Methven Family History & Genealogy

Summary

The Methven family (like many Scottish families) may have originally been Norman (not French but Viking).  The first recorded mention of the Methven family was in Scotland in about 1068 when the King of Scotland gave land to the Methven family.  Through time, the Methven family moved into England as well as the United States of America (the Colonies), continuing all along to be active in affairs of state.  Methven can include a variety of spellings included, but not limited to, Methuan, Methven, Methfyn, and Methfen. Read below for more information about the Methven family but don't forget to add to this page if you have more information.

History

The first records found of the Methven family are in Perthshire Scotland, where they were given lands by Malcolm Canmore, King of Scotland, in 1069 in the barony of Methven. The surname Methven emerged as a notable Scottish family name in the county of Perthshire where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity seated as lords of the manor and estates in that shire. They descended from a man of distinction who accompanied Queen Margaret from Hungary. Patrick Methven followed by his successor, followed by sir Roger Methven who was a supporter of Robert the Bruce but was forced tp submit to King Edward I on his brief conquest of Scotland in 1296. Paul Methven, the succeeding Chief of the clan, negotiated the truce between England and Scotland in 1363. Successive Chiefs of the Methven clan continued to play important roles within the royal Court of Scotland. They were generally Ambassadors to the English court. They finally settled in Somerset England where Baron Methven held his estates in Corsham in Wiltshire. The surname/family contributed much to the affairs of England and Scotland. The Democratic freedom of the New World attracted many of the family, including Charles Methven who settled in Charles Town in 1767. The Methven family (like many Scottish families) may have originally been Norman (not French but Viking).  The first recorded mention of the Methven family was in Scotland in about 1068 when the King of Scotland gave land to the Methven family.  Through time, the Methven family moved into England as well as the United States of America (the Colonies), continuing all along to be active in affairs of state.  Methven can include a variety of spellings included, but not limited to, Methuan, Methven, Methfyn, and Methfen. Read below for more information about the Methven family but don't forget to add to this page if you have more information.

Name Origin

We don't have any information on the origins of the Methven name. Have information to share?

Spellings & Pronunciations

Variations of Methven include Methuan, Methven, Methfyn, and Methfen. Scribes spelt the name as it sounded so a person could be born with one of these variations, married with another and died with a third.

Nationality & Ethnicity

Many Scottish clans and families can trace their origins to Normandy. The Normans were frequently (but mistakenly) thought to be of French origin. They are more accurately of Viking origin. The Vikings landed in the Orkneys and Northern Scotland about 870 AD Origional nationality and ethnicity of Methven would possibly be Norman (not French but the Vikings) and then later Scottish.

Famous People named Methven

Famous people from the Methven family include:

Malcolm Methven, British Director General of Trading.
Baron Anthony Methven.
Paul Methven who negotiated a truce between England and Scotland in 1363.
Charles Methven who settled in Charles Town in 1767.

Early Methvens

These are the earliest records we have of the Methven family.