John Dumbreck, born 1410 Baron of Barmuckity is the earliest unbroken chain of the Dumbreck family to the 21st century. John Dumbreck held lands in Barony of Barmuckity Morayshire. He died about 1477 leaving a widow and heir a minor. His eldest son John died without issue and the family line continued with William Dumbreck of Orton.

John possibly had two brothers - Philip de Dumbreck born about 1416 and Walter Dumbreck who was Burgess of Aberdeen in 1441. This Aberdeen branch of the family died out when Thomas Dumbreck of Dumbreck was killed at the battle of Pinkie (on the banks of the River Esk near Edinburgh) on the 10th September 1547. 

The Aberdeen branch can be followed back with references taken from The "Thanage of Fermartyne" of which the following are extracts:-

Dumbreck and Orchardtown

DUMBRECK

"DUMBRECK was owned at one time by a family of the name of Dumbreck. The first of this name was Philip de Dumbreck, who in 1348 was deputy to the sheriff of Aberdeen. (Stodart's Arms, Vol.II, p.239).
Philip de Dumbreck is found in the "Antiquities of Aberdeen and Banffshire" as a witness to several charters in the years 1364, and 1380."

"Besides Philip, we find William de Dumbreck,"  probably his son, "absolved in 1380 from a sentence of excommunication by the Bishop of Aberdeen, incurred for refusing to pay second tithes, (Reg. Ep. Aber, I. p. 107)."

This William had a brother, - "John de Dumbreck, who was Chancellor of the Cathedral Church of Aberdeen, and is found in the 'Register of the Diocese', subscribing deeds in 1360, 1373, 1386, 1390 and in 1407. (Id. pp 89, 117, &c.)."

"About ten years after the last date we find the Dumbrecks called of that ilk."

The first so called is:-

1.  Philip de Dumbreck of that ilk. c.1392-1459

"He takes part in 1417 in a perambulation,"  (a walking over ground for the purpose of settling boundaries) "mentioned in the first volume of the 'Antiquities of Aberdeen and Banff,'  between the lands of Tarves belonging to the Abbey of Arbroath, and the lands of Uldeny of that ilk, a family still remaining. In it he is styled 'dominus de eodem.' (Ant. A. and B. I. pp. 344, 345)."

"The next to be found, probably a son of the last named, is Alexander Dumbreck of Dumbreck."

2. Alexander Dumbreck of Dumbreck (of that ilk) c.1436-1510

"There is a solitary record, that in 1457, when he witnesses a charter from the Earl of Errol to Alan de Kynard. (Ant. A. and B. I. p. 356).
In the Exchequer Rolls under the date 1460, (Ex Rolls, VI. p. 65) we find John de Dumbreck. He is not styled de eodem. His lands were in ward of the crown, paying therefore £4 4s. 5d." (four pounds, four shillings and five pence). "The widow's terce"  (Scots Law - the right of a widow who has not accepted any special provision to a liferent of one-third of the heritage in which her husband died infeft.)   "is mentioned as paying 27s. There also flourished at the same time, and of the same race doubtless, a Philip de Dumbreck, who, in the 'Register of the Diocese' and in the 'Chartulary of St. Nicholas,' is frequently found as a witness to deeds in 1468, 1471 and 1490. (Chartulary of St. Nicholas Church). In 1473, this Philip de Dumbreck takes part in the foundation of St. Andrews in the church of St. Nicholas."

The next to be found, a son of Alexander is

3. John de Dumbreck of Dumbreck (of that ilk) c.1487-1517

"He is frequently to be found taking part in public business, especially on inquests, in the years 1501, 1505, 1507 and 1509. And in 1503 there is a charter to the said John Dumbreck of that ilk of the lands of Dumbreck and mill thereof. (Ant. A. and B. III. p.80).

There is also a royal charter of confirmation made to William, the son of the said John, in the year 1509; also to his wife, Margaret Johnston, and the longest liver, and to their heirs lawfully begotten, whom failing to the nearest heirs of the said William of the lands of Milltown of Dumbreck. (Id. p80). This William is also mentioned in 1519 as a witness to a precept of sasine of Patrick Cheyne of Esslemont."

4. William Dumbreck of Dumbreck (of that ilk) c.1508-1536

"He is mentioned in 1532, with this designation on an assize, regarding certain lands granted by the King to Alexander Guthrie (signifero), namely, LII. solidates terrarum de Bachers in baronia de Kinedward,. (Reg. Mag. Sig. 1247, 1532)."

The next, a son of the above William, is Thomas Dumbreck of Dumbreck
(who was killed at the battle of Pinkie 10th September 1547)

5. Thomas Dumbreck of Dumbreck (of that ilk) 1525-1547

"He is mentioned in a confirmation charter of date 14 February 1564. He was then dead, and had left two daughters, his co-heiresses. The King confirmed a charter made by Margaret Dumbreck, one of the daughters and heir of the late Thomas Dumbreck of the same, in which after she had reached twenty-one years, and for a sum of money paid to herself, she sold to John Reid of Akinfield, her brother-in-law, and Katherine Dumbreck, his spouse, the half of the lands of Dumbreck with annexes. The date is February 14, 1568. (Id,. Nos. 1480, 1546)."

From the Reids, the lands of Dumbreck passes away out of the family, and comes into a branch of the family of Meldrum of Fyvie.