Hostarius (Scotland)

The Hostarius (alternatively, Usher, Doorward or Durward) was an office in medieval Scotland whose holders, eventually hereditary, had the theoretical responsibility of being warden of the king's door, i.e. protecting the king's property.

The following is a list of "hostarii"

* Jocelin, reign of William the Lion
* Thomas de Lundin (son of Máel Coluim son of Gille Críst, Earl of Mar), d. 1231
* Alan Durward (son of Thomas), d. 1275

The family of "Durward" (a later name for "hostarius"), may have held the office hereditarily after Thomas of Lundie, and certainly kept the title as a surname (in Norman French, "l'Ussier" ("the Usher"); in English, "Durward") The office was no longer hereditary by the second half of the 13th century, and indeed by this point there were many "hostarii". Unlike many other hereditary royal office holders, the "Durward" family were not of Anglo-Norman or French origin, but of native Gaelic origin, being a sept of the native comital dynasty of Mar.

References

* Hammond, Matthew H., "The Durward family in the thirteenth century", in Steve Boardman and Alasdair Ross (eds.), "The Exercise of Power in Medieval Scotland, c.1200–1500", (Dublin/Portland, 2003). pp. 118-37

ee also

* Clann-an-oistir