HARCARSE: From the lands of Harcarse in the parish of Fogo, Berwickshire. Adam of Harcarres, cellarer, was elected abbot of Newbottle in 1216 and in 1219 abbot of Melrose (Neubotle, pref., p. xvii; Chron. Melt.). Alan de Harekare, distrained for debt in 1254 (Bain, I, 1968), may be the Sir Alan de Hare cares who witnessed a gift of land in Aython to the monks of Coldingham, 1259 (Raine, 203), and the Alan de Harecarr' who witnessed a charter by Patrick, 3. earl of Dunbar before 1289 (ibid., 136). As Alan de Harcaris he witnessed a Fife charter c. 1280 (LAC., p. 186). Mariorie de Harkars, Roger de Harkars, and Thomas de Harkars, all of Berwickshire, rendered homage in 1296, and likewise did Alisaundre de Harcars of Fife (Bain, II, p. 207,213). Sir Robert Harcars or Harechas was sheriff of Perth, 1304—5 (Bain, II, p. 439), and Alexander de Harcars was sheriff of Forfar in 1306 (Macdonald, 1255, 1256). Provision of a canonry and prebend of Moray was made in 1325 for John Harkars, rector of Aldam in the diocese of St. Andrew (Pap. Lett., II, p. 245,313), and Thomas Harkars was granted a canonry and prebend of Glasgow in 1342 (Pap. Pet., I, p. 255). Robert Harkares had a charter of the barony of Kelour in 1324 from Robert I (RMS., I, App. I, 77), and John de Harkers had a gift from the king, 1329 (ER., I, p. 210). Thomas de Harkars petitioned for a canonry and prebend of Glasgow, 1342 (Pap. Pet., I, p. 1). Gilbert Harcars was a charter witness in the Mearns, 1351 (RAA., II, 25), William de Harcarrys was witness in Glasgow, 1430 (LCD., p. 165), and William Harkes was witness in Linlithgow, 1444 (Sc. Ant., XVII, p. 115). Marjorie Harcarse held lands in the lordship of Hutoun, 1415 (Home, 18), and Thomas Harcars was subprior of Arbroath, 1482 (RAA., II, 212). The name was carried to Orkney, and three individuals named Hercas were among those respited for their share in the slaughter of John, erle of Cathnes, 1539 (RSS., II, 3151). Alexander Harkass was canon of Holyrood, 1547 (Binns, 40). Janet Arcus in Braquoy, 1668 (Orkney), and William Areas or Orcas was bailie of Kirkwall, 1568 (REO., p. 288). James Harcas was in the Scottish parliament in 1605 (Stodart, II, p. 53). The name seems to have at an early period become rare, and is now (1941) more common as Harkess.