The Angles gave way to the Norsemen in the ninth century and for the next two hundred years they held sway until the land passed to the Scottish throne under Malcolm Canmore who granted it as an Earldom to his youngest son, David, in 1107. It is another possibility that the Orr name has a Norse origin from their word "Orri" meaning "blackcock" (a bird) such a link appears in the Lincolnshire Assize Roll of 1298 with reference to a Roger Orre in 1202. But there is simply no way of proving it, although it is interesting that the name Orre should turn up so early on the East coast of England where Norman knights from William the Conqueror's time had lands.

David I's reign was one of relative peace and consolidation of the emerging Scotland into one kingdom and the introduction of the feudal system of land tenure. There was a problem when Donald MacHeth claimed the throne on David`s death in 1153 , and for three years had the assistance of Somerled, King of the Isles. However, Somerled withdrew his support and continued to make a nuisance of himself elsewhere until slain at Renfrew in 1164.

In the meantime Fergus, Lord of Galloway seized his chance to try and break away but was tamed in 1160. Subsequent attempts were made by a succession of Lords of Galloway , Uchtred, Gilbert, Roland and Alan to get rid of the Scottish allegiance but they also lost their struggle. Although subjugated militarily there was a stubborn resistance to change in the south west where the Picts and their descendants maintained a sturdy independence, and continued to speak Gaelic until after the Union of the Crowns in 1603.

In the thirteenth century the lordship of Galloway was divided up between four members of the ruling famiy, including John Baliol and Alexander Comyn. Under these leaders the men of Galloway were the opponents of King Robert the Bruce whose brother Edward finally subdued the area in 1308. In 1369 the eastern part of the area was given to Archibald Douglas, the Grim, who built the stronghold of Thrieve castle.