Lowthian

This very ancient name is of Scottish origin and is locational from a region in south east central Scotland, and appears in Gaelic as Loudin, an adaptation of the vernacular Scottish pronunciation. The name development includes "Lauthiane" (1639), "Lothean" (1546), "Loudian" (1692), "Loudiane" (1473), "Loudyan" (1460), "Loutheane" (1674), "Lowdeane" (1549), "Lowthiane" (1625), "Lowthyane" (1549), "Lowthiane" (1625), "Lowthyane" (1549). It is interesting to note that in Midlothian there is no record of the exact spelling of the name in its present form although there are examples of the name with an additional "E" on the end e.g., George Lowthiane son of William Lowthiane and Margaret Brown was christened on 18th April 1684 in Edinburgh parish. Two recordings of namebearers in London are as follows: Anne Lowthian was christened on 11th July 1743 at St. Andrews Holborn and one Mary Lowthian married Joseph Hepple on 10th December 1751 St. George, Mayfair. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Ranulf de Louthyan, which was dated 1256, in the "Assize Rolls", Northumberland, during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.