My wife's ancestors - Skene - Contents

Skene of Skene, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

• References:
  • Memorials of the family of Skene of Skene, William Forbes Skene, New Spalding Club, Aberdeen, 1887, [Aberdeen FHS] RR, [ACL].

  • SKENE in [Burkes Extinct Baronetage] (this is quite inaccurate, and is completely superseded by the above).
  • SKENE of Rubislaw in [Burkes LG, 1882]
  • SKENE of Hallyards in [Burkes LG, 1952]

• Sources yet to be consulted:
  • SKENE in [Burkes LG, Scotland]
  • SKENE in [Burkes Peerage]

  • The Skene Mansion, Robert M. Lawrance.
  • The Warlock Laird of Skene, Aberdeen Univ. library.

 

The Skene arms (3 daggers with wolves' heads) on the front of Skene House.
Photo 1994. Picture courtesy of Judith Campbell.
See full size, where one can see the motto, "Virtutis regia merces" ("A palace the reward of bravery").
See also photo 1998.
See also the joint Skene and Ædie arms inside the house.

Skene were a prominent family in Aberdeenshire since medieval times, with a number of branches, and their own tartan. The seat of the head of the family was Skene Castle (later called Skene House) (central tower built 1217), near the village of Lyne of Skene, W of Aberdeen (see map). Following the numbering adopted in [Skene, 1887], the first Laird is:

Robert Skene, 1st Laird of Skene,
granted the Barony of Skene by Robert the Bruce in 1317.

ancestor of:

Adam Skene, 5th Laird of Skene,
mar Janet Keith [descendant of David I, King of Scotland and of Henry I],
he was killed in Battle of Harlaw 1411,
had issue:

James Skene, 6th Laird of Skene, succ 1411,
mar [widow of Fraser of Corntoun] and died 1461, having had issue:

Alexander Skene, 7th Laird of Skene,
mar [settlement 1438] to Mariot of Kinarde, succ 1461, and died 1470, having had issue:

Gilbert Skene, 8th Laird of Skene, succ 1470,
mar 1481 to Cristina Mercer and died 1485 [Cristina remarried] having had issue:

Alexander Skene, 9th Laird of Skene, born est c.1481, succ 1485,
mar Agnes Forbes [descendant of Robert III, King of Scotland and of Henry I]
and died 1507, age est c.26, having had issue:

1. Alexander Skene, 10th Laird of Skene, born est c.1499, succ 1507,
   it was him who mar 1516 to Elizabeth Black, NOT his father,
   died 1517, age est c.18 yrs, having had (posthumous) issue:
   1. Alexander Skene, 11th Laird of Skene, born 1517.

   
   

2. James Skene of Wester Corse (see here and here),
   born est c.1505.

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• Skene, Aberdeenshire.

• Skene surname discussion forum
• Skeen surname discussion forum

• Skene genealogy and p.2 and p.3 by Peter Barns-Graham
• Skene genealogy

• Clan Skene (also here)
  • Clan Skene Association
  • Clan Skene in Nova Scotia

• In Aberdeen there is a Skene Square, Skene St and Skene Road. So named just because they are on the road that leads to Skene.
• Skene House hotels, Aberdeen.