Strachan is a locational surname, based on the Scottish Gaelic words "strath" (broad valley) and "aven" (river). Its use as a name can be traced back to the 12th century.
Charles Strachan 1765 - Unknown
Charles was born in Scotland in 1765 - his birth record indicates his father's name was David; his mother's name is not listed. In the late 1780s, Charles married Margaret Fairweather, and the two had ten children, born in both Tannadice and Dunnichen.
Charles and Margaret's children:
Helen Strachan, b. 1790
Agnes Strachan, b. 1792
David Strachan, b. 1794
James Strachan, b. 1796
Janet Strachan, b. 1798
Elizabeth Strachan, b. 1802
Charles Strachan, b. 1804
Alexander Strachan, b. 1807
Isobel Strachan, b. 1809
Frederic Strachan, b. 1811
Sources:
Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
Alexander Strachan 1807 - Unknown
Alexander was born in Dunnichen, Scotland, the 8th child of Charles and Margaret. In 1830, he married Mary Ann Crocket, and the two had six children. The 1851 census lists Alexander as "Manager of Flax Spring".
Alexander and Mary Ann's children:
Mary Ann Strachan, b. 1832
David Crockett Strachan, b. 1837, d. 1909
Charles Strachan, b. 1842
Hannah Strachan, b. 1847
Binnie Strachan, b. 1849
Jemima Strachan, b. 1852
Sources:
Scotland, Select Marriages, 1561-1910
Scotland, Select Births and Baptisms, 1564-1950
1851 Census
David Strachan 1837 - 1909
David Crockett Strachan was born on the 8th of July, 1837 in Dundee, Scotland. We do not yet know why he moved to England, but the 1861 census has him living as a boarder and working as a tailor - a career he would keep for most of his life. Later that same year, he married Margaret Crowfoot, and the two went on to raise seven children in Leeds. He passed away in 1909.
David and Margaret's children:
John Strachan, b. 1863, d. 1911
David Henry Strachan, b. 1864
Hannah Mary Strachan, b. 1866
Alexander Strachan, b. 1868
Frederick Strachan, b. 1873, d. 1915
Barbara Edina Strachan, b. 1876, d. 1977
Herbert Strachan, b. 1881
Sources:
1861, 1881, 1891 Census
Family information
Barbara Strachan 1876 - 1977
Barbara Edina Strachan was born on the 17th October, 1876 in Leeds, England, the second youngest child of David and Margaret. She did not wed until she was 35, and her husband, Charles Harding, was almost 10 years older than her and already had a previous family. At least two of his sons from his previous marriage came to live with Charles and Barbara once they were in Canada.
David and Margaret, Barbara's parents, both passed away in 1909, the same year she left for Canada. She boarded the Royal Edward that summer, and met fellow passenger, Charles Harding, on the ship. They wed in 1911, and settled in Lethbridge, Alberta, where much of our family remains to this day. Barbara had 3 children with Charles and lived to be over 100. She was very active in her local church, and was apparently called "Mother Harding" by much of the congregation. She passed away in January of 1977, 3 months after her 100th birthday.
With Barbara's marriage to Charles, our Strachan line ends, but many of our relatives carry on the name in the UK. Much of the information I have came from Iain Strachan, Barbara's great-nephew.