 William J. Watson derived "Ancrum" from the river-name Alne + Cumbric or Gaelic "crom", meaning 'bend of the river Alne'.In the 13th century the Bishop of Glasgow William de Bondington had a residence here but the location is still being investigated.Much of the history of the area has been written about by Alexander Jeffrey in his paper to the Berwickshire Naturalists' Club.