Wilson means son of Will, a shortened form of William from the Germanic word 'Willahelm' Normanised. Most writers agree that it originated in old Germany, but have varying views on the meaning of the word. William as a personal name, was used by the Franks, one of the great barbarian tribes, as early as 800 A.D. The name William later arrived in Britain with the Normans and the descendants of the Franks - the Flemings.

The three heraldic stars of Wilson of Croglin can be traced to the Flemish Counts of Boulogne, once the second most powerful family in Flanders. Eustence I of Boulogne married Maud, granddaughter of the last male heir of Charlemagne, and kinswoman of Robert de Bruce. The heraldic stars of Wilson first came to Scotland with the Fleming William Freskin of Flanders (Platts, 1980).

The two Scottish historic families of  Wilson of Croglin, Dumfries-shire, and Wilson of Littlefield, Banffshire, apparently had the same overlords. Their heraldry is also indicative of a common ancestry. The heraldry of the family of Wilson of Littlefield alludes to this family being indeterminate cadets of the 'Chiefly' House of Croglin, as does that of Wilson of Kilwinnet. Recent genetic research has confirmed that bearing the surname Wilson does not mean all Wilsons descend from a common 'William' ancestor!

The early history of the Wilson of Croglin family, depends more on tradition than hard facts. During the period when English forces were searching for Robert the Bruce in Ayrshire and Galloway, after his murder of the Red Comyn in 1306, Bruce's hound was used in an attempt to track down its master. A hound in the form of a Talbot (an old breed of hunting dog) and the motto 'Semper vigilans' (always watchful) is said to have been incorporated into the heraldry of those who supported Bruce during his darker days. These elements appear in the arms of both Wilson and their subsequent overlord - Dunbar. At that particular period in time, the Wilsons of Croglin would have held their lands from the Randolphs, or Edgars, as the Dunbars did not obtain property in Ayrshire and Nithsdale until later.

Wilson of Croglin, and their Wilson neighbours, Wilson of Polquhirter, Cumnock, held their estates for many generations from the Dunbar barons of Cumnock, and also from Crichton of Sanquhar.

The earliest recorded laird of Croglin was  one, Matthew Wilson, who lived in 1508. Matthew Wilson's superior, Christina Dunbar, heiress of Baron Dunbar, married Alexander Innes of that Ilk in 1493. Both the Innes and Dunbar lords had Wilsons as vassals recorded at that period in time. Recent research has revealed territorial and marital connections between the aforementioned families in both the northeast, and southwest regions of Scotland.

Matthew Wilson of Croglin's son, John, with many of the lesser barons of Nithsdale, failed to answer the royal summons to muster with their clan at Tantallon Castle.

Thomas Wilson, a natural son of the Croglin family, received Crown letters of legitimization in 1601, and became a merchant burgess of Edinburgh.

Gilbert Wilson, Laird of Benbreck, Dalry, Dumfries, was slain at Flodden in 1513.

President Woodrow Wilson of the U.S.A. claimed descent from the family of Wilson of Croglin. Historically, and heraldically, Wilson of Croglin could be regarded as the chiefly family of the Name and Arms in Scotland who held their lands for many generations in Dumfries-shire. The last known 'chief' died in the 1950s in England with apparently no heirs.

Other Wilsons held estates in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire.

Only the Wilsons from Caithness are said to be a sept of clan Gunn (Adam, 1908), but little, or, no documentation exists to back up this claim. Many individuals today have misunderstood this statement, and believe that all Wilsons are a sept of this clan. It is important to consider that individuals tracing their 'roots' must research their own particular line to establish what noble clan or house they belong too. The Wilsons as a family name were well established in all parts of Scotland long before the acclaimed origin of Wilson the founding of the Wilson sept of clan Gunn.

References.

ADAM,F. (1980) The Clans, Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands. Johnston & Bacon, Scotland.

PLATTS,B. (1980) Origins of Heraldry. The Procter Press,London.

      "           (1990) Scottish Hazard. Vlumes 1 & 2.     "             .

REID,R.C. (1949) Wilson of Croglin. Transactions of The Dumfries and Galloway Nat. Hist. Soc. volume: xxviii (1949-50).

WILSON, A. (1950) Fragments That Remain. (Private family publication - Wilson of Croglin descendant).