David Murray & Elspeth Harvie-Agnes Gray

Sandie,

What is a "common"? 

A Common is a central area of green fields in a the centre or periphery of a village  where crops would be planted or stock would graze. The area was not owned by any individual but was a communal area for the benefit of those properties surrounding. This land could not be owned by the State etc. Village Greens etc served a similar purpose as well.

Bowden still has it's common today as does ST Boswells and many other areas in UK. Quite detailed history available regarding Commons- If you want more info I shall send it on.

What is a Kirk"?

  A Kirk is the Scottish name for Church.

How do you pronounce the name "Buchan"?

 
 Byoo can..sometimes Buck ann.

What would Tranquair mean or stand for?  

 
The name Traquair comes from  tret or tre a word of Celtic origin meaning a dwelling place or hamlet, and from quair meaning a stream with a winding course, = the house situated by the winding stream.

See here: http://www.traquair.co.uk/content/brief-history-traquair-and-family

I guess I could Google it, but growing up in the USA it is hard to get a handle on some of the names.

 
That's OK Randy, I'm the same with American names.. I shall paste these questions and answers into the blog in case someone else has same questions.

 Cheers Sandie

Thanks,

Randy