Some notices of the surname of Shand, particularly of the County of Aberdeen

many surnames have had their sources in the personal traits
and characteristics of individuals, and we confess that it
appears to us that we have here a very natural and probable
origin of the name. There seems little doubt that this
attributive still lingers in our ordinary language in such
words as Shandwick, beautiful bay, and a few others.*
In the Poll Book of Aberdeenshire of the year 1696, we
find the name well represented in the same part of the
country, and this has ever since continued down to our
own time.
As might naturally be looked for, the attractions of
commerce and town life caused persons of this name, like
other individuals, to gravitate towards the towns on the
coast. Accordingly, in the records of the city of Aberdeen,
and the towns of Banff, Fraserburgh, Peterhead, and others
similarly situated, we find many persons of the surname
engaged in commerce, and filling municipal and public
offices of every description, for centuries past. Notices of
many of these Worthies will be given in the sequel.
It is believed that the well-known and eminent Antiquary,
the late George Chalmers of London, had prepared a pedigree
of the Shands, but the result of his inquiry cannot now be
found, although diligent search has been made for it, both
at home and in India, where it is understood some of the
Shands, with whom he was connected by blood, have been
for some time resident. This is much to be regretted, for
there are very few persons so well qualified as the author of
" Caledonia " to collect and put together the archaeological
notices of a Scottish family. The late Mr. John Shand
and Mr. William Shand, the owners of the beautiful estates
of The Burn and Arnhall in the county of Kincardine,
* It has been stated that "Shan" or "Shand" is the cant or slang word
for had money. This is a mistake. The word is " Sheen." See Slang
Dictionary, 1874, sub voce. There is a ShanviUe in the parish of Crathie, a
Shandstone in the parish of Boharm, and a Shandbothy in Lanarkshire.
B 2