Duffus is a village in Moray, Scotland, centred on a Mercat Cross. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. A mercat cross is a Market cross found in Scottish cities and towns where trade and commerce was a part of economic life The Duffus Village Inn, along with the local shop, Post Office and Duffus Village Hall provide a focal point for the community. Nearby are the impressive remains of Duffus Castle. Duffus Castle, near Elgin, Moray, Scotland, was a Motte-and-bailey Castle and was in use from c

Duffus has consecutively won numerous awards, including "Best Kept small village in the North of Scotland".

Contents 1 Gala Day 2 Name 3 History 4 See also 5 References

Gala Day

The annual Duffus Village Gala (held each summer) provides a whole host of activities for villagers and nearby settlements. Of the many events held during the Gala Day, the Ferret Racing and Gala Dance in particular attract visitors from around Moray.

Name

The name of Duffus derives from the lands of Duffus in Morayshire, Scotland. What is presently known as Duffus Parish encompasses the lands of the ancient Barony of Duffus and comprises 9,565 acres. The Duffus name has undergone a variety of spelling changes through the years; in 1290, "Dufhus", and in 1512, "Duffous". The name is probably a compilation of two Gaelic words, dubh and uisg, meaning "darkwater" or "blackwater". At one time, the region was below sea-level and the Loch of Spynie and stagnant pools of water were a conspicuous feature of the area.

History

Duffus was the base of the regionally powerful de Moravia family during the High Middle Ages. The history of Scotland in the High Middle Ages covers Scotland in the era between the death of Domnall II in 900 AD and the death of king Alexander III The family was of Flemish origin, and had been planted in Moray by the Scottish crown as agents of royal authority, but had steadily built an independent power-base. Flanders (Vlaanderen Flandre Flandern is a geographical region located in parts of present day Belgium, France, and the Netherlands. Scottish Crown can refer to Crown (coin see Scottish coinage Crown of Scotland, part of the Honours of Scotland kept at Edinburgh

See also

• Duffus family website www.duffus.com
• Gilbert de Moravia
• Andreas de Moravia
• Walter de Moravia
• Fearchar, Earl of Ross
• Nechtan IV of the Picts
• Duffus Castle
• Duffus - Sept of Sutherland

References

• Barrow, G.W.S., The Kingdom of the Scots. Gilbert de Moravia (died 1245 later known as Saint Gilbert of Dornoch, was the most famous Bishop of Caithness and founder of Dornoch Cathedral. Andreas de Moravia (or Andrew of Moray) was a 13th century Scottish Bishop. Fearchar of Ross or Ferchar mac in tSagairt ( Fearchar mac an t-sagairt, often anglicized as Farquhar MacTaggart) was the first Mormaer Nechtan mac Der-Ilei or Nechtan mac Dargarto ( OIr Nechtan mac Der-Ilei or Nechtan mac Dargarto) (before 686&ndash732 was King of the Picts Duffus Castle, near Elgin, Moray, Scotland, was a Motte-and-bailey Castle and was in use from c Geoffrey Wallis Steuart Barrow DLitt FBA FRSE is a British historian and academic born at Headingley in Leeds. Edinburgh University Press, Edinburgh, 2003. ISBN 0-7486-1803-1

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