Guthrie of Craigie: Genealogy & History

The Guthries of Craigie are a prominent branch of the Scottish Guthrie family, historically associated with the lands of Craigie in Angus (formerly Forfarshire), located just east of Dundee. They are genetically linked to Guthrie Family Group 1A (GFG1A).

📍 Location & Origins

Current Status: Much of the original estate has been absorbed into the expanding city of Dundee, though names like “Craigie House” and “Craigie Care Home” persist.

Location: The Barony of Craigie is located in Angus, Scotland.

Note: Do not confuse this with the Craigie in South Ayrshire, which is also associated with Guthrie families.

Historical Name: Identified as “Kragy” on Timothy Pont’s map of Lower Angus and Perthshire (c. 1583–96).

Etymology: The name likely derives from the craggy hillside of the local landscape.

🏰 The Barons of Craigie (Succession Chart)

The lands of Craigie were originally held by the Kyd family before passing to the Guthries, then briefly to the Makgills, before returning to the Guthries. After David Charles Guthrie’s death in 2003, the family estate sold the lands and title, making him the last Baron Guthrie of Craigie.

The lands of Craigie were originally held by several prominent families living in the vicinity of Dundee leasing it out to tenant farmers during the medieval period. Boundaries of the Barony went through frequent changes as individual territories were exchanged between abbeys, merchants, towns, and nobles. 

The Kyd family remained in possession of most land within Cragie until the mid 18th century. Patrick Kyd was 1st Baron Kyd of Craigie between 1666-1677, and afterwards James Kid, 2nd Baron Kid of Craigie between 1677-1728.

Over the course of a couple of decades, James Guthrie (1698-1788), a son of merchant James Guthrie and Christian Scott, had been buying up property in Cragie. By early 1728 he was referenced as being “of Craigie” in official documents.

James Guthrie of Hiltoun of Craigie and other lands, is recorded in a crown charter of 12 February 1729 also as James Guthrie 1st Baron of Craigie, 6 Aug 1764. He purchased the lands of Craigie from the Dundee Town Council. By 1770, James Guthrie was the 3rd greatest value landowner in Dundee. (Directory of Landownership in Scotland circa 1770)

🧬 Ancestral Lineage (Descent from Guthrie of Guthrie)

James Guthrie, the 1st Baron Guthrie of Craigie, descended from the ancient line of Guthrie of that Ilk. The following chart traces the direct paternal line from the 2nd Baron of Guthrie down to the acquisition of Craigie.

📜 Family Spotlight: James Guthrie (1st of Craigie)

James Guthrie was a significant figure who transitioned the family from merchants to landed gentry.

• Acquisition: He began buying property in Craigie over several decades. By 1728, he was officially styled as “of Craigie.”
• Charter: Recorded in a crown charter on Feb 12, 1729.
• Status: By 1770, he was ranked the 3rd greatest value landowner in Dundee.
• Marriage: Contracted to Elizabeth Gardyne (Gairden) on July 21, 1733; married July 22, 1733.
• Children:
  • Daughters: Anne, Christian, Jean, Amelia, Lillian.
  • Sons: James (Heir, b. 1740), David.
• Heraldry: Arms matriculated on Sept 25, 1772, referencing his descent from the Guthries of Hiltoun and Guthrie of that Ilk.

🏠 Craigie House

For the most part, the Barony of Craigie was inherited by the laws of primogeniture father to eldest son until the year 2000 when the Abolition of Federal Tenure etc (Scotland) Act ended feudalism in Scotland.

The seat of the Barony was Craigie House, which stood for over two centuries.

• Construction: Built by the 1st Baron (James Guthrie) or his son.
• Description: Described in 1856 as a “neat villa” with beautiful river views, surrounded by “thriving plantations.” In 1857, it was noted as an “elegant two-story slated building.”
• Sale & Conversion:
  • 1831: Listed for sale (House + 232 acres) but remained in the family.
  • 1911: House, stables, and grounds sold.
  • 1923–1949: Operated as a private nursing home.
  • Later Uses: Hostel for Jute Industries workers; retirement home for Dundee Corporation.
• Demolition: Eventually demolished due to unsuitability for modern care requirements.
• Modern Site: The site is now occupied by the Craigie House Care Home.

In 1831, the Guthrie family put their Craigie holdings up for sale, which included Craigie House and 232 acres. However, it was not sold at that time and remained within the Guthrie family.

The Ordnance Survey Name Books for Forfarshire (Angus), 1857-1861, Forfar (Angus) Volume 36,
OS1/14/36/27 lists:
Craigie – Near the north side of Dundee & Arbroath Railway. A one story, slated farm house with substantial offices extensive farm, gardens, & c attached, occupied by Mr Francis Bachelor & property of James Guthrie Esq,

Craigie House – Near the north side of Dundee & Arbroath Railway. A rather elegant two story slated building, with Offices & Garden attached, in possession of John Shiell Esqr. Cragie House, and property of James Guthrie Esqr.

In 1911, Craigie House, an acre and a half of ground, and the Stables of Craigie House were sold. The latter was converted into a dwelling place in 1910, and in 1920 was sold separately as Sterling House. Craigie House became a private nursing home from 1923 to 1949. It has been a hostel for workers of Jute Industries, a retirement home for the Dundee Corporation, and eventually reverted to the Dundee City Council. The house was eventually demolished as it became unsuitable for modern requirements of care. The place where Craigie House once stood is now a home for the elderly, the Craigie House Care Home.

READING and RESOURCES

BOOK/JOURNAL: Collins, Dennis F (2008) ‘The Barony of Craigie, The Demesne and Manor Farm of Craigie and Craigie House, Dundee.’ Repository: University of Dundee Archive Services

BOOK: Peter, David MacGregor (1856) ‘ The baronage of Angus and Mearns, comprising the genealogy of three hundred and sixty families… being a guide to the tourist and heraldic artist. Edinburgh Oliver & Boyd. Digital Repository: Internet Archive.
p.60
Craigie House, a neat villa, beautifully situated amid finely wooded grounds and gardens, on the sea-coast, on the north of the Broughty Ferry Road, about two miles east of Dundee.

WIKIPEDIA: Baron of Cragie

WEBSITE: Scotland’s Lost Country Houses
177. Craigie House, Dundee/West Ferry, Angus

BOOK: Warden, Alex J. (1884) ‘Angus or Forfarshire, the Land and People, descriptive and historical, Volume IV. Dundee: Charles Alexander & Co. Digital Repository: Electric Scotland.
pp.128-134
The property of Craigie was a large and valuable estate five or six centuries ago, but it was at an early period cut up in to several sections, and these were again sub-divided into smaller portions, which males it impossible to give a correct continuous account of either the sections or the smaller portions into which they were divided, but we will make the account as clear as, with the data at our command, we possibly can. (Followed by information on acquisition and sale of lands.)
pp.134-135
Discussion of the Guthries in Craigie
Also a description of Craigie House:
“The views of the river, and the shipping passing up and down to the great commercial and manufacturing town of Dundee, seen from the finely situated mansion house of Craigie, are extremely beautiful. Craigie House is surrounded by thriving plantations and little clumps of trees, and much well-grown timber. These and the good garden and fine lawn and walks make it a very desirable residence. The house was erected by one of the earlier of the Guthrie proprietors, but, though not in the modern style, it is a good, comfortable dwelling.”

Map References: Timothy Pont (c. 1583); John Slezer (1693); Ordnance Survey Name Books (1857-1861).