Let me share with you the intriguing history of your family, the Lundins, and their Scottish lineage. The story begins with an individual named Robert de London (Robert of London), who arrived in Scotland before the reign of Alexander II. It was common during this period for knightly Anglo-Norman adventurers to journey north and serve in the retinue of the King of Scots, ultimately receiving lands as rewards. Your family’s origins can be traced back to this Robert de London, and almost all Scottish Lundins are descended from him.

Robert’s brother, Malcolm, gained lands in Forfarshire, while Philip de Lundin was granted land near Largo in Fife. Philip held the position of dorward, the gatekeeper, to Kings Malcolm IV and William the Lion. As a result, some of his sons became known by the surname Durward. Philip is mentioned in records between 1161 and 1164, marking his presence during that period.

Philip’s son, Sir Walter, is unusually well-documented for the time. His wife, Christina, is recorded in historical records, and they had at least four sons: Peter, Thomas, Archibald, and John. Thomas achieved particular success, rising to the position of Sheriff of Fife by 1219. Another Thomas served as the vicar of the Parish of Bourtie of Fife in 1268. According to a family legend, in the early thirtieth century, Robert, an illegitimate son of William the Lion, married a Lundin heiress and adopted the Lundin name. This connection was proudly displayed through the heraldry of the chief. While this account is not impossible, it would be considered unusual. Sir Walter of Lundin seems to have been the head of the family during the Wars of Independence.

Centuries later, in 1648, Sir John Lundin of Lundin was succeeded by his daughter, whose husband, Robert Maitland, assumed her name and arms. Maitland fought for the royalists during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, participating in the rescue of Charles I in 1648 and fighting in the Battle of Worcester in 1651. He was captured during the battle and remained a prisoner for several years. In 1679, another heiress resulted in the adoption of the Lundin arms by John Drummond, who eventually became Earl of Melfort in 1685. John Drummond married twice and left his Drummond titles to his second family, as the Drummonds were fervent Jacobites while the Lundins leaned towards Presbyterianism and supported the Hanoverian succession.

The rich history of the Lundin family showcases the intertwining tales of knights, lands, and royal connections. From the arrival of Robert de London in Scotland to the influential Lundins of Forfarshire and Fife, their legacy persisted through the generations. The intriguing legend of an illegitimate son of William the Lion adding the Lundin name to his own further adds to the family’s mystique. As the Lundins navigated through the Wars of Independence and the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, their loyalties and destinies shaped the course of history. Through marriages and inheritances, the Lundin name endured, eventually merging with other prominent Scottish families, such as the Maitlands and Drummonds. Today, the Lundin heritage carries on, a testament to the resilience and impact of this illustrious Scottish lineage.