the story in the name

The name Turnbull has deep and storied roots in Scottish history, dating back to the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, a pivotal moment in Scotland’s fight for independence. The Turnbull name is tied to a famous and heroic origin story involving King Robert the Bruce.

As legend has it, on the morning of the battle, Robert the Bruce was taking a solitary stroll through the fields when he was suddenly confronted by a wild black bull. At that moment, the Bruce was unarmed, wearing only his night robes, with neither his armor nor his axe at hand. The powerful bull lowered its head and began to charge directly at the king.

From the nearby bushes, a man in ragged and torn clothes emerged without hesitation. Seeing the king in peril, the man bravely ran toward the charging beast. In an extraordinary display of courage and strength, he wrestled with the bull, enduring its furious attacks. After a fierce and prolonged struggle, the man managed to turn the bull onto its back, seizing it by the horns and, with a mighty twist, broke its neck, saving Robert the Bruce’s life.

Though victorious over the bull, the valiant man succumbed to his wounds sustained during the struggle. His sacrifice ensured the king’s safety, allowing Robert the Bruce to lead his forces into the Battle of Bannockburn, where the Scots achieved a historic victory over the English and secured Scotland’s independence.

In gratitude and to honor the fallen hero’s unparalleled bravery, Robert the Bruce sought out the man’s family. He knighted them with the name Turnbull, symbolizing the incredible feat of "turning the bull." Alongside this honor, the family was granted the proud motto: “I SAVED THE KING.”

The Turnbull’s became a well-known Border Clan, primarily from the Scottish Borders region. They were known as fierce warriors and loyal protectors, often defending their lands in the turbulent border conflicts between Scotland and England. Over the centuries, the Turnbull name grew in prominence and became associated with strength, loyalty, and resilience, a legacy that endures to this day.