1921 England and Wales Census records are now available!

On 6 January 2022 the 1921 England and Wales Census records were made available online via the FindMyPast website. The records have been indexed and are searchable via the usual methods. These records are only viewable on a pay-per-view basis and are not included in any of FindMyPast's existing subscriptions with the exception of the 12 month premium subscription.

Abernethy records on Ancestry

Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out your Abernethy family tree. A vast range of data is available to search ranging from census records, births, deaths and marriages, military records and immigration records to name but a few. Free trials are normally available and are a good way to fill out a lot of your tree quickly.

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Historical References

"ABERNETHY. "The origin of the Abernethies," says the late Sir James Balfour Paul, cannot be stated with any certainty. In the twelfth century they appear to have occupied the position of lay abbots of the Culdee Monastery of Abernethy in Stratheam. This would seem to show that they were descended from original native stock and not of Saxon or Norman origin. The first of the Abernethies on record is Hugh, who appears to have died about the middle of the twelfth century (RPSA., p. 130, 132). His son Orm probably succeeded his father as lay abbot. He appears as witness to a charter by Ernulphus or Arnold, bishop of St. Andrews, granted before 1162. He also witnessed a charter of William the Lion (Scon, 34). He is the first of the family found bearing the territorial appellation 'de Abernethy.' It is conjectured that he may have given name to the knds of Ormiston (c. 1160, Ormystone), an estate contiguous to that of Salton, East Lothian, with which his descendants became identified in after days, though Orm was not an uncommon name in those early days (see OHMISTON ). Between 1189 and 1196 King William the Lion granted the church of Abemethy to the Abbey of Arbroath (RAA., i, p. 25), while about the same time Lawrence, son of Orm de Abirnythy, conveys to the church and monks of Arbroath his whole right in the advowson of the church of Abernethy (ibid., p. 35). He retained the land and position of 'dominus' or lord of Abemethy (Skene, CS., n, p. 399). Hugh de Haberinthan is mentioned in a papal mandate to the bishops of St. Andrews and Aberdeen in 1264 (Pap. Lett., i, p. 408). Sir Alexander de Abernethy swore fealty in 1296. His seal bears on the breast of an eagle displayed, a shield charged with a lion rampant, debruised by a ribbon, S' Alexandri de Abernethi (Bain, n, 751). Abernethies appear in Upper Lauderdale in the thirteenth century, probamy as vassals of the de Morevilles. David de Albirnyth appears as vicar of Drisdale in 1320 (REG., p. 229), and c. 1380 William de Abrenythe made a gift of the mill of Ulkeston (now Oxton) to Dryburgh (Dryburgh, 259). John of Abrenethy, knight of Scotland, had a safe conduct in England in 1399 (Bain, TV, 593), and George Abmnete, merchant of Scotland, had a similar 0 safe conduct in 1465 (ibid., 1358). Among Scots in Prussia in 1644 the name was spelled Abernetti. It became Ebbemet in Sweden. Abernathie 1641, Abemythe 1204, Abimathie 1596, Abimethie 1609, Abirnethny 1407, Abirnidhr 1228, Abrenythi and Abrenythie c. 1295, Abrenethyn 1351, Abrenythyn 1338, Aburnethe 1424, Habemethi 1426; also Abernather, Aberneathie, Abimythy, and Abirnather. It may here be mentioned that the family of Abernethy shared in the "privilege of sanctuary," a privilege which, says Riddell (Scotch peerage law, 1833, p. 152), "with us was by no means so common as has been apprehended." In pre-Reformation times certain churches in Scotland and England were set apart to be an asylum for fugitives from justice. Any person who had taken refuge in such a sanctuary was secured against punishment except the charge were treason or sacrilege if within the space of forty days he gave signs of repentance, and subjected himself to punishment. By the Act 21 James i (of England ) c. xxvra, the privilege of sanctuary for crime was finally abolished. In Scotland all religious sanctuaries were abolished at the Reformation in 1560. The most celebrated of these ecclesiastical sanctuaries were the church of Wedale, now Stow, which treasured what was believed to have been a piece of the true cross brought by King Arthur from the Holy Land; and the church of Lesmahagow, Lanarkshire, fugitives to which had the benefit of the "King's Peace," granted by King David I in addition to the protection of the Church. According to Wyntoun (Crom/kil, bk. vr, c. xnc) only three persons originally were partakers in such a right: Macduff, Thane of Fife, the Black Priest of Wedale, and the Lord of Abernethy. "(The surnames of Scotland. George Fraser Black, 1866-1948)

DNA

Sometimes you can run into a brick wall in your tree and you just don't have enough evidence to make that next step back in time. A DNA test can sometimes help to make a link to a particular family name if you find you share common DNA with people who have the same or similar surnames as each other. If you are lucky then you may get a match within a few generations and discover some Abernethy ancestors. Additionally, the modern DNA test can give you a breakdown of your ethnic mix - you may be surprised at the results!

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Birth, Death and Marriage Records for the Abernethy Family Tree

Birth, Death and Marriage records are often the best method of making the links to the Abernethy Genealogy that will form part of your family tree. Although records vary from country to country, they are normally the most formal record of a person's relations. From the sources below you will be able to find a birth record and, from that, a birth certificate can be ordered which lists the names of the mother and father, taking you back another generation in your tree. A marriage certificate may also list the names of the respective fathers of the bride and groom which may then help you to find them earlier in life on a census record enabling you to fill out more detail in the Abernethy family tree.

Explore Abernethy Parish Records at Find My Past.

Investigate the UK registered births, marriages and deaths for the Abernethy family name using the FreeBMD database.

Explore Genealogy BankGenealogy Bank for Abernethy family records.

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Investigate the LDS Database for records of the Abernethy family.

Research the Abernethy surname using fold3 Military Archives and view images of original Abernethy Military records.

ukDid you know that there are currently 1152 people with the Abernethy surname in the UK? Abernethy is now ranked number 2971 for popularity in the UK.

Abernethy Family History Databases

Study WikiTree for user contributed Abernethy family records. Collaboration is encouraged so that accuracy of Abernethy data can be verified or corrected by other users.

Check out MyTrees for information on the Abernethy family and people looking to contact living Abernethy relations.

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Find your Irish Abernethy relatives on findmypast.ie

Abernethy Forums

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ukDid you know that there are currently 3038 people with the Abernethy surname in the USA? Abernethy is ranked number 156 for popularity in the USA.

Miscellaneous Abernethy Databases

Study the Ellis Island Database for information on the Abernethy family. This database contains over 25 million immigration records detailing passengers arriving in the United States of America.

Use the Surname Map project to look at the current distribution of the Abernethy surname in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Romania.

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