Duffus (Scottish Gaelic:Dubhais)[1] is a village and parish inMoray, Scotland.
The local shop and Post Office and Duffus Village Hall provide a focal point for the community. Nearby are the remains ofDuffus Castle,St. Peters' Kirk, andSpynie Palace.
The name of the village Duffus derives from the lands of Duffus in Moray, Scotland. What is now known as Duffus Parish encompasses the lands of the ancient Barony of Duffus and comprises 9,565 acres (38.71 km2). 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".[2] 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.
The current village, originally called New Duffus, is agrid plan village established as aplanned settlement in 1811.[3] This replaced an earlier medieval settlement which lay 0.4 kilometres (0.25 mi) to the east, of which only the ruined Old Parish Church remains.[3]
A church was first founded on the site of Duffus Old Parish Church in the 9th century as a replacement for the church of St Aethan withinBurghead Fort, which had been destroyed by theVikings.[4] Theparish of Duffus included Burghead, and its dedication toSaint Peter may reflect an emulation by the Pictish Kingdom ofFortriu of the common early medieval pattern – also seen atBamburgh andCanterbury – of giving this dedication to a Kingdom's primary centre of Royal power.[5]
Duffus was the base of the regionally powerfulde Moravia family during theHigh Middle Ages. The family was probably ofFlemish origin. Freskin de Moravia came north from his lands in Lothian as part of an army of David I to put down another rebellion by the men of Moray. At his side, and soon to be a neighbor, was the ancestor of the Innes'.
TheDunbar baronets of Northfield have lived at the Duffus estate since the 17th century.[6]
The annual Duffus Village Gala (held each summer) provides a host of activities for villagers and nearby settlements, starting with the crowning of the Rose Queen, Rose Prince & Rosebud. (Due to low entry rates the rose queen, Prince & bud no longer occur at the gala)
Volunteers publish a quarterly community newsletter,Duffus Depatches, featuring local events, and village news.
57°42′03″N3°23′42″W / 57.70083°N 3.39500°W /57.70083; -3.39500
