The pioneering spirit of the Scottish Highlander and his contribution to
world history has few rivals amongst the founding races of the British
Isles.
The Highland surname McBurnie has been prominent in adding a weighty
influence to an already monumental image. From the sea swept Hebridean
Islands and the mountainous West Coast of Scotland, this surname has
emerged as a notable family whose history is romanticised by the skirl of
the bagpipes, the brandished sword, the tartan kilt and the highland games.
Professional analysts, using some of the oldest manuscripts, including Clan
genealogies, the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, the Ragman Rolls, the
Inquisito, the Black Book, parish cartularies, baptismal records, tax
records and many other documents found the name McBurnie in Elgin,
Scotland, where they had been seated from ancient times.
The name, McBurnie, was found to have many variations in spelling,
particularly in transferring the name into and from Gaelic. The surname was
sometimes also spelt Binnie, Birney, Binny, Birnye, Byrnie, Berney, Birne,
Byrne, McBirny, McBirnie, McBurny, McBerney, and these changes in spelling
occurred even between Father and Son. It was not uncommon for a clansman in
his own lifetime to be born with one spelling, marry with another, and yet
another to appear on his headstone. Sometimes a different spelling was used
to claim a religious or clan affiliation, or even a division of the family.
The Dalriadans are considered one of the founding races of Scotland. This
race decended from the early Iris Kings, specifically Kind Colla da Crioch,
who was banished from Ireland in 327 A.D., along with 350 clan chiefs who
settled in the Western Isles. Even now, certain Scottish Highland clans are
still called the "Children of Colla". Descended from this monarch, through
Fergus Mor MacEarcha, was the great King Somerled, King of Man and the
Isles, the Scion of the MacDonalds, MacDougalls and many others. Kenneth
MacAlpine, first King of Scotland, Alba or Caledonia as it was then known,
was half Dalriadan, half Pict.
The Highland Clans kept aloof from Scottish politics. Many battles were
fought with the Scottish King, generally considered to be a lowlander, or
Sassenach, until Bonnie Prince Charlie rallied their support for his claim
to the throne which culminated at Culloden in 1745. The last straw to the
Highlanders had been the Highland Clearances (1790), the result of
introducing sheep into the highlands. Many joined the Highland regiments,
and the cream of Scottish manhood fought and migrated all over the world,
including the North American colonies.
The name McBurnie emerged as a Scottish Clan or family in the territory of
Elgin. They first settled in Brennath in Moray, where the name become
Binnie. James Binnie was a businessman in the town of Elgin in 1261. Sir
Andrew Birnie of Saline was the head of the clan around the year 1500 - he
was a Senator of the College of Justice. The McBurnies' also branched to
Broomhill where they also had estates. Walter McBirnie was the Kings
Chaplin. In the middle ages the Birnies became an ecclesiastical family and
held many important posts in the reformed church.
Clan Societies are now attempting to reconstruct Highland history. But
typical of the ancient conflict between the Highlanders and Edinburgh, many
noble and ancient highland clans have still not officially been recognised
by the Lord Lyon of Scotland.
Many heads of families migrated from Scotland to Ireland during the 17th
and 18th centuries. They became known as the "Scotch/Irish". They were
granted the lands of the native Catholic Irish. In Ireland they settle in
North East Ulster and assumed the name McBurney and McBinnie.
Ever since St. Columba has first brought Christianity to the Isle of Iona,
crowning place of the Kings of Scotland, Britain, even of Europe, in the
4th centuary, religion had played a major role in Highland affairs. During
the 16th and 17th centuries many "turned", as they say, and became
embroiled in the savage religious conflicts of the mainland. Religion
frequently inflicted banishment to the New World or worse. Persons who
failed the "Test", the oath of belief and loyalty to the new church were
burnt at the stake, hanged or banished.
The Highland regiment provided a source of migrants the world over.
Regiments were formed to relieve the misery caused by the introduction of
sheep into the Highlands. Abandoned clansmen moved to Ireland, or the New
World. Many moved south to England, an economic necessity.
Clansmen sailed aboard the small sailing ships known as the "White Sails"
which plied the stormy Atlantic, ships such as the Hector, the Rambler and
the Dove, indenturing themselves for up to ten years to pay their passage.
Many of these overcrowded ships arrived with only 60 to 70 percent of their
passenger list, the rest dying at sea.
In North America, many settled in Virginia, the Carolinas, Pictou, Nova
Scotia and the Ottowa Valley. One of the first migrants which could be
considered a kinsman of the name McBurnie was William Birnie who settled in
Philadelphia in 1844. Others who settled in the New World were David Birney
(settled in Philadelphia, 1840), William McBernie (settled in New York
State, 1804), James McBirney (settled in Philadelphia, 1844), John McBirney
(settled in Charles Town S.C. in 1767), Andrew McBurney (settled in
Philadelphia in 1842), Margaret McBurney (Charles Town S.C. in 1767) and
Williamm McBurnie (who settled in St. John Island in 1775).
Many joined the wagon trails to the mid west and west coast. During the
American War of Independence those loyal to the cause pledged their
allegiance to their new country. Others, loyal to the crown moved North to
Canada and became known as the United Empire Loyalists.
There were many prominent kinsmen of the name McBurnie such as General
William Birney (American Revolution), Colonel Eugene Birnie (The Guides
Cavalry), Alfred Earlr Birney (Canadian Poet and Novelist).
The Most ancient grant of a coat of arms found was red with a silver
horizontal stripe, a bow at the top with an arrow, and in the base three
mens’ legs. The crest was a lions head.
The McBurnie Family Motto was "Sapere Aude Incipe", meaning "Dare to love
life, begin at once". Some
sources translate this as "Dare to be wise, begin at once".
