From Scotland to America, the Henderson family has made its mark on history as leaders who have influenced governmental change; warriors who have fought in battles; clergymen who have served their congregations; entrepreneurs who grew economies with their businesses; and land prospectors who settled the Ohio River Valley.
Henderson Clan Origins
The surname Henderson is derived from MacHendry—English for the Scottish Gaelic “MacEanruig” — which translates to “son of Henry.” The roots of the name can be traced back to one of the original Clans of Scotland, the Clan McEanruig, which originated in Ireland sometime during the 5th century AD. The clan moved from Northern Ireland to Scotland in the 16th century, settling in the Argyll region. The clan is believed to be first recorded there.
The original form of the name in Scotland was ‘Henryson’, later adapted to Henderson. The Henderson clan have three main origin points in Scotland – those from the lowlands near Dumfries, those from the northern Clan Gunn near Caithness, and those from Clan MacDonald of Glencoe in the Scottish Highlands. There is no known connection between these three lines.
One of the most prominent Hendersons in Scotland’s history was Rev. Alexander Henderson. He was a graduate of the University of St. Andrews who later became the minister of Leuchars parish. He emerged as a leader in his opposition to the attempts by Charles I to reform the Church of Scotland. Rev. Henderson was chiefly responsible for the National Covenant, along with Archibald Johnston, Lord Wariston. In 1638 he was the Moderator of the Glasgow Assembly, which deposed the bishops and renounced the control of Charles I over the church. The clash between Charles I and the Scots led to the Bishops’ Wars of 1639 and 1640. Rev. Henderson became a minister at the St. Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh.
Scottish Clan Roots
- The Henderson clan motto is Sola virtus nobilitat (Virtue alone ennobles) and the clan crest is a hand holding a star, with a crescent moon above.
The Henderson Impact in Virginia
Born in 1738, Alexander Henderson Sr was the youngest son of the Rev. Richard Archibald Henderson from Glasgow, Scotland. Alexander Sr moved to the American colonies in 1756 where he initially worked for his older brother, Archibald Henderson. Archibald already operated and lived at the Quantico/Dumfries store as a part of the John Glassford Company. At age 20, Alexander Sr started a store
and worked as an agent for the John Glassford Company.
Over time, Alexander Sr became more than just a store owner and manager. He became an entrepreneur—expanding the number of stores he owned. He was also a land prospector, investing in the purchase of thousands of acres in Virginia. Alexander Sr. also became involved in politics, serving as a delegate in the Virginia House of Delegates and as a magistrate of Fairfax and Prince William Counties. He also served, along with George Mason and George Washington, as a vestryman of Pohick Church.
From the Chesapeake to the Frontier
Alexander Henderson Sr received bounty land warrants based on his service during the American Revolution. From 1779–1783, he purchased 29,037 acres in 51 transactions including 2,300 acres in western Virginia, where his sons would settle on the frontier. His sons Alexander Jr, John Glassford, and James moved from Dumfries to western Virginia, settling in present-day Wirt, Wood, and Pleasants County. Alexander Jr would become the progenitor of the Henderson family in West Virginia.