Dryden Family Reunion

Origin of the Dryden Name

Excerpt from the book:
The Dryden Family - From rural Scotland to Outer Space© by Hugh Gordon

Our story begins in 14th Century Scotland. Edinburgh, the capital, is a bustling city overlooking the Firth of Forth, with a busy port only two miles from the centre of the city. Now, imagine travelling by horse and buggy along one of the main roads leading south from the centre of the city. You travel eleven miles, then turn southeast onto a small secondary road. Another two miles and you finally arrive at the small village of Roslin, a location which still exists and is shown on current road maps. It is here we find the families with the surnames of Dryden and Sinclair.

The name of Dryden has existed in Scotland since the late 13th century, but no connection has apparently been made between it and the class or feudal families of Scotland. My research, although not definitive, indicates a connection in the 14th and 15th century between those who held the surname of Dryden and those who held the surname of Sinclair.

George F. Black, in his book, Surnames of Scotland, details how both ruling classes and commoners adopted surnames in the manner outlined in the previous chapter. In the remarks to follow, it has been assumed that the respective families adopted “locative” surnames.

Black goes on to explain that William the Lion, in 1175, directed his followers to adopt the name of the lands awarded them. Among William’s followers was a Norman Frenchman named Saintclere whose family had emigrated from the continent. The name Saintclere, St. Clair or Sinclair, is locative. The Sinclairs eventually became one of the great ruling families in Scotland, found in the far north as well as south of Edinburgh.

The Dryden name first appears in 1296 when a writ on behalf of Philip de Dryden was issued to the Sheriff of Forfar. This same Philip held property in Angus which was restored to him following his signature on the Ragman Roll.

A few kilometres from the village of Roslin was an estate known as Dryden. According to Black, the name is local and was pronounced Drayden, very close to the Gaelic word for hawthorn.

It seems likely this estate or territory of Dryden was freeheld by Philip de Dryden in 1296 and here we find the first connection between the two names, Dryden and Sinclair. At that time the Sinclairs had been in possession of Roslin for several generations.

Philip’s freehold of Dryden was well inside the Barony of Roslin and within sight of the primary Sinclair holding, Roslin Castle. Philip, then, occupied his land with the permission of the Sinclairs. According to feudal customs, the land was the Sinclairs to bestow or take back. If Philip was not a minor member of the Sinclair family he was, at the very least, a trusted retainer. The practice of feudalism did not allow for any other possibility.

There were three Sinclairs of importance who held significant power in southern Scotland. First was William the sixth of Roslin, who, by 1264, was Sheriff of Edinburgh, Linlithgow and Hadding-ton. The other two were William’s sons, Henry and William. Both were staunch supporters of Robert the Bruce, and William not only held the office of Bishop of Dunkeld, but was referred to fondly by Robert the Bruce as “my bishop”. (Barrow: p. 340)

These three Sinclairs, like Philip de Dryden, had signed the Ragman Roll in their separate capacities as Sheriff, landowner and Bishop. Because the Sinclairs held the Barony of Roslin and were contemporaries of Philip de Dryden, it seems appropriate to consider Philip’s relationship to them. Black, in his book, explains, “The Sinclairs, like the Gordons and some other families, cannot be called a clan in the true sense of the term. They were a powerful, territorial family whose relationship to their dependents was entiredly feudal.” (Black: p. 728)

Although the Sinclair connection with the Dryden name is not particularly strong, evidence suggests the Sinclairs held the estate of Dryden in subsequent generations. The first indication of this is the record of one Henry de Dryden serving as porter to Robert the
Bruce, as recorded in 1329. (Gordon, p.7) Of note is that the Christian name, Henry, is predominant in the Sinclair family, particularly among the first and second sons.

It has already been established that Dryden is a specific location in the Sinclair Barony of Roslin. Also established is the fact that Henry Sinclair of Roslin, like his brother William, was a loyal and valued follower of Robert the Bruce. It then seems likely that Henry Sinclair and Henry de Dryden were the same person. If so, this would be the first, but not the least, occasion that a Sinclair would use Dryden as a surname.

Our Hockey Players

Over the years, the Dryden family has provided a number of hockey players in the professional league.  Hockey is a difficult sport which requires a player have great skill and be able to play well in a number of areas.  Ideally, unless one is a goalie, the ability to skate fast is a great asset;  the faster the better since the player’s opponents can also skate fast.

Not only that, but the player needs the ability to control a small puck with a curved stick.  He must be able to turn quickly in a circle, all the while steering the puck on the ice, then be able to pass it to another player or slam it towards the net.  And all this must be done while racing across the rink at high speed and many times without looking at the puck.

When a player shoots the puck towards his target, the net, just four feet high and six feet across.   And standing in the mouth of that net is the goalie, often a large man, and his sole aim is to stop that puck at any price.

Players are also in need of great stamina.  It is a game that taxes the energy of the most physically fit person.  In fact, the professional player can afford to spend only a few minutes at a time on the ice.  Lines are shifted frequently to allow the players to catch their breath and any player who can play hockey for a total time of more than 20 minutes during a game is rare indeed.

Some of our Dryden family members who were professional hockey players have also been inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.  They’ve played in All-Star Games and on the Stanley Cup winning teams.  

Syl Apps Sr.
Syl Apps Jr.
Andy Blair
Dave Dryden
Ken Dryden
Brent Gilchrist
Dave Hawerchuk

These stories continue in the book...
The Dryden Family - From rural Scotland to Outer Space by Hugh Gordon