Scottish author George F Black believed the surname Russell may be derived from roux which means red.

[2] Historian William Anderson stated that the name of Russell came to Aberdeenshire with one Rozel who was an English baron who fought at the siege of Berwick and the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333.

[2] Patrick Russell was married to a sister of Archbishop Sharp and in 1680 he purchased the lands of Moncoffer in Banffshire.

[2] His son was Major General Sir James Russel who also served in India and commanded a brigade of cavalry at the Battle of Mahidpur.

[2] The third son of the sixth Duke was John Russell who studied at the University of Edinburgh where he greatly admired the independent and democratic philosophy of the Scots.