Welcome to the Cairncross family web site


This site has been designed by Ian Robert Cairncross.


How I started this website.


Last updated - November 2023


The main aim of this site is to provide a source of information about Cairncrosses, for Cairncrosses everywhere.

Ideally, it should also be a forum for the two way transfer of interesting and relevant information. Information you feel should be added to this site could be sent direct to me, using my e-mail address.


Introduction by George Cairncross dated February 1992.


Go straight to the list of family trees.


There are 52 Cairncross family trees contained here, some going back to the 1680's, which are being updated continually. Click here to go straight to the family trees.


Cairncross Crests.

Click here to see 12 of these crests.


Cairncross in Sweden and Livonia.

Based on emails from Peter Zoege von Manteuffel in May 2019.
Click here to see the emails from Peter and to see the family tree.

It is with sadness I announce the death of Peter Zoege von Manteuffel on May 24, 2020. This was from an email from his widow Sigrid Von Manteuffel on Oct 15 2020.


Documents of interest.

These were sent by Dave Mitchell in January 2009, and are worth looking at.
Click here to see these documents.


Other family trees.

Added in 2014 are some other family trees which also link directly to my family. My mother's father was a Noster and her mother was a Russ. Click here to see the Noster family tree, and here to see the Russ family tree.


Appendix 1 - An interesting letter proving the existence of Aboriginal Cairncrosses.

Appendix 2 - Another letter written by Alexander Cairncross to his nephew in about 1690, makes interesting reading.

Appendix 3 - An article reproduced from 1931, by A. F. Cairncross, on the earliest historical references to the name Cairncross.

Appendix 4 - This time, from an article in 1905, Rev. T. S. Cairncross gives us the history of "A LOST HOUSE - CAIRNCROSS OF COLMSLIE".

Appendix 5 - Rev. J. I. C. Finnie has provided us with a fascinating note on the three towers at Colmslie, Glendearg and Langshaw.

Appendix 6 - There are comprehensive details of some notable Cairncrosses.

Appendix 7 - Andrew Cairncross's family have been stone masons for over 150 years. Read about his recollections of this working family.

Appendix 8 - Added in January 2002, is a reproduction of the Cairncross book named, History of a Forfarshire family.

Appendix 9 - David Cairncross of Haarlem. This is the description.

Appendix 10 - Recollections of the twins John and Thomas Cairncross, killed in action in Anzio, 1944. This is the description.

Appendix 11 - Added in September 2021, sent to me by John Wallerius Hoy in Feb 2004. This is about life for the Cairncross and Hoy families living in the lands known to be where early Cairncrosses lived. It covers a period between the 1530's and 1750's. This is the description.

Appendix 12 - Biography of William Cairncoss (1829-1921) written by William Cairncoss (c1874). This is the biography.

Appendix 13 - Biography of Alexander Cairncross (1758-1856) written by William Cairncross (1829-1921). This is the biography.

Appendix 14 - The earliest Cairncrosses. The Cairncrosses of Glenesk, circa 1200's. This is the biography.

Appendix 15 - Electoral roll for the UK, circa 2011. This is the document.

Appendix 16 - Added in September 2021, letters written by Henry (Harry) Cairncross to Jim and Isabel Toppin. The letters were sent to me by Jim Toppin of Ohio, USA, the grandson of Jim and Isabel, who had met Harry Cairncross and other family members when on their honeymoon in England in 1913. Here are the letters in .pdf format.

Appendix 17 - Cairncrosses in concentration camps. 10 matches found.

Appendix 18 - Emails from and to Jason Cross in May 2019. click here to view.

Appendix 19 - Family of Andrew Cairncross born circa 1669 (F-T-64), sent to me by John Gilmore in April 2020. This tree contains many non-Cairncross family members, incuding those from John's own family. I have therefore decided to add this tree here. click here to view.

Appendix 20 - Emails from and to Jänis Polis in June 2021.
Jänis is a cultural historian from the region of Latvia where the Baltic branch of Kërncrosu (Cairncross) lived in the 17th - 18th centuries. He wrote me a series of interesting emails in June 2021 about families including Cairncross in Latvia. I am reproducing the emails here as I feel they are of interest. click here to view.

Totally new in 2010, the well known book called "CAIRNCROSS - THE HISTORY OF A SCOTTISH FAMILY", written by Arthur Fawthrop Cairncross and Bertram Lilburne Cairncross. This was a massive effort, which I hope the reader will find interesting. Click here to see the book.

Photos - A number of interesting photos are included. Click here for the Photo gallery.

I also have reams of additional typed documents of a fascinating nature, which I have not been able to scan owing to the poor quality of the originals. It is my intention to type all this material the hard way, but it is going to take time.

  Just click this image to sign our visitors book.