Let me share with you the remarkable history of your family, the Gardens, as it has been passed down through the generations. The name is often spelled ‘Gardyne’, and it is most likely that your family originates from the parish of Kirkdon in Angus, where the barony of Gardyne can be found. The place name itself has two possible origins. It could be derived from the word ‘garden’, although this would have been an unusual name for the time. Alternatively, it may have originated from ‘Rough Hill’, derived from the Brythonic words ‘Garbh’ (rough) and ‘dun’ (hill or possibly fort). The surname emerged when a knightly landowner adopted the name of the lands where he held his seat. The first recorded instance of the name dates back to 1296 when William de Gardyne submitted and paid homage to Edward I of England, following the devastating English invasion that had removed the unfortunate King John from power. The exact origins of William remain uncertain. He may have been a Norman adventurer like many Scottish landowners of that time, or he and his ancestors may have always been associated with Gardyne.

Your family, the Gardens, were often involved in feuds with their neighbors, the Guthries. While Gardyne Castle was an impressive stronghold and underwent extensive construction in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, the nearby Guthrie Castle remained a more formidable fortress. In 1578, Patrick Gardyne of that Ilk was killed by William Guthrie, and different accounts exist regarding the true story behind the death. According to the Gardyne version, Patrick and Robert Gardyne were killed on Carbundow Moor in 1578, and their deaths were later avenged with the murder of Alexander Guthrie in Inverpeffer in 1587. On the other hand, the Guthries believe that Alexander was killed by his cousin Thomas Gairden of Legatston and that William Guthrie sought revenge by murdering Patrick. Ultimately, the Guthries proved to be more powerful, and your family, the Gardynes, decided to leave their land and castle. David, the tenth laird, sold them to acquire the estate of Lawton. In 1603, David married Janet Lindsay, daughter of Sir David Lindsay, Lord Edzell.

In later years, your family faced challenges in producing a male heir, leading the line to continue as the Bruce-Gardynes of Middleton. Another branch of the family, known as the Troup branch, descended from Gardyne of Banchory. The first Laird of Troup, who was a son of the Banchory house, was sent by Charles I to assist Gustavus Adolphus, the King of Sweden, during the Thirty Years War. He remained at the Swedish Court until 1654 and then returned to Scotland, where he purchased the family lands of Troup.

Your family, the Gardens, has a rich and storied history, marked by conflicts, alliances, and the passage of estates from one generation to another. It is a heritage that should be cherished and proudly passed down to future generations.