History of the Tullock surname

The Pictish race was one of the founding races of the British Isles. They arrived in Scotland from Brittany in about the 15th Century B.C. The surname of Tullock is believed to be descended from this race. Migrating Northwest from France they sailed to Ireland where they were refused permission to land, but were allowed by the Kings of Ireland to locate in the Eastern part of Scotland, with the proviso that all their kings marry an Irish princess. According to the Venerable Bede, England's oldest Historian, this established their matriarchal hierarchy, rare in the annals of British history.

Nechtan was the first recorded Pictish King, about 724 A.D.. although, according to Roman history, many Pictish kings before him had fought gallantly at Hadrian's Wall against the Roman invasion many centuries before. Their rivals to the West, the Dalriadans or the highlanders of the Western Isles, were their constant foes in the battle for the supremacy for power over all of Scotland, known then as Alba, or Caledonia.

Nechtan was finally expelled from Pictland by Alpin, half Dalriadan, half Pict, the result of a political marriage. Alpin's son, Kenneth MacAlpine, son of Alpin, became the first recorded King of Scotland as we know it today. The Picts, compressed by the northern invasion of the Orcadian Vikings from the north who penetrated as far south as Caithness, were left with a territory on the eastern coast of Scotland from Aberdeen, south to Edinburgh.

From some of the early records researchers examined such documents as th Inquisito, 1120 A.D., the Black Book of the Exchequer, the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, The Ragman Rolls, The Chronicles of the Picts and Scots, and various cartularies of parishes in Scotland. From these archives they produced early records of the name Tullock in Rossshire, where they were seated from very ancient times.

The spelling of the surname Tullock was found in many different forms. Although my surname 'Tullock' occurred in many references, from time to time the surname was spelt Tulloch, Tullo, Tulloh, Tullack, Tullagh, and some of these versions are still used today. These changes in spelling frequently occurred, even between father & son. For instance, one clanswoman was recorded as being born a Moffit, married as a Moffat, and the spelling Moffett appeared on her headstone. Preferences for spelling variations usually either stemmed from a division of the family, had religious reasons, or sometimes patriotic reasons. Scribes and church people frequently selected their own version of what they thought the spelling should be.

The family name Tullock emerged as a Scottish clan or family in this territory. More specifically they developed in their original territories of Rossshire, and the Tullock tartan is affiliated to the Ross clan. In 1364 Nicholas of Tulloch was the first Chief on record, followed by Fergus, another Fergus, and Walter. David, his successor, acquired the lands of Cragnachtoun and Ednelstoun in Kincardine in 1380. the following Chiefs were Walter, Watt, John, William, John, and two Davids. By 1411 the Tullochs were merchants of Aberdeen, and in 1422 Thomas Tulloch was Bishop of the Orkneys and Custodian of the Castle of Kirkwall. John Tulloch represented Nairn in Scottish Parliament in 1639, and 1649. Patrick Tulloch of Boigtoun represented Forres in 1669 and 1678. Thomas Tulloch of Taunachies also sat in Scottish Parliament in 1689. Their seats are now at Tannochy in Elgin, Elliestoun in Roxburgh, and in Australia. Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Tulloch "of that Ilk".

During the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, Scotland was savaged by religious conflict. The newly found passionate fervour of Presbyterianism and the Church of Scotland rejected all who could not pass "The Test" of taking an oath of belief in the Church. Those failing the "Test" were frequently hanged, drawn and quartered in the High Street, or, more kindly, banished to the colonies, to Australia or to the Carolinas.

Meanwhile the Roman Church still fought to retain its status. Many clansmen were freely "encouraged" to migrate to Ireland. From 1603 to 1790, Scottish Clans and families were recruited from the English/Scottish border and north of Edinburgh to populate northern Ireland with Protestant stock faithful to the new religion of the Crown. Many heads of families migrated from Scotland to Ireland during this period. They became known as "Scotch/Irish". There is no evidence that the family name of Tulloch migrated to Ireland but this does not preclude the possibility of individual migration.

The migration or banishment to the New World also continued, some went voluntarily from Ireland, but most went directly from Scotland, their home territories. Some also moved to the European continent. They sailed to the New World across the stormy Atlantic, aboard the small sailing ships known as the "White Sails". These overcrowded ships, sometimes spending two months at sea, were racked with disease, sometimes landing with only 60% of their original passengers still alive.

In North America, some of the first migrants which could be considered kinsmen of the surname Tullock, or having a variation of the family surname spelling were James Tullagh settled in Virginia, in 1684 and Andrew Tulloch settled in Philadelphia in 1799.

From the original ports of entry the immigrants moved westward, some to the middle west, some across the prairies to the west coast. During the War of Independence allegiances were divided. Some remained American, whilst others became United Empire Loyalists and moved north to Canada.

The name was prominent in the Arts, Science, Commerce and the professions. Many prominent people represent the notable name Tullock. George Tulloch, Entymologist of Bridgewater, Mass, John Tullock, Landscape Architect, D. Tulloch, Electrical Engineer.

In researching the Family name Coat of Arms we traced the most ancient grant of Arms to the family name. However, other grants were made to different branches of the family which may be equally appropriate.

The most ancient grant of a Coat of Arms found was:

Gold, a red horizontal stripe between three stars, on the stripe three crosses. The Crest was: A mitre. The ancient family Motto for the name of Tullock was "Pietate Parentum"