Allow me to share the captivating story of your family’s history, the Trotters, a name intertwined with legends and accomplishments. Rooted in the French word ‘trotier’, denoting a swift messenger, your family’s journey spans time and borders, leaving an enduring legacy.

Legend whispers that the name Trotter was bestowed upon a brother of Lord Gifford for his swift delivery of a message to James III. This act of speed marked the inception of a family name that would carry through generations. Among the Borders clan, the Trotters of Prentannan in Berwickshire stood strong, accompanying the Homes on their border expeditions. The annals of history reveal the sacrifice of a Trotter chief at Flodden in 1513. A direct heir, bound by the echoes of the past, joined the ranks of James Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, at the Battle of Killiecrankie.

From the Jacobite fervor emerged the Reverend Robert Trotter, a theologian whose thoughts resonated through time. Dr. John Trotter, a surgeon from Tynron in Dumfries, wore the mantle of his family’s Jacobite sympathies. Amidst his medical duties, he tended to wounded Scottish soldiers, veiling their retreat from England. Within the family tapestry, distinguished threads emerged in the forms of the Trotters of Charterhall, Cutchelraw, and Mortonhall. As time journeyed forward, the name echoed in Northumberland and Durham.

The Trotters of Mortonhall, guardians of lands bordering Edinburgh, proudly trace their heritage back to the days of Robert II. William Trotter of Cutchelraw, charged with maintaining border peace, etched his name in history alongside his descendants. A grandson found himself entrusted with the treasury of Edinburgh, a testament to the family’s standing. Amidst the turbulence of King Charles I’s era, they held firm, even as fines were levied for aiding the Marquess of Montrose in 1645. A name etched in service, Robert Trotter of Bush stood as the Postmaster General for Scotland.

The chapters of sacrifice and valor continued with Thomas Trotter of Mortonhall, who met his fate at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815. Lieutenant Colonel Edward Henry Trotter, born in 1872, led with distinction during the First World War, even in the face of losses. Angela Olivia Trotter, Countess of Limerick, a beacon of humanitarianism, championed the Red Cross Movement. The story culminates in January 1996, as Major Alexander Trotter of Mortonhall assumed the mantle of Chief, acknowledged by the Lord Lyon.

Today, the legacy of your family, the Trotters, stands as a testament to valor, service, and resilience. From the echoes of the past to the present, your family’s journey has carved a path of distinction. The grandeur of Mortonhall House and the solemnity of the Trotter Mortonhall mausoleum serve as monuments to the enduring legacy of a family that has left its mark on history.