The Orkney Islands, home of William Cromartie

Our ancestor, William Cromartie, came from the Orkney Islands, which rise from the sea just north of the northern coast of Scotland at the same latitude as Juneau, Alaska. They were ruled by Norway until the fourteenth century when Denmark took control of Norway. In 1486 James III of Scotland received them as part of a dowry when he married a daughter of Christian I of Denmark and Norway.

The first Cromartie recorded there was John O’Cromartie about 1450. We believe he took the last name from his original home on the Black Isle of Scotland. Most of the family on the Orkneys spell the name Cromarty with a y.

I explored the islands in September 2000 and visited St. Peters Church in Eastside, South Ronaldshay. It sat on a hill overlooking a rocky beach. William probably attended that church as a child. There were many Cromartys in that cemetery.

The islands have a rich history extending back over 5,000 years. The Standing Stones of Stenness and the Ring of Brodgar rival the Stonehenge of England. Since I was there, a mysterious temple complex has been unearthed called the Ness of Brodgar. National Geographic August 2014 contained an extensive article describing the high walls and the buildings they surrounded. I hope to return someday and see it firsthand.

The Standing Stones of Sternness