Origins of Stenhouses and Stenhouse name: German or Norse?
Hello,
I am descended from Richard and Agness (Trotter) Stenhouse who migrated to South Carolina, U.S.A. in early 1800s from Lothian Borders area of Scotland. At least at the time of my g.g. grandfather Ebenezer's birth they were living in Ladykirk Fouldan, I think Berwickshire, in the Lothian Borders area of Scotland. In fact Eben and all 10 of his siblings were born and baptised there and their names are still recorded in an old book there in the old church in Fouldan.
I was wondering what the origins of the Stenhouses were and what they were? I have corresponded with two or three Scottish "native speakers of Celtic or Scottish-Gaelic. They all said Stenhouse is not a Celtic or Gaelic name and felt that it was of Germanic or Norse origin. Any ideas? I have seen Stenhouse spelled in different ways and read things, such as the name means basically "Stonehouse". I have seen it spelled Stenhouse, Stanhouse, Stanhause, Stenhaus, Stennis, Stennus, Stannus, etc., etc.. If I am not mistaken "Steinhaus" is Germanic for "Stonehouse". I also heard that the Bruces got their land and castle from the Stenhouse family that was already there when the Bruces came over with William the Conqueror. Of course we all know that the Stenhouse family was/is a Sept of Clan Bruce. Remember that Clan Bruce and its Septs are all related by blood and marriage and not just simply allied with the Chief family as most Scottish clans were/are. I have wondered if the Stenhouses are originally of Norse/Viking descent, descended from Norse/Viking raiders and settlers who settled much of Scotland and England back in the olden days. A Stenhouse cousin of mine in South Carolina even said that he had found out the Stenhouses were of Pictish origins. No one really knows who or what the origins of the Picts who inhabited Scotland, or at least some of it, before the Celtic Gaels arrived, really were. Anyone have any ideas or info on the origins of this family and that name!!??
Thanks,
David Middleton Edelen II
Millbrook, Alabama, U.S.A.