From the old barony of Borthwick along Borthwick Water in the parish of Roberton, Roxburghshire. 'Quondam Thomas de Borthwic is mentioned in a document of his son William de Borthwic regarding the lands of Middleton in Midlothian in 1368 (APS., I, p. 147). This quondam Thomas de Borthwick had a charter from John of Gordon, lord of that Ilk, of the half lands of Ligertwood near Lauder, between 1357 and 1367 (Sc. Peer., II, p. 94). In 1378 William de Borthwick was owner of the lands of Catcune in Midlothian to which he gave the name of Borthwick after his original lands (Nisbet, Heraldry). William de Borthwick had a charter of the lands of Borthwic and Thoftcotys in the sheriffdom of Selkirc in 1410 (RMS., I, 928), probably a restoration of the original lands of the family. In 1424 William of Borthik was one of the auditors of the taxation of burgesses for payment of the ransom of James I (APS., II, p. 5), and in the following year was one of the hostages for the king (Bain, IV, 983). George de Borthwike was archdeacon of Glasgow in 1423 (APS., I, p. 227), David Borthik, a Scot of the diocese of St. Andrews, was elected procurator of the Scottish 'nation' in the University of Orleans in 1502 (SHSM., II, p. 95), and Alexander Borthwik was a commissioner for holding parliament in 1505 (APS., II, p. 257). The surname was common in Edinburgh in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. It early travelled north, as William Borthwyk appears as bailie of Aberdeen in 1398 (CRA., p. 372) and Patrick Borthwik was admitted burgess of the same town in 1400 (NSCM., I, p. 1). There is no proof for the statement that the family of Borthwick are descended from a Livonian Knight, Andreas Burtick, who was attached to the Court of Hungary. Barthwick 1679, Boirthuik 1565, Boirthvik 1588, Borchtwik 1488, Bortheik 1510, Borthek 1530, Borthewyk 1411, Borthuic 1430, Borthuicke 1652, Borthuik 1573, Borthuyk 1473, Boithvic 1511, Borthvik 1593, Borthwyke 1408, Borthyk 1516, Bortyk 1575, Brothvik 1506, and undated) Borthuyke, Borthwoke, Borthock.

(Scot.-Eng.) belonging to Borthwick (Edinb.), for Borghwick = the Castle- Place [Middle English borgh, burgh, Old English burh, burg, a stronghold, castle + M.E . wick, O.E . wic] Borthwick is chiefly interesting as the site of a fine old castle, still in good pre­servation.—Nat. Gaz.

Lands near Borthwick Water in co. Selkirk appear to have given this surname. B.L.G. There is also a parish in Edinburghshire so designated.

Local: from the lands of Borthwick on Borthwick Water in Selkirkshire. The family are descended from Thomas de Borthwick, temp. David II.

A location name in Edinburgh.

The Borthwicks, an ancient Scottish family, took their name either from a district in Selkirkshire or a parish in Edinburghshire (L.). They held high office in Scotland a century ago.