcudbrightshire by Sir Walter Scott in memory of Helen Walker upon whom he based his character.

Robert Walker (1755-1808) was born in Monkton, Ayrshire and became Minister of Canongate Kirk, Edinburgh.

James Walker (1770-1841) was born in Fraserburgh and became Minister of St Peter's Episcopalian Chapel, Edinburgh, and in 1830, the Bishop of Edinburgh. 

Sir James Walker (1863-1935) became Professor of Chemistry at Dundee University and worked on hydrolysis, ionization and amphoteric electrolysis. 

The Irish and English Walkers:

Walker is also an English name near the Scottish border. And Walkers throughout Ireland have been identified as non-linked families to the ones in Scotland and England. A Walker family from Ireland is probably from Sligo or Derry where they came from, two of the hardest hit areas during the famine.

So, now you know! Tell your friends whose surname is “Walker” they have an interesting heritage!

10 comments:

  1. Hi. My mother was a Walker, and my middle name is "Walker". Our Walkers settled in Rutherford County, NC. When I was a child, I saw a land grant from King George before we had that "spot" of difficulty with the British in 1776. I'd love to see it again; don't know what happened to it. I must've been 7 years old when an Aunt brought it out. I am related to Walkers, Greens, Proctors in that area.

    In 1880, Noah Walker, a close relative ours (different line extending from my grandfather,s parents) was Sheriff of Rutherford County, NC. He arrested a man by the name of Daniel Keith for the murder of a young girl. Long story short, was tried and convicted of the crime. All the time awaiting the hanging, he asserted, "I have done many bad things in my time, but this one I did not do. The soul of an innocent man will not rest." Uncle Noah had no choice but to hang him, but I think it bothered him. Shortly thereafter, a shadow of a hanged man appeared on the jailhouse wall, and created quite a stir. Folks told the Sheriff, "you get rid of that "han't" up 'ere on the wall"! None of his friends that used to come for coffee in the morning would come visit anymore, and people would cross the street to keep from encountering this "ghost"! So Noah whitewashed the jail and it worked...............for a little while. Soon it was BACK, once again scaring the people of the town away. He painted it again. It came BACK again. He painted it several times. It came back. Again and again--until finally, Mr Walker planted an ivy vine to cover the side of the jail. As a 7 year old I "saw" the shadow, or remnants of it when my little buddies dared me to peek behind the vine! It scared me to DEATH!!! I had nightmares!

    There was a local song written about it and a story was written of it in a book called "North Carolina Ghost Tales (stories)". It is a documented incident involving my mother's family, but it may be out of print now. George (R) Walker, first cousin, was a newscaster/weatherman on WSPA, Spartanburg, SC. (deceased now). Roger Walker, my 2nd cousin, lived in Virginia and worked as a Yardmaster for Norfolk & Western Railway. I musta got that "bug", too, for I spent my working career with Southern Railway/Norfolk Southern Corporation. ..Just a few comments for you. Hope not TOO boring!

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    1. Thanks for the comments, Jerry. A lot of Scots settled in North Carolina. Yours is a fascinating story. The Walkers in my family settled in Virginia. Who knows? We might be related (though the world is full of Walkers).

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    2. HI again, Just wanted to acknowledge your post and stop in again for a moment. That story is well known around Rutherford County, and it is documented. If you haven't already, you can find it online. When I was in grammar grade, that book I mentioned was in the school library.
      I proudly pointed it out to my classmates! it also scared me; I was a little kid, after all. Imagination, you know!

      Ya never know about connections. I don't know how he ended up in Suffolk, Va--moved from NC, or was always there. He worked for Norfolk & Western RR betweem there and Norfolk. From what I could find out, he was a well-known, and liked, Yardmaster for the railway. He and my Mom (and Dad, too) were very good friends, and we used to visit Suffolk. He was quite proud of his nephew when he learned that I, too, had chosen the railroad as a career. Southern Railway and Norfolk & Western merged to form Norfolk Southern Corp. I am retired. I'll make a "whistle stop" here now and then!~ ;)

      Jerry

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  2. My great grandparents was Walker and as far as I know there is a unicorn in the family history.

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  3. I'm a descendant of William Walker (Birth 27 JUL 1744 • Orange County, North Carolina, USA, Death 20 OCT 1819 • Grimsby Twp., Lincoln Co., Ontario). William was a loyalist who left the country with his family around 1794 to Canada--all except one son: Robert Walker. Robert and his wife Eleanor Latta (Birth 18 DEC 1767 • Orange County, North Carolina, USA, Death 4 APR 1826 • Orange County, North Carolina, USA).

    I come from the family of Robert and Eleanor. They're child, George Washington Walker (married Lucy Ann Dortch) had a son named Robert Young Walker (married Ruth Jackson Miller). Robert Young then had a son with Ruth named Miller Jackson Walker (married Mary Henrietta Woods). Miller and Mary then had my late grandfather Robert Young Walker (married June Terry) who had my father, Everett Young Walker.

    According to my research, we come from Ireland around 1701 possibly by a William Walker who was married to an Ann Anslow. I cannot confirm this 100%. I can only get this information as far back as the William Walker I first mentioned at the beginning here.

    My name is Joshua Young Walker. My middle name, as does my father's, grandfather's and great-great-grandfather's middle name comes from Lucy Ann Dortch's father Young Dortch.

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    1. Joshua, that is a wonderful family history and it's great you know so much of it. A lot of the Scots came through Northern Ireland on their way to America. The Scots in my family did.

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  4. My grandfather was Dr. William James Walker (Dec 25, 1856- Nov 21, 1952). He lived with my grandmother for about 15 years in WV until his death and fathered 3 children with her (2 are still alive). He was an Internist, Surgeon, compound pharmacist, avid horseman, writer, and business owner (jewelry store, land and construction, real estate, mining, banking). He told stories to his children about how as a young boy, he broke in horses for the army during the civil war. This fared him well as he later competed in horse racing. He also showed evidence that William Walker who conquered Nicaragua was his father. Many online records have been changed regarding our family. You can contact me by email for further information. patrician1856@outlook.com

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  5. I am a Walker from upstate New York. In father’s lineage are the MacDougalls. I have pictures of my father in his kilt.

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  6. I am a Walker from Burgaw Nc Randolph Walker was my great grandfather

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