This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'of Lumsden,' an ancient manor in the parish of Coldingham, Berwickshire.

1616-7. John Lumisden, Scofus: Register of the University of Oxford.

From the old manor of that name in the parish of Coldingham, Berwickshire. The earliest record of the name is between 1166—82, when Gillem (i.e. William) and Cren de Lumisden witnessed a charter by Earl Waldeve of Dunbar to the Priory of Coldingham (Raine, 115). Edward de Aldecambus was accused before William the Lion in 1188 of being a wrecker and was sentenced to death, but pardoned in consideration of a large money payment. To raise the necessary sum he was compelled to exchange Aldecambus for Lumsden Major (= West Lumsden, now Dowlaw) and eighty merits of silver with Bertram, prior of Coldingham (Raine, 648). Adam de Lummesdene and Roger de Lummesdene of Berwickshire rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, II, p. 206). An offshoot of the Lumsdens of Lumsden acquired lands in Fife in the first half of the fourteenth century, and about the same time acquired other lands in Aberdeenshire to which they gave their family name. John de Lummysden witnessed a charter by Duncan, earl of Fife, c. 1335 (REA., I, p. 65). In the muster-rolls of the Archers of the Scots Guard in France, 1498—99, the name appears as Alomesden and Lomesdel (Forbes-Leith, I, p. 172,175), and Lunsten, Le Musten, and Lumesten in the same record doubtless also represent the name. Lummisdane 1497, Lummisden 1495, Lummysdane 1547, Lummysden 1496, Lummysdeyn 1512, Lumsdean 1688, Lumysden 1442, Loummysden 1431, Lumbsdene 1630, Lumisdane 1546, Lumisdayn 1512, Lumisdeane 1557, Lumisdeyn 1548, Lummdane 1497, Lummisdane 1497. compare Lammestone.

"An ancient manor in the parish of Coldingham, Berwickshire, belonging to a family of that name so early as the reign of David I. The ancient peel of Lumsden (see Peel) probably occupied the site of the present farm-house of East Lumsden; but in the XIV. cent. the family removed their abode to Blanerne, on the banks of the Whitadder, where its picturesque remains still exist." Imp. Gaz. Scotl. The surname is first found in a charter between 1166 and 1182. B.L.G.

Local: from the lands of Lumsden in Berwickshire. The family are supposed to descend from the Stewarts Earls of Angus.

Lumsden was the name of an ancient Berwickshire family that took its name from an old manor in Coldingham parish, where they lived until the 14th century, when they removed to Blanerne in the same county (L.).