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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 12 February 2009
Several centuries before the introduction of surnames, and its adoption as a family designation, the name of Roger was common over Europe. It is still to be found, both as a Christian and a family name, in most of the continental countries. In France it is spelt Roger; in German Roger and Rüdiger; in Norway Hrodgjer and Ruadgjer; in Spain Rogerio; and in Italy Rogero and Ruggiero. According to Miss Yonge the name signifies “spear of fame” it had been originally granted in meed of renown—in reward of heroism. The name became pre-eminently Norman.
page 357 note * “History of Christian Names,” by the author of “The Heir of Redclyffe.” Lond.: 1863, vol. ii., p. 36Google Scholar.
page 357 note † Out of the List compiled by Delisle, M. Leopold of the Companions of William the Conqueror (Herald and Genealogist, vol. for 1863)Google Scholar, no fewer than twenty-seven bear the Christian name of “Roger.”
page 358 note * Freeman's, “Norman Conquest,” vol. i., pp. 460–461Google Scholar.
page 358 note † Freeman's, “Norman Conquest, vol. ii. p., 197Google Scholar. See also sheet pedigree prefixed to the Lives of the Lindsays for some information regarding the De Toesnys.
page 358 note ‡ In his “Nobiliaire de Normandie,” 1666, folio, M. Jacques Louis Chevillard has presented the armorial escutcheon of Roger du Mont Boumonville. The shield is argent, on a fesse sable three roses of the field; in base three lions rampant of second two and one; all within a bordure gules.
page 358 note § “Normandy, its History and Antiquities.” Lond.
page 359 note * Dugdale's, “Baronage,” vol. i., p. 83Google Scholar.
page 359 note † Lower's “English Surnames.”
page 361 note * “Chartulaire de la Basse-Normandie,” vol. i. p. 49, vol. i. p. 80. (Plaids royaux vers I'année 1076. Archives d'Alençon.)
page 362 note * See “Transcripts of Charters and other Documents, from various Archives of Normandy,” in the Public Record Office, London.
page 363 note * “Collectanea Genealogica,” vol. iv. p. 15.
page 363 note † Pipe Roll, in Public Record Office.
page 363 note ‡ “Collectanea Genealogica,” vol. iii.
page 363 note § “Fasti Eboracenses,” by the Rev. Dixon, W. H., edited by the Rev. Raine, James. London, 1863. 8vo., vol. i., p. 233Google Scholar.
page 363 note ∥ See postea.
page 364 note * “Fasti Eboracenses,” vol. i., p. 233.
page 364 note † Stanley's, Dean “Historical Memorials of Westminster Abbey,” pp. 52–3Google Scholar.
page 364 note ‡ “Chronique de Jordan Fantosme,” ed. Surtees Society, pp. 78–9, 91, 93Google Scholar.
page 364 note § Hoveden, 323 b; Benedict Patrib., 203.
page 364 note ∥ Wyntoun's “Chronicle,” passim.
page 364 note ¶ Rotuli Chartarum in turri Londinensi.
page 365 note * “The Morvilles represented a House which had assumed its surname from the village of Morville, on the bank of the Aire, in Picardy. The race gradually increased in position and opulence; a descendant of the House in the female line occupied for a time the Scottish throne. That descendant was John Baliol.” (Anderson's, “Scottish Nation,” vol. iii., pp. 730–1.Google Scholar)
page 365 note † Dugdale.
page 365 note ‡ Chalmers's, “Caledonia,” vol. i., pp. 503–4Google Scholar. Anderson's, “Scottish Nation,” vol. iii., p. 731Google Scholar.
page 366 note * Liber S. Marie de Dryburgh.
page 366 note † Chronica de Mailros.
page 367 note * Registrum S. Marie de Neubotle, 1140—1528. Edinb. 1849, 4to, p. 154.
page 367 note † Chronica de Mailros.
page 367 note ‡ Chalmers's “Caledonia,” passim.
page 367 note § An Essay on Family Nomenclature by Mark Antony Lower. Lond., 1849, 12mo., vol. 1. p. 31.
page 367 note ∥ Inquisitiones Nonarum, 1340 (13th Edward III.)
page 368 note * Holinshead's, “Scottish Chronicle,” Arbroath, 1805, vol. i, p. 1367Google Scholar.
page 368 note † “Origines Parochiales,” vol. i., passim.
page 368 note ‡ There has been considerable discussion among antiquaries as to the origin of the name Roxburgh. Some maintain that it is a corruption of Rose-burgh, a place of primroses; others, that Roch, a saint, had his cell in the locality; others, that being the head-quarters of Border thieves, it was at first styled Rogues-burgh. In confirmation of our own theory, it may be remarked that the name of Roger was common among the old landowners of the south-eastern Border. In a Jury summoned by Alexander III. in 1262 for determining a dispute between the burgesses of Peebles and the laird of Croekston relative to the digging of peat, occur the names of Roger of Kedistun, and Roger, the gardener. In the Ragman Rolls (1291 — 1296) are inserted in connection with the south-eastern district, the names of Roger le Mareschal, and Rogier de Mohaut (Chambers's, W. “History of Peeblesshire.”—Edin., 8vo., 1864, pp. 50, 64Google Scholar). A place near Lauder, which belonged to Dryburgh Abbey, was known as Roger's Law (Liber S. Marie de Dryburgh, p. 325). There is a Roger's Crag near Halmyre, in Peeblesshire, (Chambers's, “Peeblesshire,” p. 43Google Scholar).
page 368 note § Liber de Calchou; Register of Kelso, pp. 369, 370. Origines Parochiales Scotiæ, vol. i., passim.
page 368 note ∥ Origines Parochiales, vol. i, pp. 452—460.
page 368 note ¶ Liber de Calchou, p. 368; Regist. Glasg., p. 244.
page 369 note * “Origins Parochiales,” vol. i., pp. 452—460.
page 369 note ‡ “Rotuli Scotiæ,” vol. i., p. 852. “Origins Parochiales,” vol. i., p. 453.
page 369 note ‡ To Colonel Joseph L. Chester, author of the “Life of John Rogers, the first Martyr of the English Reformation,” we are indebted for copious extracts from the parish register of Bromley in connection with the Roger family from 1582 to 1666.
page 369 note § “Chronica de Mailros.”
page 369 note ∥ Paterson's, “History of Ayrshire,” vol. ii., p. 394Google Scholar.
page 369 note ¶ Liber de Melrose, p. 343.
page 370 note * Lord Blachford of Wisdome, formerly Sir Frederick Rogers, Bart., a representative of the Roger family in England, is married to a daughter of Mr. Colvile of Ochiltree, whose progenitor granted to the monks of Melrose his lands of Ochiltree, thereby affording a home and headquarters to a family, a member of which has, after five centuries, become allied in marriage to an ennobled descendant of the sept.
page 370 note † Liber S. Marie de Dryburgh.
page 370 note ‡ Baptismal Registers of Crail, and of the adjacent parishes of Kingsbarns and Anstruther.
page 370 note § Paterson's, “Ayrshire,” vol. ii., p. 394Google Scholar.
page 371 note * Regist. Glasg., p. 14.
page 371 note † See ante.
page 371 note ‡ In his Testament, 12th July, 1547, Allan Stewart, in Allanton, bequeaths “4 pennies to the fabric of S. Kentigern.” Among his creditors is “Alexander Roger,” to the amount of 6s.
page 371 note § Knox's, John “Works,” edited by Laing, David, LL.D., vol. i., p. 119Google Scholar.
page 372 note * Paterson's “Ayrshire Families.”
page 372 note † Commissariat Record of Edinburgh.
page 372 note ‡ Edinburgh Commissariat Register, 1610.
page 372 note § Marriage and Baptismal Registers of Airlie.
page 373 note * Edinburgh Commissariat Register.
page 373 note † A horse which the lord of the manor had a right to claim.
page 374 note * The “deid's part” is that portion of a man's movable estate which he is entitled to dispose of by testament. If a man leaves a widow and no children, the widow is entitled to one half of the free movables as her jus relictæ. If children are left and no widow, one half of the free movables go to the child or children as legitim. When both widow and children are left, the widow has a third as a jus relictæ, the child a third as legitim, and the remaining third constitutes “the dead's part,” which may be disposed of by will according to inclination.
page 374 note † Need.
page 375 note * “New Statistical Account of Scotland,” vol. x., p. 1190Google Scholar.
page 375 note † Will of William Roger, of Redie, formerly quoted.
page 376 note * Baptismal Register of Bendochy.
page 376 note † A small barony in Perthshire, now included in some larger possession, and the name forgotten.
page 376 note ‡ John Playfair, brother of James Playfair, fanner, Couttie, rented a farm at Coupar-Grange. He married Jean Ure, and was father of four sons, Patrick, Charles, James, and John. James was baptized 25th February, 1714, studied at the University of St. Andrews, and obtained licence as a probationer of the Church, 6th September, 1739. He was ordained minister of the united parishes of Liff and Benvie, 2nd March, 1743, and died 28th May, 1772. By his marriage with Margaret Young he had seven sons, of whom five attained maturity; viz., John, Robert, William, Andrew, and James, and three daughters, Margaret and Barbara, and a daughter who died young. John, the eldest son, was born 10th March, 1748, and was educated at the University of St. Andrews. In his eighteenth year he became candidate for the Professorship of Mathematics in Marischal College, Aberdeen, and though unsuccessful, highly distinguished himself in a public competition. In 1773 he was ordained minister of Liff and Benvie, in succession to his father. In 1785 he was appointed joint Professor of Mathematics in the University of Edinburgh, a chair which he exchanged for that of Natural Philosophy in 1805. He died unmarried, 19th July, 1819. He published “Elements of Geometry,” “Outlines of Natural Philosophy,” and many other valuable scientific works. He is commemorated by a monument on the Calton Hill of Edinburgh.
Robert, second son of the Rev. James Playfair, of Liff and Benvie, married Margaret Macniven. Their son, William H. Playfair, was architect of Donaldson's Hospital, the New College, and other public buildings at Edinburgh. He died 18th of March, 1857.
William Playfair, a younger son of the Rev. James Playfair, of Liff and Benvie, and brother of Professor Playfair, was an ingenious mechanic, and an eminent miscellaneous writer. He was born in 1759, and died 11th February, 1823. He married, and left sons and daughters. John, youngest brother of the Rev. James Playfair, married Catherine, daughter of John Moncur, farmer, Nether-town of Coupar-Grange, by whom he became father of two sons, Patrick and John, and of five daughters, Isabel, Grizel, Elizabeth, Jean, and Catherine.
page 377 note * The Rev. James Playfair, minister of Bendochy, composed a large and important work on the culture and management of bees, the MS. of which was unhappily destroyed by a fire in the printing-office. The author had bestowed twenty years on its preparation, and could not be induced to make an effort towards retrieving his loss.
page 379 note * Mrs. Playfair's brother, the Rev. James Lyon, D.D., minister of Glammis (died 3rd April, 1838), married, 25th January, 1786, Agnes, daughter of John Ramsay L'Amy, of Dunkenny, Forfarshire. This lady was author of “Neil Gow's Farewell to Whisky,” and other poetical compositions. She died 14th December, 1840.
page 379 note † Dr. Lyon Playfair was born at Bengal in 1818. In 1843 he was appointed Professor of Chemistry in the Royal Institution, Manchester. After serving as a Sanitary Commissioner, Chemist to the Museum of Practical Geology, Joint Secretary to the Department of Science and Art, and Inspector-General of Government Museums, he was in 1858 elected Professor of Chemistry in the University of Edinburgh, and President of the Chemical Society of London. He resigned his university chair in 1869, on being elected representative in Parliament of the Universities of St. Andrews and Edinburgh. He is Ph.D. of Giessen; LL.D. of St. Andrews and Edinburgh; a Fellow of the Royal Society; and Companion of the Bath. Dr. Lyon Playfair married, in 1846, Margaret, daughter of James Oakes, of Riddings, Derbyshire; and in 1857, Jean Ann, daughter of Crowley Millington, of Crowley House, and has issue.
page 384 note * For Recollections of the Rev. Roger, James, of Dunino, see “A Century of Scottish Life,” Edin., 1871, 12mo., pp. 40–97Google Scholar.
page 384 note † Mrs. Anne Roberts, née Ogilvy, married secondly John Duff, merchant, Dundee. Of this marriage were bom three daughters, Innes, Barbara, and Margaret. The two latter died spinsters. Innes, the eldest daughter, became second wife of the Rev. Skinner, John, Dean of Dunkeld, author of “Annals of Scottish Episcopacy,” Edin., 1818, 8vo.Google Scholar, son of Bishop John Skinner, of Aberdeen, and grandson of the Rev. John Skinner, author of “Tullochgorum.” Dean Skinner was born 20th August, 1769, and died 2nd September, 1841. His widow, Mrs. Innes Skinner, née Duff, has attained her ninety-third year.
page 384 note ‡ A sister of Mrs. Roberts was married to Sir Robert Douglas, Bart., of Glenbervie, author of the “Peerage and Baronetage of Scotland.”
page 385 note * Pitcairn's “Criminal Trials.”
page 385 note † Baptismal Register of the Canongate.
page 385 note ‡ Will of William Roger, merchant-burgess in Ayr, confirmed 26th September, 1598.— Edinburgh Commissariat Register.
page 386 note * DrScott's, Hew “Fasti Ecclesiæ Scoticanæ.” Edin., 1869, 4to., vol. ii. pp. 5, 6, 157, 181Google Scholar.
page 386 note † In the Act of Exceptions from the Act of Indemnity passed in 1662, John Rodger, of Park, Renfrewshire, is fined £300 Scots.
page 386 note ‡ In Lib. Coll. Nostri Dotnine, Robert Roger and William Roger occur as owners of properties in Glasgow in the first half of the 16th century.
page 386 note § “View of the Merchant's House of Glasgow.” Glasgow, 1856, 4to., p. 91Google Scholar.
page 386 note ∥ Anderson's “Scottish Nation,” voce Roger.
page 386 note ¶ Burke's “Peerage,” voce Wallace, Bart., of Craigie.
page 386 note ** Ing. Cane, Hib. Rep. ii.
page 386 note †† “Correspondence of the Earl of Melrose,” 4to., vol. i., p. 172.
page 387 note * Nobiliaire de Normandie,” 1666, folio.
page 387 note † Nisbet's, “Heraldry,” vol. i., pp. 59Google Scholar.
page 387 note ‡ Traquair Papers, quoted in “Chambers's History of Peeblesshire,” Edin., 1864, 8vo., pp. 81–86Google Scholar.
page 388 note * “History of Scotland,” by Tytler, Patrick Fraser. Edin., 1869, 12mo., vol. ii., P. 243Google Scholar.
page 388 note † Several seals associated with the name of SirRoger, William in SirLaing's, Henry ‘Supplementary Catalogue of Scottish Seals’ (1866, 4to.)Google Scholar, are modern forgeries.—“Notes and Queries,” 1868–71, passim.
