Carruthers

Usually considered a sept of Bruce, Carruthers also has strong ties to Douglas and was accepted by CDSNA as an allied family in July 2012.

Carruthers probably derives from Carrutherstown, a village by the main Annan to Dumfries road. 

From The History of the Carruthers Clan..;

Carruthers is a placeneme in Dumfriesshire which is said to derive from the Brittonic word "caer" meaning "fort" (as in Caerlaverock castle, not far away) and the personal name Ruther (originally Rhythr or Rydderch). It has been suggested that this comes from King Roderc mentioned by St Adamnan. Locally, the name was pronounced "Cridders".

Lochmaben Castle

In the 13th century, the family rose to be the hereditary stewards of Annandale under the Bruces. Nigel de Karruthers became Rector at nearby Ruthwell (see Ruthwell Cross ) and rose to become Canon of Glasgow Cathedral in 1351 and was chancellor to Robert, Steward of Scotland (progenitor of the Stewart monarchs).

A John Carruthers was keeper of Lochmaben Castle (pictured here) in 1446. This castle was at one time owned by the Bruces and may be where Robert the Bruce was born.

In the 16th century, the Carruthers were included in the list of unruly clans in the West Marches in 1587 by King James VI. Lands were acquired in Mouswald but this line ended when Simon Carruthers was killed in a border raid and the lands passed to the Douglases of Drumlanrig with the marriage of the Carruthers heiress.

In Fraser’s The Douglas Book (vol 3), are found a number of charters given to members of the Carruthers family by Archibald Earl of Douglas, lord of Galloway and Annandale.

363, Charter by Archibald Earl of Douglas, lord of Galloway and Annandale, by which he grants to his well-beloved esquire, Simon of Carrutheris, all and whole his tenement of Mousfald, with the pertinents, within his forest of Daltoun, his lands of Appultrethwate, with the pertinents, lying in the lordship of Annandale, for service done and to be done to the granter ; which tenement of Mousfald and lands of Appultrethwate the foresaid Simon had resigned in presence of many noblemen in the justice eyre of Annandale, held at the town of Lochmabane ; to be held to the said Simon and his heirs whomsoever, of the granter, his heirs and successors, lords of Annandale, in fee and heritage forever, for payment of one penny of silver yearly in the parish church of  Mousfald, at the feast of St. Mary Magdalen, in name of blench term, if asked only, for ward, relief, marriage, and all other demands that could be required of the same. At Lochmabane, 4th December 1411. Witnesses, James of Douglas, the granter's brother, squire, Sirs William lord of Grahame, Williame of Douglas of Lyddisdale, William of Douglas of Drumlanrig, William of Haye of Louchorwart, William of Borthwik of that ilk, John of Carlele, Umfrid Jardyne, Thomas of Moray, and Robert Heris, the earl's cousins (consanguineis), knights. The earl's seal is appended, in good preservation.

At the same place, and on the same date, the Earl grants other four charters, all to the same person, (1.) A charter to the said Simon of Carrutheris of the lands of Hatelandhill in the forest of Daltoun and lordship of Annandale, which the said Simon had resigned in the justice eyre, to be held to Simon and his heirs for payment of one penny of silver as above. Witnesses, the first four witnesses in the charter of Mousfald- (2.) A charter of the tenement of Logane in the parish of Moffat and lordship of Annandale, resigned and to be held to Simon and his heirs whomsoever as above. Witnesses as in No. (1.). (3.) A charter for service and homage of the granter's lanfia of Middilby and Dronnok, in the lordship of Annandale, resigned as above ; to be held to Simon and his heirs, with the pertinents which the said Simon had in the same before his resignation, of the granter, his heirs and successors, lords of Annandale, for rendering service due and wont. Witnesses, as in charter of Mousfald, except Robert Heris. (4.) A charter for service and homage, of the lands of Domok, in the lordship of Annandale, resigned as above, with the pertinents, etc., to be held to Simon and his heirs for service due and wont. Witnesses, as in charter of Mousfald, except Robert Heris. [The originals of the five charters last above quoted are in the Drumlanrig charter-chest ; and the three following charters are entered in the inventory of the Drumlanrig Charter-chest, but the originals have not been found : —

" Charter by the said Erie to the said Simon of the lands of Hoddam, Tunirgirth, Westwood, and Rockcliffe, of the date of the former," [4th December 1411]. 

"Charter made be Archibald Duke of Turraine, Erie of Douglas, etc., to John Carruthers of Mouswall, of the five merk land of Cumlongenood, quhilk were before resigned be Norman Johnstoun in the said Duke his hands. Dated 10th September 1438."]

386. Charter by Archibald Earl of Douglas and of Longavile, lord of Galloway and Annandale, granting to his well-beloved and trusty John of Carrutheris, for service the lands uf Holmendis, Little Daltoun, Rafhol. Plewlands, Auldtoun, Copwod, half of Bengalhill, of Egilfechane, Fourteenakerbank, two husbandlands with a saltcote lying in Revele, and others, in the parish of  Revele; to be held to him and his heirs of the earl, his heirs and successors, lords of Annandale, in fee and heritage for ever with advocation of the parish churches of Little Daltoun and Egilfechane; for rendering a common suit at the courts of Lochmabane, for Holmends, Little Daltoun, and Rafhols and Plewlands, and one penny of silver at the feast of St. Tliomas the Apostle in the pansh church of Little Daltoun, in name of blench farm, if asked only for the lands of Auldtoun, Copwood, half of Bengalhil, Egilfechan, Fourteenakerbank, etc. The seal of the regality of the lordship of Annandale is said to be attached At the Castle of Lochmabane, 8 February 1425. [Original Charter in Holmains Charter-chest.]

Sources:

Fraser, William. The Douglas Book: In Four Volumes. Burlington, Ont: TannerRitchie Pub. in collaboration with the Library and Information Services of the University of St. Andrews, 2005. Internet resource.

The History of the Carruthers Clan, http://www.rampantscotland.com/clans/blclancarruthers.htm

The similarity of caer Ruther or Rutherfort to the surname Rutherford seems to be more than a simple coincidence.  Is it possible that Carruthers and Rutherford are branches of the same family?  More research needs to be undertaken to determine this.