The Website for Cromarty & Cromartie Cousins Around the World.

I am a fifth generation Australian and always assumed that my ancestors came from around the town of Cromarty in Scotland. Then I read in Black's 'Surnames of Scotland' that Cromarty is a name associated only with Orkney and not mainland Scotland at all. I decided to do some more investigating. I contacted Mrs Nila MacCallum from Orkney Roots Research (tmccallum@beeb.net) and she has been most helpful in tracing my family line back to around 1450.

The name has always been a 'sept' (associated family name) of Clan MacKenzie as the Chief of that clan is the Earl of Cromartie, however, it would seem that all Cromartys / Cromarties descend from the one John Cromartie who was probably an Urquhart. On the basis of Nila's research I was able to approach the Chief of Clan Urquhart, Kenneth Urquhart of Urquhart, and he has graciously made the name an official sept of Clan Urquhart.

After several requests for information were referred to me from the Cromarty Courthouse Museum I decided to create this site to offer all Cromartys / Cromarties the opportunity to share their information and get to know each other a little.

		In November 2006 I matriculated Arms in the name of Cromarty. They feature three boars heads as depicted on early Cromarty headstones on Orkney, differenced by a vitruvian scroll. This scroll pattern is found in St Magnus Church Kirkwall and also represents the waves which the first Cromarty travelled across from mainland Scotland to Orkney and also the journey from there to Australia. The stars of the Southern Cross complete the Australian connection. The motto 'Trust and Go Forward' is the Urquhart slogan, reflecting the connection between that clan and the Cromarty name, and the colours of blue and silver represent the colours of Scotland.

		My other 'hat' is the Editor of SCOTS, the magazine my husband and I publish and distribute throughout the world. We often write about the Black Isle and Orkney (Editor's prerogative). Details are at www.scotsheritage.net or please email me if you would like to see a copy.

Yours aye,

'Cousin' Susan.

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