The Sterling genealogy

INTRODUCTORY
land, the shield has borne the emblem of the Scotch family, — the
three buckles.
It will be shown that most of the family, at an early date, used
this spelling, or a contraction, without the final g and it is sur-
mised that it was so because of the broad Scotch pronunciation of
the name.
In considering the origin of the family, it is found that the
authorities who have made a study . the subject have not reached
a common verdict as to the first known to bear the name. William
Fraser, in The Stirlings of Keir and Their Family Papers, issued
in 1858, differs from other historians in claiming, on seemingly
indisputable authority, that Walter de Striuelyng was the pro-
genitor of the early Stirlings, while William Playfair, in British
Family Antiquity, London, 1811, John Riddell, in The Stirlings
of Drumpellier, Edinburgh, 1860, and Joseph Bain, in his work,
The Stirlings of Craigbarnet and Glorat, issued for Sir Charles
E. F. Stirling, Bart., in 1883, all demonstrate, on equally good
evidence, that Toraldus, Vicecomes de Stirling, was the founder
of the family.
There has been no effort in this work to undertake the probably
impossible task of harmonizing these conflicting opinions or of
establishing which of the two is the more entitled to be admitted.
Both are given as they appear in the works above mentioned, from
which all our knowledge of the Scotch family is derived. It will be
found, however, that these authorities arrive at a common ground
in the third generation, as is shown in the following table:
Walter de Striuelyng. 1. Toraldus, Vicecomes.
Peter de Striuelyng. 2. Willl\m "filius Thoraldi."
Sir Alexander de Striuelyng. 3. Alexander.
John de Striuelyng. 4. Sir John de Strivelyn.
and so following.
From the third generation these diverse authorities proceed
with practically no disagreement save over the representation of
this ancient stock, commonly denominated the " Ancient Stirlings
of Cadder," premier house of Stirling. This honor has been