Cochrane Family FAQ's
answered by
The Right Honorable Iain Alexander Douglas Blair Cochrane

For starters I (and probably most Americans) do not understand how names and titles are used in Great Britain. You refer to yourself as Douglas DunDonald. Could you list the various names and titles you go by and in what context/setting they would be used. For example if i were introduced to you in a formal setting how would you be introduced and how should i address you etc.

Douglas Dundonald - informal
The Right Hon. The Earl of Dundonald - Formal on envelopes
Lord Dundonald - formal in letters and formal introductions
Full name - Iain Alexander Douglas Blair Cochrane The Earl of Dundonald

On a visit to Scotland what historic sites should a Cochrane visit?

You should visit Westminster Abbey in London , 10th Earl buried there, Culross Abbey, Fife home of 8th and 10th Earls and Old Auchans in Dundonald home of earlier Cochrane's.

I believe i know the significance of all of them except Culross Abbey. what would I be looking for there?

Home of 9th and 10th Earls - 9th invented coal gas for lighting there. Very attractive small palace and historically important town.Bar - The Dundonald Arms! (Named after the family).

Do any of these sites have paintings or images of ancestral Cochranes? I think most American Cochranes would be interested incomparing their family physical traits to those of the Earls.

No but "The Fighting Cochranes" (by Alexander Cochrane) has photo's of many of them.

Is that a published book? Do you have the publication date and publisher?

I have many copies $40 (US), including shipping (ordering instructions).

What does the name Dundonald originate from? Is it a family name (the name of the original Earl), or the name of a geographic area within Scotland? Did all the Earldoms get names based on a consistant thing?

The family name is Cochrane . Earldom's are named after places , in this case Dundonald Castle, a Royal Stewart Castle dating from the 13th century.

I have browsed a variety of Clan related web sites and read that Cochranes are a Sept of Clan Donald. And Clan Donald claims to have controlled the lands where the Cochrane's lived... Explain the relationship between the Clans for me if you can, and how a Cochrane came to be the Earl of Dundonald instead of a chief of clan Donald.

Cochrane is a lowland name. We have nothing to do with Clan Donald, and are a family in own right. When created an Earl you normally take the name of a place owned by you. Dundonald Castle was owned by the family at that time; it still is, although leased to Historic Scotland for 999 years.

Where are the Cochrane family archives for the late 17th and early 18th centuries held?

All our papers are held on loan at the NAS in Edinburgh. There is a full catalogue of what they hold, which is publicly available. I suggest that you contact the NAS in the first instance. We hold no other papers as we believe that they are better looked after at the NAS and it affords full access to scholars and other interested parties.

I get many questions about the spelling of the family name, Cochrane vs Cochran. What can you tell us about the spelling?

Even we have spelt it in the 2 forms with and without the "e"; no reason can be given I am afraid.

Since Cochranes are lowlanders would we wear a kilt?

Yes, we would.

I read that the Cochrane tartan was approved by the 14th Earl. How long before that was there a family tartan?

1850 -I reinstated Great Grandfather tartan, which was the original design.

How does it differ from your father's tartan?

Can't be specific at present, it is the same as My father's registration but the colors are different.

Is there a Cochrane family lament?

Regretfully there is not as we are a lowland family. However there is a wonderful lament, not well known, The lament to Lochnell. It is the Lament for the Campbell's of Lochnell, our home.

Do you think the Cochranes ever spoke Gaelic?

Highly unlikely we spoke Gaelic as this was only spoken in West Highlands .10% of population at most.

Do you think that all the Cochranes came from that area of Scotland the Earls first occupied?

There are about 40,000 Cochranes in the world + all those who have blood not the name. We all come from the same ancestry - Vickings who settled in Scotland (Renfrew) in the 10th Century.

How many generations are alive presently in your immediate family, and what are your ages?

At this time (2000) I am 37 and our 3 children are aged 3-7 (the boys). In order of age Archie , Marina , James.

The stereotype of upper class kids in the UK is that they all go off to boarding school. Is that true of yours?

Yes but not until they are 10 years old - very poor public schooling in the UK makes this a must.

What kind of careers do you see them in? And what do you do to keep the bank balance up?

I work for a living in Mining and Leisure - no escaping the bank managerhere! Kids will make their own lives in due course.

When did your family move to Ledaig and why?

In 1912 , following the purchase of the property by my Great Grandfather.

I had a nice view of your current residence on my drive from Oban to Skye. A very nice location! and I like Oban a lot too. Is the place in pretty good shape or are you renovating? Also what kind of tree is that in the front? Looks like a redwood or a cedar? What is the history of Lochnell Castle?

The tree is a "Wellingtonia" - Redwood family. The Castle is constantly being renovated , but mostly finished now. Castle purchased by my Great Grandfather from Campbell's of Lochnell in 1912 to escape his wife!

Send your questions for Douglas DunDonald to guy@clancochrane.org