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The lands and barony of Horsburgh lie near
Innerleithen in Peebleshire. The ruins of the tower of the same name still
stand, and according to black, the first of this race is believed to have
been an Anglo-Saxon designated, horse or orse, whose settling on the north
bank of the Tweed there reared the castle which communicated the present
surname to his descendents.
Simon de
Horsbrock witnessed a charter to the monks of Melrose Abbey in the reign of
Alexander II. William de Horsboroch is recorded as a notary public in the diocese of
Glasgow in 1287. Alexander Horsbrock of that Ilk is recorded in 1479.
The arms recorded by Nisbet of a silver horses head on a blue shield are
clearly canting, or punning, on the family name.
James Horsburgh, a fellow of the Royal Society, was a distinguished
hydrographer at the beginning af the nineteenth century.
In 1810 he was appointed hydrographer to the East India Company. He
published numerous works on maritime subjects, which were to become standard
authorities in that field.
The name is still found in the Borders and around Edinburgh.
The last of the name to hold the barony was Lady Horsburgh, through whom it
recently passed to the family of Chinnery.
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