---
title: "History of the Carruthers Clan · Rampant Scotland"
description: "Carruthers is a placeneme in Dumfriesshire which is said to derive from the Brittonic word \"caer\" meaning \"fort\" (as in Caerlaverock castle , not far away) and "
canonical: "https://rampant-scotland.pages.dev/clans/blclancarruthers.htm"
last-updated: "2026-11-11"
date-basis: "git-content-change"
---

# History of the Carruthers Clan · Rampant Scotland

Clans

# History of the Carruthers Clan

[Original page](https://web.archive.org/web/20251113151234/http://www.rampantscotland.com/clans/blclancarruthers.htm)

Restored from the raw archived page capture: original scripts, advertisements and shared site navigation removed. Original wording, photographs and layout order preserved.

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Carruthers is a placeneme in Dumfriesshire which is said to derive from the Brittonic word "caer" meaning "fort" (as in [Caerlaverock castle](https://web.archive.org/web/20251113151234/http://www.rampantscotland.com/visit/blvisitcaerlaverock.htm), not far away) and the personal name Ruther (originally Rhythr or Rydderch). It has been suggested that this comes from King Roderc mentioned by St Adamnan. Locally, the name was pronounced "Cridders".

Lochmaben Castle

In the 13th century, the family rose to be the hereditary stewards of Annandale under the Bruces. Nigel de Karruthers became Rector at nearby Ruthwell (see [Ruthwell Cross](https://web.archive.org/web/20251113151234/http://www.rampantscotland.com/visit/blvisitruthwell.htm) ) and rose to become Canon of Glasgow Cathedral in 1351 and was chancellor to Robert, Steward of Scotland (progenitor of the Stewart monarchs).

A John Carruthers was keeper of [Lochmaben Castle](https://rampant-scotland.pages.dev/castles/blcastles_lochmaben.htm) (pictured here) in 1446. This castle was at one time owned by the Bruces and may be where Robert the Bruce was born.

In the 16th century, the Carruthers were included in the list of unruly clans in the West Marches in 1587 by King James VI. Lands were acquired in Mouswald but this line ended when Simon Carruthers was killed in a border raid and the lands passed to the Douglases of Drumlanrig with the marriage of the Carruthers heiress.

The Carruthers of Howmains continued however, until the estate was lost in 1772 when financial disaster struck. But a younger son of the last laird acquired the estate of Dormont in Dumfriesshire which is still held by his descendants.

The surname is now mainly found in Glasgow and Edinburgh. Carruthers is a member of the Armigerous Clans and Families of Scotland ie it has a recognised coat of arms.

The Carruthers clan motto is "Promptus et fidelis" which means "Ready and faithful".

**Return to [Index of Clans/Family Histories.](https://rampant-scotland.pages.dev/clans/clans_index.htm)**

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## Source

From Rampant Scotland, restored from the page as it stood on 13 November 2025. [Original page](https://web.archive.org/web/20251113151234/http://www.rampantscotland.com/clans/blclancarruthers.htm).

Links to pages not yet restored here lead to the original page or elsewhere on the web; 2 of 4 links on this page are restored on this site.