Dingwall of Kildun

Dingwall or Dingwell is a Scottish surname but is of Viking origin. One of the most prominent families by the name of Dingwall in Scotland were the Dingwalls of Kildun who were vassals of the Earl of Ross and also septs of the Clan Munro, a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.

This is a habitation surname, derived from an already existing place name, the town of Dingwall in Ross shire, Scotland. According to the ‘’Old Statistical Account of Scotland’’, the name, formerly Dignaval or Digna vallis, took its origin from the richness of the soil of the lower grounds, which form a considerable part of the parish of Dingwall. Other writers, with greater probability, consider the name to be of Scandinavian origin, reflecting the settlement of this area by Viking invaders, and refer it to a word expressive of its being the seat of justice: the Scandinavian Þingvöllr (field or meeting place of the thing, or local assembly compare Tynwald, Tingwall, Thingwall in the British Isles alone, plus many others across northern Europe). In modern times the name of Dingwall is used widely in the north east of Scotland and in Moray specifically. In the town of Forres and the village of Brodie there are numerous Dingwalls.

An early reference to the family is made by Mr James Fraser, minister of Kirkhill, in his MS. History of the Frasers; Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat who was executed in 1306, had a son, Hugh Fraser who was fostered with the Baron of Foyers, and afterwards taken into the custody of the Earl of Ross who married him with Eupham Dingwall, the Baron of Kildun's only daughter. Another early reference to the Dingwalls of Kildun is that of their involvement in the Battle of Bealach nam Broig in 1452 where William Dingwall and 140 followers are said to have been killed fighting in support of the Earl of Ross. (Latin translation: Robert de Munro's bridge above Peffery). Historian R. W Munro stated that the Mackenzie statement that Thomas Dingwall of Kildun who was granted lands by charter in 1463, was the son of the Dingwall killed at Bealach nam Broig, is unsourced and the royal confirmation does not include those words.

Thomas Dingwall of Kildun, received a charter for the lands of his predecessor in 1456, and appears to have held the lands of Kildun for a period of 50 years. In 1505/6 he resigned the lands of Kildun to the Abbot of Dunfermline who granted them the following month to his son and heir, William Dingwall.

William Dingwall of Kildun, who before his father's death owned some property in or near Dingwall. He succeeded his father in 1505/6. He married Janet (MacDonald), daughter of Sir Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh, whose father, Celestine, was brother of John of Islay, Earl of Ross and Lord of the Isles. Janet was previously married to a member of the Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, and along with her sister, Margaret, wife of Alexander MacDonald of Glengarry, were co heiresses of their brother Donald, known as Donald Gallda. William Dingwall took part in the rebellion of Sir Donald during the regency which followed the death of James IV of Scotland at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. William Dingwall was killed in 1527 by Roderick, son of Kenneth Mackenzie, 7th of Kintail, although nothing is known of the circumstances, a Mackenzie chronicle refers to it as "the unjust killing of the Laird of Kildun". However, this formality did not have much value because Roderick was required in connection with the litigation between MacDonald of Glengarry and Munro of Foulis on the inheritance of Celestine. This was the last appearance of the Dingwalls of Kildun on record.

Motto: 'Deo Favente' which translated means 'By the favour of God'.