Abraham of Strathearn

Abraham was an early 13th-century Scottish cleric who held the position of Bishop of Dunblane. He was a chaplain to the Mormaer of Strathearn, Gille Brígte.^[1]

Bishop Abraham's seal, attached to a charter of 1211.

There are no exact accounts of his origin, but his name and the background suggest he was a native Scot from Strathearn. There is no evidence to the contrary. Neville wrote that his "Hebrew name conceals an English provenance",^[2] but in fact the Hebrew name is more consistent with established Gaelic-naming patterns than with English or French ones.^[3]

He was a son of a priest, and had at least one son of his own, Arthur by name.^[4] Evidence from the charters of Inchaffray Abbey shows that he was bishop-elect by some date between the years 1210 and 1214.^[5]

A charter from Arbroath Abbey shows he had been consecrated by 4 December 1214.^[6] The date of his death is not known, but Radulf was bishop-elect in an Arbroath document datable between 1223 and 1225.^[6]