From the lands of Elphinstone in the parish of Tranent, Midlothian. Elphinstone first appears as a place name in a deed by Alanus de Swinton, c. 1235 (RD., Ill, 112), when mention is made of the "homines (serfs) de Elfinistun." This Alanus de Swinton had a son John, and he is probably the John who acquired the Elphinstone lands and so became John of Elphinston. John de Elphinstone witnessed a grant by Roger de Quincy to the monks of Dryburgh of the wood of Gladswood c. 1250 (Dryburgh, p. 99). The witnesses to this charter are not recorded in the Bannatyne Club edition of the chartulary, but Crawford, who saw the original chartulary, gives John de Elphinstone as one of them. A later John de Elphinstone rendered homage, 1296. His seal bears a shield charged with a boar's head, etc., and S' Iohannis de Elphinstun (Bain, II, 773). Aleyn de Elfinestone of Berwickshire also rendered homage, 1296 (ibid., p. 206). Alexander of Elphinstone (c. 1363—1370) is the earliest of the family known to be styled dominus ejusdem. John de Elphinston (d. c. 1340) married Marjorie Erth (now Airth), heiress of Erthbeg, and acquired with her the lands there which formed the nucleus of the barony of Elphinstone in the parish of Airth, Stirlingshire. Port Elphinstone (Inverurie, Aberdeenshire), is named from another branch of the family, Elphinstone of Logie-Elphinstone. Alexander Elphynston and William Elphynston had protection and safe conduct into England, 1486 (Bain, IV, 1522). George Elphistun, saidler in Aberdeen, 1581 (SCM., II, p. 54). Elfinistoun, Elfinystoun, and Elfynistoun c. 1370—1390, Elfyneston 1338, Elfynston 1362, Elphestoun 1599, Elphingstoun 1594, Elphingstone 1600, Elphistin 1581, Elphistoun 1521, Elphynstoun 1533, Elphynstoune 1539.

(Scot.) belonging to Elphinstone (Haddington), 14th cent. Elfyngston = Elphin’s or Elfin’s Estate [Old English tún] Elphin or Elfin may be a Celtic pers. name, but is more likely for the common A.-Sax, Ælfwine.

The ancestor of Lord Elphinstone was, according to a family tradition, a German, who, marrying a relative of king Robert I., settled in Lothian, and gave his lands there the designation of Elvington, after his own name. Burke's Peerage. I do not find the slightest evidence in support of this statement, hut there is abundant proof that the surname De Elphinstone was of good consideration from the XIII. century, when it occurs in charters dated 1250, 1252, &c. It was doubtless derived from the estate and village of Elphinstone co. Haddington.

Local: from the barony of Elphinstone in Stirlingshire. The family are descended from a German named Peter d'Elvinton, who settled in Scotland in the reign of Robert I, where he married Margaret, daughter of Sir Christopher Seton by Christian his wife, who was the sister of Robert I.

Local. From the lands and barony of Elphinstone, in Scotland, and derived from the Anglo—Saxon Elfenne, a fairy or spirit, and stone. These elfenne or elf—stones are a peculiar hard flint, and in the olden times were supposed to be shot by the fairies or elfs. The place is so named from this kind of stone being found on the land.

A location name in Haddington.