Hostarius

The Hostarius (alternatively, Usher, Doorward or Durward) was an office in medieval Scotland. Its holders who eventually became hereditary, had the theoretical responsibility of guarding the king's door, thereby protecting the king's property. This is a list of hostarii. Malcolm de Molle, uncle of Alan fitz Walter, 2nd High Steward of Scotland Jocelin, reign of William the Lion Thomas de Lundin (son of Máel Coluim son of Gille Críst, Earl of Mar), d. 1231 Alan Durward (son of Thomas), d. 1275 The family of "Durward" (a later name for hostarius) may have held the office hereditarily after Thomas of Lundie, and certainly kept the title as a surname (in Norman French, l'Ussier ("the Usher"); in English, Durward). However, by the second half of the 13th century, the office was no longer hered...