GUTHRIE FAMILY GROUP 1A
Guthries of Craigie SCT /Middlesex VA / Worcester MD

GUTHRIE RESEARCH TREE: GFG1A

Origin Theories for Guthrie Family Group 1A (GFG1A)

Summary: GFG1A’s origins blend medieval Scottish history with Y-DNA evidence, centering on ties to the Guthries of Craigie—a cadet branch descending from the Guthries of Guthrie, builders of Guthrie Castle in Angus, Scotland. These theories position GFG1A as heirs to feudal nobility, though American branches introduce uncertainties. We explore from historical, genetic, and migratory angles, with context, examples, nuances, edge cases, and implications.

Historical Foundations: The Guthries of Guthrie and Their Cadet Branches

The Guthries of Guthrie (“of that Ilk”) form the core lineage, with roots in Angus, Scotland, tied to royal service and land grants.

• Early Origins and Legends: The surname likely stems from the Barony of Guthrie (near Forfar), possibly from Gaelic “gaothair” (windy place) or Norse influences, reflecting Viking heritage. Legends include a fisherman “gutting three” fish for a king or links to Viking Guthrum. Documented from 1178 with lands granted by King William the Lion; Guthries served as royal falconers. Example: In 1299, Squire Guthrie summoned William Wallace from France during the Wars of Independence.
• Key Figures and Descent: Solidified in the 15th century with Sir Alexander Guthrie of Kincaldrum (fl. 1446, Forfar charter). Son Sir David Guthrie (d. 1500) was Armour-Bearer to James III, Lord Treasurer (1461), and Lord Chief Justice (1473); built Guthrie Castle (1468). Later, Sir Alexander (d. 1513 at Flodden) married Margaret Lyon, linking maternally to Robert the Bruce.
• Branching to Guthries of Craigie: Emerged via Guthries of Hiltoun (from John Guthrie, fourth son of Sir Alexander, 2nd of Guthrie). Leads to James Guthrie (b. ~1669 Dundee, d. 1711, merchant/burgess) + Christian Scott. Son James (1698–1788) became 1st Baron of Craigie after purchasing lands near Dundee. Later barons: James Alexander (4th, 1823–1893), David Charles (5th). Rhyme: “Guthries of Guthrie, Guthries of Gaigie, Guthries of Taybank, and Guthries of Craigie.”

Nuances and Edge Cases: Records favor elites (charters, parish registers via ScotlandsPeople), but pre-15th-century gaps rely on traditions. Edge cases: Feuds (e.g., with Gardynes) or battle losses (Flodden 1513) disrupted lines. Implications: Strong for nobility but obscures commoner origins; favors paternal lines, ignoring maternal (e.g., Bruce ties for autosomal DNA).

Genetic Evidence: Y-DNA Connections and Confirmations

Y-DNA testing empirically links GFG1A to these historical roots, focusing on patrilineal markers.

• Core Y-DNA Link: Guthrie DNA Project (FamilyTreeDNA) shows GFG1A matching a Craigie descendant, e.g., Baron Guthrie of Craigiebank (b. 1938). Y-67/Y-111 matches (distances 0-6 steps) indicate common ancestor in 300-500 years; haplogroups (e.g., R-M269) align with Celtic/Scandinavian origins. Confirms descent from James Guthrie + Christian Scott, inferentially to Guthries of Guthrie.
• Broader GFG1A Implications: All branches (Middlesex VA: John Guthrie d. 1706 + Elizabeth Baskett; Amherst VA: William + Elizabeth Wingfield; Worcester MD: John S. ~1815 + Euphemia Jones) match, suggesting shared Scottish patriarch. Variants (Godfrey, Salkeld) imply NPEs (adoptions/illegitimacy).

Nuances and Edge Cases: Lower-resolution (Y-37) overestimates relatedness; Big Y reveals SNPs for timelines. NPEs (1-2% per generation) explain outliers, e.g., name changes post-immigration. Implications: DNA bridges record gaps but needs autosomal/Big Y integration.

LINEAGES ASSOCIATED WITH GFG1A

GFG1A Branches:

These lineages are represented by one or more Y-DNA tests (Y37, Y67, Y111, or Big-Y 700) confirming their shared direct paternal ancestry.

OTHER Y-DNA MATCHES:

GODFREY-GUTHRIE
This participant’s known ancestors are all of the Godfrey spelling, although his Y-DNA is a match for GFG1A. Although the Godfrey spelling is sometimes found in lieu of Guthrie in early records, it is very rare and almost always an error. The name Godfrey has separate origins and is a surname in its own right. Chances are that this is an example of an adpotion or paternal event in past generations rather than an alteration of the Guthrie name. This person’s furthest known Godfrey was William Godfrey, born in PA c1800 and d in IN.

GUTHRIE-MARSHALL
There are two Marshall surname matches at the Y67 level. No family trees attached. Most likely Guthrie DNA introduced to the Marshall line by a paternal event or adoption.  

GUTHRIE-SALKELD
There is one Salkeld match at the Y67 level and another at Y37 (participant did not upgrade to Y67). The latter names ancestor William Salkeld 1783-1840, and the former a Nicholas Salkeld born c1100-1135. Both are more examples of potential paternal events or adoptions.

CLAIM to FAME

Charles Ronald Llewelyn Guthrie, Baron of Craigiebank. Born into a Scottish landed family in 1938, Guthrie was the elder son of Ronald Guthrie and Nina Guthrie (nee Llewelyn).  During his military career he served with the Welsh Guards and the Special Air Service, and was closely involved in military operations in Northern Ireland and provided advice to the British Government during the Bosnian War and the Kosovo War. He was created a Life Peer (appointed members of the peerage whose titles cannot be inherited), as Baron Guthrie of Craigiebank, in the City of Dundee, in June 2001, and sits as a crossbencher in the House of Lords. (Source: Wikipedia)  

MISTAKEN IDENTITIES and UNPROVEN ASSUMPTIONS

Use caution when tracing lineages in online trees and published works. The convenient information you find may also have inconvenient errors. Some resources can also look very official, yet have no original data to back it up. There is a huge difference between collecting random data and conducting actual research that includes original or secondary sources.

If you’re a Guthrie with roots in Colonial America, especially in the South, chances are that you’ll find information connecting your family line to the Guthrie family of Middlesex County, Virginia. It is one of the earliest family lines in America, and one that has frequently been co-opted by eager folk looking to find some ancestors whether or not there is documentation to prove it.

DNA testing has already proven that many of these conclusions were false. There are a lot of gaps in Virginia records for certain counties, and it is so tempting to latch on to a person with the same name in a county nearby whose records are better if not entirely intact.

The same thing goes for Descendants of proven GFG1A lines in trying to establish ties from America back across the water to Scotland. Historical records have gaps. Barking up the wrong branch of the right tree is still wrong.

🧩 Is This Your Piece of the Puzzle?

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While you may only know your immediate relatives, you are genetically linked to thousands of Guthrie cousins across the globe. That “minor” detail in your grandmother’s journal or that obscure Bible record in your attic could be the missing link a fellow researcher has been hunting for decades.

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Let’s write the next chapter of the GFG1A story together.