Of the House of Dundas it has been said that "any prime minister can raise a man to the House of Lords, but it takes seven centuries of Scottish history to make a Dundas of Dundas" (Dundas of Dundas, p. xlvi). The Dundases are certainly one of the oldest historical Scottish families in existence, though the dates of the first of the name given in the above work are placed too early. Helias, son of Uctred or Huctred, who obtained the charter of the lands of Dundas in West Lothian from Waldeve, son of Gospatric, most probably in the reign of Malcolm IV or a little later is first of the name recorded. The charter is not dated, a circumstance quite usual in Scottish charters of those early times, but is most probably of the date here assigned. The editor of Dundas of Dundas is certainly in error in assigning it to the early years of the twelfth century. Huctred may have been a brother of Waldeve, as a Huctred, son of Cospatric, witnessed King David's charter to the Abbey of Melrose c. 1143—41 (Melros, 1), but there is really no evidence to show who he was. It was a very common name at that period. Partial confirmation of the relationship may perhaps be seen in the fact that the earls of Dunbar and the Dundases both carry the lion rampant on their arms. Founding a family connection through arms, however, is always a risky business. The charter of Huctred is given in facsimile in the above work and also in the National manuscripts of Scotland, v. 1. Helias de Dundas witnessed the gift by Philip de Mubray to the monks of Dunfermline c. 1202—14 (RD., p. 95), and Saer or Serle de Dundas of the county of Linlescu rendered homage in 1296 (Bain, II, p. 202,213). John de Dundas acquired a charter of the barony of Fingask in Perthshire in 1364—65, and a few years later the lands of Blairmucks in Lanarkshire from Archibald, earl of Douglas. John Dundas of that Ilk was one of the conservators of the three years' truce in 1484 (Bain, IV, 1505). Petter Dass (1647—1708), the Norwegian poet, was son of a Scot, Peter Don Dass or Dundas. The lands of Dundas remained in possession of the family till 1875. The Dundases of Virginia are descended from a Scot who emigrated there in 1757.

The family of Dundas "are generally believed to have sprung from the Dunbars, earls of March, who derived themselves from the Saxon princes of England;" (B.L.G.) not however from the resemblance of names, as might be thought, for the two localities are unconnected. Uthred, second son of the first Earl of March, temp. David I., obtained the barony of Dundas in West Lothian.

Local: from the lands of Dundas in Linlithgowshire. The family are descended from Uthred, son of Gospatrick, first Earl of March, who in the time of David I received a grant of the lands and assumed the surname of Dundas.

(Gaelic.) Local. The south hill, fort, or castle; from dun, a hill or fort, and deas, south.