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Archiver > STEWART > 1998-08 > 0902686117


From: mary stewart kyritsis <>
Subject: Re: STEWART, clan
Date: Sun, 9 Aug 1998 21:08:37 +0300 (EET DST)


Hi Doug,

Unfortunately it's not that easy. First of all, the Stewarts were not
Highlanders, so strictly speaking didn't have a clan at all. Also, given
the name's derivation (steward), there were a great many castles in Scotland
who had stewards tending to the running of the household who eventually took
the name as a surname. Along with that, when the McGregor name was
proscribed, a goodly number of McGregors took the surname Stewart! There
are probably any number of other explanations for various families, and that
of course contributes to the fact that the name is indeed very common. It's
a sad family that hasn't a Stewart in there somewhere!

Using the surname Stewart, Stuart or Steuart does not in any way show a
separate line, by the way. The names are used interchangeably on many
documents, even wills, in some instances by the very person himself who is
making the will. The spelling Stewart is considered in Scotland to be the
more correct, given that Stuart came about mainly because of Mary Queen of
Scots marrying the French dauphin; the French have no 'w' in their
vocabulary and in order to have the pronunciation right, the spelling had to
be changed (In France nowadays the name Stewart is usually pronounced
Stey'-war). There is a Steuart line that is very old, and they have in
modern times stuck to that spelling to make the line clearer, but I don't
think all people using that spelling could be considered part of that family
(The Steuarts of Grandtully).

However, there is a definite feeling of kinship for a' that when Stewarts
get together at Gatherings, that I guarantee! Made all the more fun by the
unknown quantity -- you just MIGHT be related to any or all of the convivial
folk you meet! So enjoy.

Best regards,
Mary Stewart Kyritsis

Kifissia, Greece

At 19:27 8.8.98 -0600, you wrote:
>Since it does seem that the name STEWART or STUART is very common, are they
>all part of the same clan?
>
>Doug Storie
>
>decended from Elizabeth STEWART of Renfrewshire, Scotland 1776.

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