General Notes

History, Biography and Genealogy of the Families Named Soule, Sowle and Soulis, Volume I

THE HAY FAMILY.--As all known families bearing this ancient name were descended from the Soules in Normandy and Scotland we shall preserve an account of them in this note. The name La Hay was derived from the Castle and Barony in the department of La Manche, Normandy. William de la Hay, a Norman of this ancient family, came into England after the Conquest and went later to Scotland, settling in Lothian in the middle of the 12th century, where he became Pincerna-domini Regis, or Butler of Scotland during the reign of Malcolm IV. and William the Lion. This nobleman married Julianna de Soules, a daughter of Runulph de Soules, one of the powerful Lords of Liddesdale, and died in 1170, leaving two sons: I. William de Hay, represented by the Earls of Errols and Eres of Kinnouell (female lines) and 2d, Robert de Hay, represented by the Marquesses of Twedale. From this William de la Hay and Julianna de Soules all of the Scottish families bearing the names, since so numerous and distinguished, were descended. Both families were associated in the district of La Marche in Normandy, came into Britain together, and lived neighbors in Scotland. |||

Kin of Mellcene Thurman Smith GenealogyLibrary.com Page 699
The following excert from David Weaver at Ancestry.com:

A Genealogical Table of the Noble Family of de la Haye of Pedwarden.

(1) William de la Haye, d. 1153, m. Juliana, sister Ranulphus de Soulis.

(2) William de la Haye, only son, obtained the lands of Errol, with all privileges competent to a barony, in 1180, died 1199. He married Eva, daughter of Alan, steward of the household of William, King of Scotland. He had six sons:

Sir David de la Haye, who m. Helen, daughter of Gilbert, Earl of Strathern. William m. Ada ..... John, 3rd son, m. Juliana de Lascelles. Thomas m. Ada ..... Robert. Nicholas.

(3) David de la Haye had a charter in his father's lifetime from William, King of Scotland, of the Barony of Errol, dated Sept. 17, 1195, and was alive in May, 1237, when he made an agreement with the Abbot of Scone. He married 1st Ethna, probably a daughter of Gilbert, Earl of Strathern, whose mother's name was Ethna.

(4) Gilbert de la Haye, eldest son, married Idonea, daughter of William Comyn, Earl of Buchan. The Nichola mentioned above was most probably his daughter, or daughter of his son Nicholas.

The traditional origin of the House of de la Haye runs thus: In the reign of Kenneth III, King of Scotland, anno 980, the Danes, who had invaded Scotland, having prevailed at the Battle of Luncarty, near Perth, were pursuing the flying Scots from the field, when a countryman and his two sons appeared in a narrow pass, through which the vanquished were hurrying, and impeded for a moment their flight. "Hay! Hay!" said the rustic, had you rather be slaughtered by your merciless foes, than die honourably in the field; come, rally, rally," and he headed the fugitives, brandishing the yoke of his plow and crying out that help was at hand. The Danes, believing that a fresh army was falling upon them, fled in confusion, and the