Origin of the Crothers Name

Analysis and Genealogy of the Name CAROTHERS by LaRina

“The CAROTHERS or CARRUTHERS family as they are known in Scotland are descended from a proud lineage which resided in County Dumfries for over seven centuries. Their name means ‘Red Fortress’ named after the red rocks from which their ancient stronghold was built.
“The Carruthers family manor was at Annadale. William Carruthers, head of the family in 1329 was active in support of King David II. Later, about 1440, Thomas Carruthers was specially rewarded by King James II for his services against the English.

“The Carruthers coat-of-arms consists of two chevrons between three flueurs-de-lis on a red shield.“Their motto, “Promptus et Fidelis” means “Ready and Faithful.”

“The surname spread into northern England and in the 1700s to America. Distortions of Carruthers are numerous and some are almost unrecognizable; such as CROTHERS, CRUDDIS, CARUDDERS, AND CARRUTHERS.

The late Percy R. Crothers of Brookings, South Dakota wrote:

“The name Carruthers originated…by the use of the Celtic word caer, meaning a stronghold or camp, with the name Ruther. Caer Ruther, meaning the stronghold or camp of Ruther. This had become a place name in Dumphryshire, Scotland in the 4th century and by the 16th century had become a family name of the people living there. (They were known as the lowlanders of South Scotland. They fought when the English invaded Scotland and finally were overcome and moved to North Ireland.)

“The several ways of spelling the name at present are not surprising, for in times past it was likely many who bore the name could not spell. When they began to use the written name the tendency was to shorten the spelling and spell the name as it sounded. My own family has used the spelling Crothers back as far as I have been able to trace them.”