|
CLAN AGNEW
There are at least two
possible derivations of this name. Firstly, from the Norman French barony of d'Agneux, via England
and Liddesdale in the Scottish Borders. Secondly, from a branch of O'Gnimh, who were the hereditary poets of the O'Neils in
Antrim, Ireland.
The name was written in English as O'Gnive, then O'Gnyw and later O'Gnew.
Whatever its origins,
the family became established in Wigtownshire in south-west Scotland.
Andrew Agnew was appointed hereditary Sheriff of Wigtown in 1451 and his descendants hold that office to this day. Lochnaw Castle was their base with another branch in Lochryan. Andrew Agnew of Lochnaw was killed at the Battle of Pinkie in
1547.
The family prospered
and there were a number of judicious marriages with other wealthy families in the area. The 5th Baronet, Sir Andrew, commanded
a regiment at the Battle of Dettingen, Bavaria in 1743,
when King George II commanded the English and Hanoverian troops against the French (the last monarch to do so directly). When
the king commented on the way the French cavalry had penetrated Sir Andrew's troops he replied "Yes, please your Majesty,
but they didna win back again". Sir Andrew later held Blair
Castle in Perthshire against the Jacobite forces.
The 6th Baronet married
the daughter of the Irish Lord Kingsdale and the 7th Baronet inherited the title and estates. He set about rebuilding Lochnaw
castle (though it is now no longer in Agnew hands). A number of Irish Agnews emigrated to the American colonies, especially
in Pennsylvania. The 11th Baronet, Sir Crispin Agnew of
Lochnaw, is one of Scotland's leading
heraldic experts and is the Rothesay Herald at the Court of the Lord Lyon.
CLAN ANDERSON
The Sons of Andrew: A History of the Anderson Name
By Nadine
Anderson,
former Clan Anderson Genealogist
Surnames
The use of surnames started in France around the year 1100 AD, The Norman
invaders brought the practice to Scotland nearly 100 years later. However, the use of surnames was not common for some 50
years or more after this time, or around 1155AD. Prior to this, Malcolm Ceannmor (1057-1093), spouse to Queen Margaret of
Scotland directed his subjects to adopt surnames after their territorial possessions. Such was the origin of the first earls
of Scotland, such as Leslie, Gordon, Shaw, and Abircrumby among others. Written references to actual surnames are first found
during the time of David I, who reigned from 1124-1153AD. One such reference is found for Robertus de Brus (Robert the Bruce).
In light of this understanding about the use of surnames, one can appreciate
that the name ANDERSON would not be a Scandinavian name, as the Danes invaded Britain between 997-1014 AD, some 150 years
prior to the use of surnames. However, we do recognize that some Scandinavians may also bear the name.
Anderson means "Son of Andrew". Typically, the intent was to denote "servant
of Andrew", Andrew being the patron saint of Scotland. The Gaelic form of the name is Gillanders. The Andersons are a diverse
group, with no specific place from which the name is derived. Most likely, the name cropped up all over the country over a
period of time, with one group of Andersons not necessarily related to another group of Andersons.
Anderson or Ross or Donald?
Occassionally, the Anderson name is affiliated with Clan Ross, which creates
some confusion among Andersons. The first five earls of Clan Ross bore the name "Aindrea", and not Ross. They too were "Servants
of Andrew". As the title passed to descendants of the female line, the name, Ross, was assumed by the male representatives
of the earls as it referred to their territorial origin. The name "Ross" is actually derived from the District of Ross, and
is therefore a territorial name. In fact, the Ross's first referred to themselves as do the Andersons: "Andrew's Servants".
It is also possible that some descendants of Highland Andersons rightfully share a heritage with what today is the Ross Clan.
Some other Highland "Gillanders" (Servants of Andrew) may be associated with
Clan Donald, also through the female line. The Lord of the Isles (Clan Donald) assumed the title of Earl of Ross. In fact
it was Donald MacGillandrish who accompanied Moira McDonald of Clan Donald when she became the wife to a McIntosh chief in
the 1400's. their descendants became known as MacAndrew (son of the servant of Andrew). This is the origin of the affiliation
with Clan Chattan.
A Clan in its own Right
According to the Lord Lyon, there was an Anderson of that Ilk in the 1500's.
This specific Anderson is unknown to us today. But this reference verifies that the Andersons are a clan in their own right,
despite having a shared ancestry with other groups. The Anderson name shows up in many forms: Andrews, Andirsoone, Andersonne,
Andersoun, Andersoune, Andison, Andreson, Andherson, MacAndrews, Endirone, and many other
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Clan Arthur
The forename Arthur may owe its origins to the Greek word "arktouros" meaning
keeper of the bears and in the Celtic world it came to mean "strong as a bear". The name is now known around the world as
a result of the legendary King Arthur who may have been a Celtic chieftain around the 6th century. The first reliable record
of the name is in Adomnan's "Life of Columba" which tells of a king of the Scots called Aedan mac Gabhrain named his son
Arthur, also in the 6th century.
The MacArthur clan is believed to have the same roots as the Campbells, but claims that further back they are descended from the legendary King Arthur,
are not provable. The clan is certainly regarded as ancient and there is a Gaelic saying "as old as the hills, the MacArthurs
and the Devil". The more established records show that they originated from the district of Lennox, part of the old kingdom
of Strathclyde and moved into Argyll. The clan seat was established at Strachur, on Loch Fyne.
The clan was at its peak in the 14th century when a MacArthur married the
heiress of the progenitor of the Campbell lords of Loch Awe. The MacArthurs from Loch Awe supported Robert the Bruce and fought at the Battle of Bannockburn. Their leader, Mac-ic-Artair, was rewarded
with land previously held by the MacDougalls of Lorne (who had supported the Comyns). The MacArthurs became keepers of Dunstaffnage castle.
When King James I attempted to subdue the Highland clans who were becoming too powerful in the
15th century, the MacArthurs were amongst those who bore the brunt of his actions. The clan chief, Iain MacArthur, who could
summon 1,000 men, was executed in 1427 and most of the clan lands were confiscated. For all practical purposes that was the
end of the clan; unlike others who suffered setbacks and managed to recover, the MacArthurs never regained their clan lands,
though the name survived as many of the clan dispersed.
For a while, a sept of the MacArthurs were the hereditary pipers of the MacDonalds of Sleat, who were frequently at odds with the Campbells. Charles MacArthur,
piper to Sir Alexander MacDonald, was a pupil of Patrick Og MacCrimmon. Another group of MacArthurs were armorours to MacDonald
of Islay.
Towards the end of the 15th century, and into the 16th century, a number of
MacArthurs held prominent positions in Argyll. Some of their neighbours became jealous and as a result of a skirmish on Loch
Awe, Duncan MacArthur and his son were drowned. The Earl of Argyll ordered compensation to be paid but took advantage of the
situation and appointed his nephew John to be leader of the Loch Awe MacArthurs.
In the 17th century, one of the MacArthurs of Milton in Dunoon rose to be
a baillie in Kintyre and a chamberlain to the Marquess of Montrose in Cowal. Large numbers of MacArthurs fought on both sides
during the Jacobite Uprisings in 1715 and 1745. After the '45, many emigrated to the West Indies and North America.
John MacArthur (1767-1834) came to New South Wales in Australia in 1790. He
was one of the earliest sheep farmers there (he successfully crossed Bengal and Irish sheep and later introduced the Merino
breed from South Africa). His sons planted the first vineyard in Australia.
In more modern times, US General Arthur MacArthur, whose parents came from
Glasgow in Scotland, became Lieutenant-General in the Philippines in 1906. His son, General Douglas MacArthur, became even
more famous in the Pacific and the Philippines during WW2 as commander of the US forces in the Far East.
The last clan chief of the MacArthurs died in India in the 1780s. He had no
obvious male heir and so the hereditary chiefdom of the clan seemed to have died with him. But after a long gap, Canadian-born
James Edward Moir MacArthur was recognized by the Lord Lyon in August 2002 as the Arthur clan chief. The new chief was 87
at that date and lived in Edinburgh. He had not sought the title - the research was initiated by a group of senior clan members.
The genealogist had to go back to the 16th century to find a common ancestor for the last chief, Charles MacArthur of Tirivadich.
The Lord Lyon further decreed that the Chief of Clan Arthur's shield should be "three antique crowns Or (gold) set on an Azure
(blue) background". The silver cross molene which, up until now, was thought to form part of the Clan Arthur Chief's shield,
has been omitted. James MacArthur's coat of arms now reverts to the earliest, original arms of Clan Arthur, a shield identical
to the description given in ancient manuscripts for the legendary King Arthur's blazon. James MacArthur was officially inaugurated
in April 2003 but the old chief died in April 2004.
The MacArthur clan motto is "Fide et opera" which means "By fidelity and labour".
Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the MacArthur clan are limited
to Arthur.
Clan Baxter
Motto: Vincit veritas
(Latin: Truth prevails)
Names associated with the clan: BAXTER BAXTAR BACSTER BAXSTARE BAXSTAR BAXSTAIR BAKSTER
BAXSTER MACVAXTER MAKBAXSTAR MACBAXTAR MACBAXTER BAKER
This is an occupational
name derived from the Old English word "baecestre" meaning a female baker and later Middle English "bakstere" which was applied
to both male and female bakers. In early Latin charters the name is rendered as "pistor" - the Latin word for baker. In that
form the name is found as early as the 12th century.
Baxters are found all
across Scotland but those in the west are generally regarded as dependents of the Clan Macmillan.
In Fife,
they were a prominent family in their own right and witnessed important documents in the 13th century. Between 1200 and 1240
a Reginald Baxtar witnessed a gift of a church of Wemyss
in Fife. The name is still found frequently in Fife and the Baxters of Earlshall in northern
Fife lived in a baronial castle there. Kilmaron
Castle was a mansion built for a Baxter family near Cupar in Fife,
around 1820.
In 1296 Geffrei le Baxtere
of Lossithe in Forfar took an oath of allegiance to the king. Baxter was (and is) a common name in Angus as Forfar was at
one time a royal residence and the first Baxters there may well have been royal bakers.
The Baxters of Kincaldrum
were the first to bring power-weaving to the City of Dundee.
They prospered as a result and gifted Baxter Park to the city. They endowed a college which eventually became the University of Dundee.
In more modern times,
the Baxter family in Fochabers on the river Spey in Morayshire have built a successful business creating quality soups and
produce from local suppliers. And Stanley Baxter has had a long career as an actor and comedian.
The Baxter clan motto
is "Vincit veritas" which means "Truth prevails".
MacBaxter is regarded
as a sept (sub-branch) of the McMillan clan.
***********************************************
CLAN HALDANE
Clan Chief: The current chief of Clan
Haldane is Martin Haldane of Gleneagles.
Origins of the Haldanes of Gleneagles
[The following text is
copied verbatim from The Haldanes of Gleneagles, General Sir J. Aylmer L. Haldane, 1929, William Blackwood & Sons, Ltd., London and Edinburgh, which book is in the Public Domain since 2004. While this
text may appear on some message boards, it is NOT a copyright violation. Contact John Haldane for more information.]
HISTORIANS and genealogists
have ascribed various origins to the family Haldane. Sir James Dalrymple, Nisbet, and others have suggested its descent from
a Danish chief called Haldanus, or from an Anglo-Norman, Brien1 by name, whose son Bernard came to Scotland during
the reign of King William the Lion (1165-1214), and was given by him a manor on the Border.2 The legend of Danish
descent, which probably arose from the resemblance of the family name to that of this chief, is not borne out by the Kelso
charters. In one of these,3 which is dated between 1165 and 1171, Bernard son of Brien is recorded, with some circumlocution,
as granting to the monks of Kelso Abbey a carucate4 of land, ' which they have in the town of Hauden, and which
they had before I came to Hauden in perpetual alms by the same boun¬daries by which they had the same before I came to Hauden.'
A later charter from Bernard's nephew to the monks, which confirms the earlier gift, is couched in precisely the same words.5
A perusal of these two documents shows unmistakably that before Bernard obtained his lands on the border, they bore the name
of Hauden, and proves that his surname - or rather that of his successor and his descendants, for he himself never dropped
his designation of 'son of Brien ' - was derived from the title by which the lands were known, and from it alone.
This Bernard, son of Brien
was the undoubted founder of the Haldane family in Scotland. He was a frequent witness
to royal and other charters, and these, through their being dated at different places, show that he belonged to the royal
retinue and probably filled some post near the person of the King. That he was a man of birth and consequence is obvious from
the fact that he appears as a witness in company with some of the most important persons in the kingdom. Take, for example,
the charter by King William to the abbey of Scone, dated at Dunfermline between 1165 and 1171.6 This charter, which
confirms to the abbey all liberties that had been granted to it by the King's elder brother Malcolm IV., was witnessed, amongst
others, by Nichol, the Chancellor of Scotland Duncan, 5th Earl of Fife, who was Justiciar of the northern kingdom for more
than twenty years, and who, 'as in the case of former Earls of Fife, is given precedence over the other Earls of Scotland
as witnesses to the King's charters;' 7 Walter Fitz-Alan, the first High Stewart of Scotland, who had great possessions
in the lowlands ; David Ollifard, godson of David I., and the earliest known holder of the high office of Justiciar;8
a Richard Cumin, ancestor of the Red Comyn, who fell by the hand of Bruce ; Robert de Quincy, who through marriage owned
estates in Fife, and whose son, Sair de Quincy, 1st Earl of Winchester, was one of the twenty-five celebrated barons who were
appointed to enforce the observance of Magna Charta ; and last on this list of notables comes Bernard son of Brien.
Apart, however, from the
inference to be drawn from the royal charters, it is otherwise clear that Bernard son of Brien was a man of good birth, and
one who knew who his ancestors were. This emerges from the fact that both he and his nephew, also called Bernard, in not less
than six charters, refer to their 'ancestors and successors' - an expression which, though it is to be found in other deeds
of the time, more particularly in deeds of mortification or bequests to religious houses, is not without significance.9
The question of Bernard's
descent from a Danish source has been shown to be unfounded, and as regards the suggestion that he was of Anglo-Norman extraction
no evidence has been found to substantiate it. It may, however, be mentioned that his father's name Brien was a common one
in the family of the Counts of Brittany, who, though not Normans in the strict sense of the word, were nominally vassals of
the Conqueror, and fought under his banner at Hastings. The dates associated with one of them, known as Brien Fitz-Count,
a son of the head of that family, coincide closely with those of Bernard's father. This alone might count for little, but
the facts that Margaret, a sister of King William the Lion, was the wife of Conon IV Duke of Brittany, and that Bernard was
in that king’s retinue, and was given a manor by him, lend colour to the possibility of a connection with that nominally
Norman family. [please refer to Clan Haldane for further information]
*****************************************
CLAN HALL
Motto: "Vive Ut Vivas" - Live, So That You May Live
Arms: Three black Talbots (a species of hound) heads
Septs: Halle,
Haule, Haul, Hal, De Aula, Hale, Haw, Collingwood, Crispin, Fitz William, MacHall.
History: The history
of Scotland, shrouded by the mists of
time, indicates that the name 'Hall', is a Norman surname. The name 'Hall', was found in Lincolnshire [England] where they were granted lands
after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
Upon entering England with the Norman Conquest, the Hall's were actually 'FITZ WILLIAM'S', they being settled in Greatford Hall in
Lincolnshire, and being directly descended from Wentworth,
Earl FitzWilliam. The younger son of this noble house, Arthur FitzWilliam, was called 'Hall', to distinguish him from his
senior brother. Hence Arthur Hall would be the first on record about the year 1090 AD. The line continued in Lincolnshire, and intermarried with the Crispins, and the Earls of Chester. In Cheshire [England],
the Hall's were a cadet branch of the Kingsley Hall's of that county. By 1340 AD, the name had moved northward at the invitation
of Earl David of Huntingdon, later to become King David of Scotland.
In Scotland, they were granted lands in
Berwickshire, specifically the lands of Glenryg in the barony of Lesmahagow.
The Hall's were one of the sixty (60) major riding families of the Anglo-Scottish border
and were involved in reiving as other border clans were. During one of the 'Day of Truce' occasions, a Robert Spragon 'fyled' a complaint
against two Halls that had rustled 120 sheep. The traditional homes of the Hall's were at Redesdale in England; East Teviotdale, and Liddesdale, in Scotland.
Some notables in the Scottish East March were: John Hall of Newbigging; George Hall (called Pats Geordie there; Andrew Hall
of the Sykes, and Thom Hall in Fowlscheils. Other Hall's lived in Aynstrother; Glenryg, in the barony of Lesmahagow; Garvald;
Irvide; Glasgow; Sancharmvr, in Preswick; and Perth.
By 1600 AD, many branches had developed in England
and Scotland: Lord Llanover, Sir John Hall, Bishop Hall of Bristol,
Bishop Hall of Wearmouth, and at the same time, continuing their interest and seats at Skelton
Castle, Yorkshire, Greatford Hall in Lincolnshire,
and Gravell House in Middlesex. Notable amongst the family at this time was Hall of Berwickshire.
[This information courtesy
of W. Wiseman of New Zealand]
***********************
CLAN HAMILTON
Motto:
"Through".
Badge: An oak tree, penetrated by a frame saw, standing above a ducal coronet.
Names associated
with the clan: Hamilton, Hammeltoune, Hammyltoune, Hamyltoune, Hammyltoun,
Hamyltone, Hamulthone, Cadzow.
HISTORY
Origin of the name:
In Old English "hamel dun" meant "bare
hill" and there were a number of places in England with names derived from these
words. Walter de Hameldone, owned property in near Paisley in Renfrewshire in 1294. In the
War of Independence in 1290-1305, he was initially loyal to King Edward I of England but later supported
Robert the Bruce. He was granted further lands by Bruce in Lothian and Lanarkshire, including lands at Cadzow (which was later
renamed Hamilton). Walter's son, David, fought for King David II at the Battle of Neville Cross in 1346.
In 1474, James Hamilton married Princess
Mary, daughter of King James II and was made Lord Hamilton and their son, who was in line of succession to the throne, was made Earl of Arran.
The family built Brodick Castle as a Highland home (it is now National Trust
property). The second Earl of Arran was made Regent of Scotland during the childhood of Mary Queen of Scots and proposed that his son should marry her. However, she married the Dauphin (heir to the throne) of France instead. Nevertheless, the Earl of Arran was created
Duke of Chatelherault, a French title. Later, the Earl tried to save Mary after her ill-fated marriage to Lord Darnley and
sheltered her at Cadzow after her escape from Loch Leven.
The fourth Earl of Arran became Chancellor
of Scotland and in 1599 and he was advanced
to the rank of Marquess. His brother Claud was created Lord Paisley and then Lord Abercorn and this branch prospered, becoming
a dukedom in 1868, with a seat in Ulster.
The third Marquess supported King Charles I and he was made Duke of Hamilton in 1643 and the premier peer of Scotland.
His daughter, Annie, married William Douglas, Earl of Selkirk. The foundations of a palace, near Hamilton in Lanarkshire, were laid at this time. The palace was later demolished because
of mining subsidence but the magnificent hunting lodge named Chatelherault still survives in a public park. The seat of the Duke of Hamilton is now Lennoxlove, in East
Lothian.
Other Hamiltons
of note in Scottish history include Patrick Hamilton who was martyred for his Protestant beliefs in 1528 and the grandson
of the 3rd Duke who climbed Vesuvius 22 times and married Emma, Lord Nelson's beloved. The 14th Duke was the pilot of the
first plane to fly over Mount Everest (in 1933).
The Hamilton
clan motto is "Through".
********************************************************************
CLAN HANNAY
Names Associated with Clan Hannay: Hannay
·
Hanna · Hanney · Hannah Clan Chief: Ramsay William Rainsford Hannay of Kirkdale
and of that Ilk, Chief of the Name and Arms of Hannay, Died 10 January 2004 – Gatehouse-of-Fleet,
Scotland and was succeeded by his son, Dr. David R Hannay.
Origins of the clan: The
name Hannay may have originally been spelt Ahannay, possibly deriving from the Gaelic word 'O'Hannaidh' or 'Ap Shenaeigh'- "Son of Senach". The family can be traced back to Galloway in South-West Scotland. The name 'Gillbert de Hannethe' appears on the Ragman Rolls of 1296, submitting to King Edward I of England. The Hannay's lands of Sorbie in Wigtownshire were reportedly acquired by the same Gillbert de Hannethe.
Unlike
many Scottish nobles and clans the Clan Hannay did not support Robert the Bruce but instead supported John Balliol because he was more local to them through his descent from the Celtic
Princess of Galloway.
15th
& 16th centuries: In
1488 the Clan Hannay fought at the Battle of Sauchieburn. Later in 1513 the Clan Hannay fought at the Battle of Flodden Field which was part of the Anglo-Scottish Wars. In 1532 Patrick Hannay was acquitted of the murder of Patrick McClellen as he had killed him in self defense.
James Hannay, the Master Gunner in the reign of James V led the clan at the Battle of Solway Moss in 1542 and the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547 which were part of the Anglo-Scottish Wars. The family began to spread and a tower built at Sorbie in 1550 which commanded views their ever increasing territory.
The ancient clan seat, Sorbie Tower
is owned by the members of Clan Hannay International and in 1965 received grants from Historic Scotland.
17th
century Patrick Hannay had a
distinguished military career and was patroned by Queen Elizabeth of Bohemia, daughter of James VI and sister of Charles I. After the death of Queen Anne who was the wife of James VI in 1619 Patrick Hannay composed two eulogies
and in return had many published on his own death, one of which said: 'Go on in virtue, aftertimes will tell, none but Hannay
could have done so well'. Sir
Patrick (3rd) Privy Councillor of Ireland, and Master of the Chancellery in Ireland, died at sea in 1625.
Possibly the best known Hannay was James Hannay, the
Dean of St Giles' in Edinburgh who had the claim to fame of being the target of Jenny Geddes' stool. In an infamous incident in 1637 the Dean had begun to read the new liturgy
when with a cry of "Thou false thief, dost thou say Mass at my lug?" was heard and a stool came flying from the congregation,
thrown by an incensed Jenny Geddes. The incident began a full scale riot which took the town guard to control. Sir Robert
Hannay of Mochrum was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia In 1630, and from the Sorbie roots the Hannays of Grennan, Knock, Garrie
and Kingsmuir also evolved.
Clan
conflicts The fortunes of the
original Hannays of Sorbie were seriously dented in the seventeenth century when a long running feud with the powerful Clan Murray of Broughton resulted in the Hannays being outlawed. The clan has also had previous
feuds with the Clan Kennedy and Clan Dunbar. After the feud with the Clan Murray the famous tower at Sorbie fell into disrepair and was lost along with the neighbouring
lands around 1640. Many Hannays moved to Ireland, in particular Ulster and the name can still be found there and in many surrounding counties,
particularly in the form "Hanna".
Another form of the name, "Hannah", is particularly
common amongst the descendants of those that remained in Scotland.
Another variation of Hannay is "Hanney". In Oxfordshire,
England, there are two villages called East Hanney and West Hanney. Yet another version of Hannay
is "Hanner". Although less common, Hanner, like Hanna, is found amongst the descendants of those who moved to Ireland.
The modern
Clan Hannay Sir Samuel Hannay, who
had served within the Habsburg Empire. He returned to Scotland
having amassed a considerable wealth and built a great mansion house which was said to be the inspiration for Sir Walter Scott’s novel, Guy Mannering. Sir Samuel's baronetcy became dormant on his death in 1841 and the estates passed to his sister, Mary, then further
to her nephew, William Rainsford Hannay, on her death in 1850. From this direct line comes the present chief Hannay of Kirkdale
and of that Ilk.
One branch of the family begun by a younger son of
the Sorbie Hannays, Alexander Hannay took lands at Kirkdale, by Kirkcudbright. The line established by his son John Hannay of Kirkdale is now recognised as
the chiefly one.
*************************************************
CLAN HARVEY
Motto: "Veritas Vincit" which means "Truth conquers"
Chief: The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Kintore
Names Associated
with Clan Harvey: HERVEY/HERVIE/HARVEY/HARVIE.
HISTORY
Origins of the name:
This ancient surname, well recorded in Scotland, has two possible sources, the first being from the Breton personal
name "Aeruiu" or "Haerviu", composed of the elements "haer", meaning battle, and "vy", - worthy. The 1086 Domesday has various
references to followers of William the Conqueror, including Herueu de Berruarius of Suffolk,
and later Heuei de Castre of Lincoln, in 1157. These were
not surnames, although in fact the first surname recording was only just behind. The second source is Irish. It is said that
a Galway clan called originally the O'hAirmheadhaigh, did 'anglicise' their name to Harvey
or Harvie.
The Gaelic translates as 'the descendant of the son of Airmed'. The surname is generally recorded as Harvey,
Harvie, Hervie and Hervey, and early recordings include William Hervy of Essex in 1232, Warin Harvi in the Pipe Rolls of Cambridge
for the year 1273, and John Hervy, burgess of Aberdeen in
1398. The roll of famous namebearers includes William Harvey (1578 - 1657), who discovered the circulation of the blood in
1616, whilst Edmond Harvey, a Parliamentarian Colonel, was one of the fifty three regicides who signed the death warrant of
Charles 1st in January 1649. Beauchamp Bagenal Harvey was one of the 1798 leaders of the Irish rebellion, whilst curiously
Robert Hervie of Scotland was a member
of the Huntly Volunteer force, raised to combat a possible French-Irish invasion. The first recorded spelling of the family
name is shown to be that of William Hervi, which was dated 1190, in the 'Calendar of Abbot Samson of Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk',
during the reign of King Richard 1, known as "The Lionheart", 1189 - 1199.
CLAN HISTORY
There are those who could argue that the Keith Clan name more correctly would be Harvey.In the time of
David I, King of Scotland (about 1160), a Scottish Knight named Hervey is said to have obtained a grant of the north-west
portion of the lands of Keith, in East Lothian (near Aberdeen). From the owner, it was called Keith-Hervey. It was this Hervey
who held the office of King's Marischal under Malcom IV and William the Lion. The title Marischal became hereditary, and was
passed to his grandson Philip upon Hervey's death in 1196. As was the custom at the time, the family became known by the name
Keith, after the lands they possessed. The Keiths were a very powerful Celtic family in the far north of Scotland and their chiefs continued to hold the important
office of Marischal of Scotland for six hundred years. Numerous Earl Marischals used the name Hervey or Harvey throughout
their history. Famous episodes of their chronicles are a bloody and treacherous battle with their Norse neighbors, the Gunns,
in 1464 and the rescue in Cromwell's time of the Scottish Regalia which the sixth Earl Marischal hid safely at Dunottar Castle.
**************************************************
______________________________________________________________________________________________
CLAN HORSBURGH
Crest: A horse's head coupled Argent. Motto:
Aegre De Tramite Recto (With difficulty along the right path) Chief: Armigerous*
HISTORY
The lands & barony of Horsburgh lie near Innerleithen in Peebleshire.
The ruins of the tower of the same name still stand, and according to Black, the first of this race is believed to have been
an Anglo-Saxon designated horse or orse, who settled on the north bank of the River Tweed and there built the castle which
communicated the present surname to his descendents.
The earliest name on record is Simon de Horsbrock, who witnessed a charter by William Purveys of Mospennoc to the monks
of Melrose Abbey in the reigh on Alexander II. William de Horsboroch is recorded in 1283. In the diocese of Glasgow
in 1287, he is lited as a Notary Public. In 1297 Simon de Horsbrok was in the foreigh service of Edward I and had his
lands restored in the same year.
Alexander
Horsbrock of that Ilk is recorded in 1479. and another Alexander Horsbruik
was served heir to John Horsbruik, his father, in the lands and mill of Horsbruik (1550). Lady Horsburgh of Horsburgh was
the last Horsburgh to hold the barony, which, upon her marriage, passed into the Chinnery family.
The arms recorded by Nisbet of a silver horses head
on a blue shield are clearly a pun based on the family name.
James Horsburgh, a fellow
of the Royal Society, was a distinguished hydrographer at the beginning af the nineteenth century. In 1810 he was appointed
hydrographer to the East India Company. He published numerous works on maritime subjects, which were to become standard authorities
in that field.
The name is still found
in the Borders and around Edinburgh..
******************************************
*************************************************
CLAN HAY
Chief: Rt Hon Merlin Hay, 24th Earl of Erroll and Lord
High Constable of Scotland.
Badge: A falcon flying. The coat of arms shows farm implements which, legend has it, were weapons
by which the Hays repelled a Danish invasion at Luncarty.
Motto: Serva jugmen - "Keep the yoke".
Names associated with the clan:
Alderston, Arroll, Aue,Ay, Aye, Ayer, Beagrie,
Con, Conn, Constable, da Hay, Da Haya, D'Ay, D'Aye, de Hay, de Haya, de la Hay, De la Haye, de Plessis, Delgatie, Dellahay,
Des Hay, Deshays, Drumelizior, Dupplin, Erroll, Garra, Garrad, Garrow, Gifford, Hawson, Hay, Hayburn, Hayden, Haydock, Haye,
Hayens, Hayes, Hayfield, Hayhoe, Hayhow, Haylees, Haylor, Hayne, Haynes, Haynie, Hays, Hayse, Hayson, Hayston, Haystoun, Hayter,
Hayton, Haytor, Hayward, Haywood, Hea, Hey, Heyes, Kellour, Kinnoullm Laxfirth, Leis, Leith, Lockerwort, MacGaradh, MacGarra,
MacGarrow, MacHay, McArra, O'Garra, O'Garrow, O'Hay Aue, O'Hea, Peebles, Peeples, Peoples, Slains, Turriff, Tweeddale, Yester.
Also certain families of: Ritchie, Ley, Watson, and King.
HISTORY
The first record
of the name Hay, Norman in origin, is William de Haya, Cupbearer of Malcolm IV of Scotland, who arrived in this country around 1160 and married
a Celtic heiress. He was one of the hostages held in England
with William the Lion and on his return was granted an extensive manor in Erroll. His younger brother Robert was progenitor
of the Earls of Tweeddale. Tradition has it that Thomas the Rhymer prophesied that an oak tree, covered by mistletoe would
fall during a strange Hay ritual which took place every Halloween. When this prophecy became fact, the estate of Erroll was
sold in 1636. The 3rd Baron, Gilbert was Co-Regent of Scotland, Sir Gilbert the 5th chief featured prominently in the Scottish
War of Independence and was given Slains castle in Buchan and made Hereditary Lord High Constable of Scotland by Bruce. (A post which the family retains and is the highest ranking
position in Scotland after the Royal family)
The 7th chief married the King's daughter, while William, 9th chief was created Earl of Erroll in 1452. At the Battle of Flodden
in 1513, the 4th Earl, William was killed along with 87 other Hays. In 1594 the Royal forces under Argyll were defeated by
the Earl of Huntly in alliance with the 9th Earl of Erroll. In revenge King James personally blew up Slains Castle. Sir William Hay of Delgaty,
Montrose's Chief of Staff was beheaded with him in 1650. The 13th Earl, Charles helped to organise the 1708 Jacobite attempt
and was imprisoned after the Rising. His sister Mary who succeeded him as Countess of Erroll in 1717 raised her clan for Prince
Charles during the '45. The Border branch of the Hays became Lords Hay of Yester in 1488 and are now represented by the 11th
Marquis of Tweed-dale.
****************************
CLAN HENDERSON
Henderson Gaelic Name:
Mac Eanruig
Motto: Sola virtus nobilitat (Virtue alone
ennobleS)
Badge: Cotton grass
Lands: Caithness and
Glencoe
Origin of Name: Henry's son
Clan Chief
The Chief of Clan Henderson is Alistair Donald Henderson
of Fordell, an environmental engineer specialising in air pollution control who lives in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. The Chief is recognized by Lord Lyon, King of Arms, and is a member of the Standing Council of Scottish
Chiefs (SCSC).
HISTORY
Origins of the Clan
Clann Eanruig (pronounced
KLAHN YAHN-reegk) is the Gàidhlig (Scots Gaelic) name for the Scottish clan known as "the Hendersons" in English. The words "Scot," "Scots" (not scotch), "Scottish," and "Scotland" derive from the Latin word "Scotus" meaning a Celtic inhabitant of Hibernia (Ireland) at the time of the Roman occupation of southern Britannia (Great Britain), i.e., an Irishman. The Scots of Caledonia flourished and soon outnumbered their Pictish neighbors.
The ancient Picts and Scots followed
the Celtic custom of matrilineality. This meant that sons could not depend on their father's status, but instead had to establish domains of their
own.
Pictish prince Eanruig Mor
mac Righ Nechtan (Big Henry the son of King Nechtan) established a distinguished family line. The descendants of Prince Henry
were known collectively as “clann Eanruig” meaning the “family of Henry.” The males of the clan took
the surname “mac Eanruig” meaning “son of Henry,” which was later translated into English variously
as “Henryson,” “Henderson,” “McHenry,” “McHendry,” “MacKendrick,”
and such. The females of the clan took the surname “nic Eanruig” meaning “daughter of Henry.” A woman
normally kept her own clan surname after marriage, and she could usually depend on her clan's support in a dispute with her
husband. Families could give children the clan surname of either their mother or father. Over time, the descendants of other
prominent Henrys also took the family name "clann Eanruig." Eventually, the most prominent of these families coalesced into
a single clan identity.
Alliances
Though a small clan, the
Hendersons rose to prominence in Caithness, Glencoe, the Shetland Islands and Fordell in Fife. In Caithness, Clan Henderson associated with Clan Gunn. In Glencoe, Clan Henderson forged a close alliance with the powerful Clan Donald. A separate family grouping arose in Liddesdale and Ewesdale, being one of the smaller families of Border Reivers.
The Hendersons known for their size and strength became the personal body guards of the chief
of the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe. In 1692, King William III, suspecting the loyalty of Clan Donald, secretly set the Clan Campbell upon the MacDonalds and Hendersons in the Massacre of Glencoe. Standing six feet and seven inches tall, the powerful "Big Henderson" of the Chanters was the MacDonald chief's
piper and protector, and fell with the chief in the cold February night of 1692. After the Massacre, many Henderson families emigrated to Ulster ,North America and mid wales.
Highland Clearances
During the Highland Clearances from 1746 to 1822, many more Henderson families left Scotland for Ireland, England, North America, Australia, New Zealand, and other lands.
Hendersons in the Modern World
In 1934, British statesman Arthur Henderson was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work for world disarmament. Epidemiologist Dr. Donald Ainslie "D.A."
Henderson led the World Health Organization's successful effort to eradicate smallpox throughout the world.
*************************************************
CLAN HEPBURN
Hepburn is a family name of the Scottish-English border area. It is associated with
a variety of famous personages, places, and things. Although usually a Scottish name, the origins may be just south of the
border in the north of England. It may have derived from the Northumberland towns of Hebron or Hebburn. It is perhaps
the same as Hebborne, from the Ancient English words heah ("high") and
byrgen ("burial mound"). Alternatively it could mean something along the
lines of "high place beside the water. A "burn" is a word meaning "river" in both English and Scots. ,
The remains of a Bastle Tower can be found near Chillingham
Castle. This is where the family originated. This was the seat of a line of the family until the eighteenth century
when that branch died out having left only a female heir. The Hepburn family is perhaps best remembered because of the Earl
of Bothwell, a husband of Mary, Queen of Scots. Katherine Hepburn, the famous American actress is another well
remembered part of this family. A branch of the family originated in Lothian. A Hepburn was granted land for having
saved the Earl of March from a horse that had lost control. Subsequently they became the Lords of Hailes and were ultimately
rewarded by being granted the Earldom of Bothwell.
There were also Hepburns of Waughton, thought by some to have branched off from the Hailes line, thought by others
to predate it. Another line was the Hepburns of Beanston, and yet another was the Hepburns of Athelstaneford. Primarily located
in East Lothian, all of these families were prominent in various ways at various junctures of Scottish history.
******************
CLAN HOGG
Names
Associated With Clan Hogg: Hogg, Hogge, Hogue, Hoig
Chief: Armigerous*
HISTORY
Origin of the
Name
Taken from a person who was very tall. From the
Germanic element hoch meaning 'tall'. This is a hereditary surname of Nickname Origin. Nicknames were derived
from a physical feature, character, a favoured style of clothing or from animals, birds, flowers or a colour. Naming was borne
thousands of years ago and at first there were just first names.
Around the 11th century the Normans introduced the first hereditary
surnames taken from their estates in France.
By the 15th century they had spread to England, Ireland,
Scotland, Wales, Germany, Italy, Spain,
Portugal and the rest of the European
countries. They consisted of a store of Baptismal, Locality, and Occupation names with Nicknames being formed from the Norman
originals and Old Norse terms.
In these early centuries Coats of Arms were borne.
The knights wore heavy armour from head to foot and the only means of identification for his followers was the emblem on the
shield and on this surcoat. The Coat of Arms for this surname is one of the first granted from the very early centuries.
******************
CLAN HOPE
Clan chief: The chief of Clan Hope is Sir John Hope of Craighall, Baronet.
The chiefly line of the Hope family survives through the Baronets of Craighall.
Motto: At Spes Infracta [Yet My Hope is Unbroken]
Origins of the clan: Hope is a native Scottish name. However, in middle English it
means 'small valley'. Another suggestion is that it derives from 'oublon', which is French for 'hop' and could be from the
family de H'oublons of Picardy.
HISTORY: The Clan Hope was a Scottish border family and their name is among
those found on the Ragman Rolls giving the oath of fealty to King Edward I of England in 1296.
16th century: The principal line can be traced back to John de Hope, who travelled
from France with Magdalen the first wife of King James V of Scotland. John settled in Edinburgh and became commissioner for Edinburgh to the first General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1560.
17th century: John de Hope's grandson Sir Thomas Hope was Lord Advocate as appointed by King Charles I. The family became 'Hope of Craighall'
after acquiring the estates of the same name in the parish of Ceres in Fife. Sir Thomas Hope's contribution to the Scottish
legal profession was immense and his works are still referred to by Scottish lawyers today. He saw two sons raised to the
Supreme Court Bench and was created Baron of Nova Scotia in 1638. He also drafted the National Covenant. After his death
in 1646 his eldest son took the title 'Lord Craighall'. Lord Craighall became a trusted advisor to Charles II, his advice
proved particularly useful in his dealings with Oliver Cromwell.
18th century: The younger son of the great Sir Thomas Hope founded the Hopetoun branch
of the family and settled in West Lothian. His son was lost at sea when the frigate Gloucester sank. There is a story that he died saving the Duke of York, James VII of Scotland. Sir Thomas's grandson was a young member of parliament for
Linlithgow, rising rapidly to the Privy Council and by 1703 was made a peer; Earl of Hopetoun, Viscount Aithrie and Lord Hope.
Around this time the magnificent Hopetoun House, one of William Adam's best known houses, was built for the family.
In 1792 the Craighall estates were sold on by the sixth Baronet to the Earl of Hopetoun, Sir Thomas Hope.
The eighth Baronet is best known for turning former plague pits in Edinburgh into the 'Meadows' park. The Earl of Hopetoun's
estates grew rapidly in the 18th century with most of West Lothian, and parts of East Lothian and Lanarkshire.
19th century: The fourth Earl, who had a notable military career, particularly
during the Peninsular War, worked with Sir Walter Scott in welcoming George IV during his visit to Scotland in 1822. Hopetoun
House was used to host a lavish reception for the monarch.
20th century: The name John Adrian Hope is well remembered on the other side
of the world; the seventh Earl was first Governor General to the Australian Commonwealth in 1900. Two years later he was made
Marquess of Linlithgow. The second Marquess was Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1943. The family still live at Hopetoun House.
Clan Castle: The seat of the Clan Hope is at Hopetoun House. Hopetoun House is the traditional residence of the Earl of Hopetoun (later the Marquess of Linlithgow). It was built in 1699 and was designed by William Bruce, and extended in 1721 by William Adam. The house is located near South Queensferry to the west of Edinburgh, Scotland.
Classical musical recitals are occasionally put on at Hopetoun House. During the summer months, the castle
is open to visitors. It can also be rented for weddings, conferences, and as a film set.
**********************************
Clan Houston
Chief: A living member of the clan, Josh Houston, has taken up the case with the Court of the Lord Lyon to be instated as the Chief of the Houston Clan. The Court
has yet to reach a decision. Until then the clan will be considered as armigerous.*
Motto: In Vicis ("In Time").
HISTORY
Origins of the Clan: The name is territorial in origin, derived from an old barony of the name in Lanarkshire. Hugh de Padinan, who is believed to have lived in the twelfth century, was
granted the lands of Kilpeter. By about the middle of the fourteenth century, these lands had become known as Huston. Sir
Finlay de Hustone appears on the Ragman Roll swearing fealty to King Edward I of England in 1296.
The castle of the de Hustones was built on the site of an ancient Cistercian abbey. The family also acquired a substantial
barony near Whitburn, West Lothian, where Huston House, which was rebuilt in the eighteenth century,
still stands today. Sir Patrick Hustone of that Ilk, who was probably the eleventh chief, married Agnes Campbell of Ardkinglas.
16th & 17th Centuries: During the Anglo-Scottish Wars, Sir Peter Huston fought with the Earl of Lennox on the right wing at Battle of Flodden Field in 1513, where he was killed. His son, Sir Patrick Huston of Huston, was a companion of James V of Scotland and Keeper of the Quarter Seal. He intrigued with Lord Lennox
against the king, and was slain at the Battle of Linlithgow. The next Sir Patrick, his grandson, was knighted by Mary, Queen of Scots, and accompanied her when she visited Lord Darnley in Glasgow.
The nineteenth chief was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia by Charles II in 1668. His son, Sir John, was falconer to Queen Mary and her husband, King William of Orange.
18th & 19th Centuries: The fifth Baronet was a prosperous merchant who had substantial interests in United States. His son, who was educated in Glasgow, made his home in Georgia (U.S. state), and he and his brother greatly increased the family’s
colonial estates. They are reputed to have owned over eight thousand slaves when the thirteen American colonies broke from
Great Britain and declared their independence. The Hustons renounced their
Scottish titles in favour of their American wealth. From this family descended General Sam Houston, born in 1793, who fought for the independence of Texas from Mexico. He was first president of Texas and later a United States
Senator. Sir Robert Houston, descended from a Renfrew branch of the family, was a prominent Victorian ship owner who was created
a baronet of the United Kingdom. He is credited with developing the theory of convoys first
used during the Boer War
**************************
.
CLAN INGLIS
Crest: A demi lion rampant Argent
Chief: Armigerous*
Motto: Nobilis Est Ira Leonis (The Lion’s Anger is
Noble)
Names associated with the clan: Englis, Ingles, Inglis, Ingalls, Ingals
HISTORY
The name Inglis
is believed to have come from the old English for 'Englishman'. An Early (12th century) mention of the name (Richard
Anglicus) is found in the witnessing of a charter of David I to Melrose Abbey.
In 1296, when Edward I invaded Scotland, the names of John de Inglis, Walter de Inglis
and Philip de inglis are recorded as owning a great deal of land.
During the early 14th century there was an Inglis
family living in Douglasdale, Lanarkshire, along with the Douglases. Douglasdale was at this time being frequently invaded and held by the English. The Inglises did
the Douglases
a great service when one of them overheard an English plot to take the castle, and sent a warning at great personal risk.
The Inglises were asked to name their reward, and were granted a part of the local church, St Brides, as their family burial
place. The Inglis coat of arms can be seen on the wall of the south transept to this day.
During the reign of
Robert the Second and Third, in 1395, Sir William Inglis duelled with Sir Thomas Struthers, killing the English champion. As a reward,
the family was given the Barony of Manner by royal charter the following year, thereafter tracing their descent from Sir William.
The family had for some time been followers of the Douglases, and now strengthened this association by adding the three Douglas stars to their own coat of arms.
The Barony was finally sold in 1707, when Chiefship
was given to Charles Inglis of Craigend, an edinburgh lawyer
who died in 1743.
A prosperous branch
of the family lived in Crammond, Edinburgh, since purchasing land from the Bishop of Dunkeld in 1624.
In 1680 John
Inglis built Crammond House near the Bishop's palace, and a short time later, in 1687, Sir James Inglis received a baronetcy.
Sir James's son later became Postmaster General of Scotland until 1725.
************************************************
CLAN INNES
Motto: Be Traist (Be Faithful) Crest: A Boar's Head Plant:
The Great Bullrush Accepted spellings: Eanes, Ince, Inch, Innes, Ennis, Inness, Innis
Septs of the Clan Innes (sub clans of the Clan Innes):
MacTary, Milnes, Marnoch,
Mitchell, Maver, Oynie, Mavor, Redford, McInnes, Reidford, Middleton, Thain, Mill, Wilson, MacRob, Milne, Yunie
Chief: Armigerous*
HISTORY
Origin of the Name
The clan takes its name from the lands of Innes in Moray, Scotland. It dates back to 1160 AD when King Malcolm IV conferred the Barony of Innes on one of his knights, Berowald of Flanders. The Barony
was located on the outskirts of Elgin in Morayshire. It stretched
for over 6 miles along the shore of the Moray Firth between the Spey and Lossie rivers. The
name derives from the Gaelic, Innis, which means meadow, greens or island, all descriptive of this area. The Innes' grew to
become one of the most powerful families in the province of
Moray, dominating the parishes of Urquhart, Lhanbryde and the surrounding
district. Innes House was built on the Barony by Sir Robert Innes, 20th chief of the Clan Innes, between1640 and 1653.
Sir James Innes, 22nd chief, married Lady
Margaret Ker in 1666 and as a result their great grandson, Sir James Innes, inherited the Dukedom of Roxburghe in 1805 when
the Ker family line died out. Today Sir Guy David Innes-Ker, 10th Duke of Roxburghe is the 30th Baron of Innes in direct descent
from Berowald of Flanders. He resides at Floors castle near Kelso in the Scottish borders.
During the latter part of the 14 century
Kinnairdy came into the ownership of the Innes family when Sir Alexander Innes married Janet, daughter of Sir David de Aberkerder,
the lineal descendant of the Thanes of Aberkerder An imposing structure overlooking the river Deveron in rural Aberdeenshire,
this ancient fortress has stood sentinel over the surrounding valleys since the 12th century, the present stone construction
replacing a wooden structure known as a Motte & Bailey, in the 14th century.
The Tower of Kinnairdy Castle, which occupies
the present site is believed to have been built by Sir Walter Innes (son of Sir Alexander Innes, 9th of that ilk) around 1420.
For the next two centuries Kinnairdy remained in the hands of subsequent Clan chiefs who took a full part in the tumultuous
history of Scotland.
The break with the Innes Clan came in 1627
when Sir Robert, the 20th chief sold the lands of Kinnairdy, in part as a result of his political activities and close association
with the Court of Charles, many lawsuits and also in order to concentrate on the original Innes lands in Morayshire which
was the home territory of Sir Roberts wife, she being Lady Grizel Stewart, 3rd daughter of the "Bonny Earl of Moray".
In 1923 Kinnairdy was again restored to
the Innes family when it was purchased by Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, Lord Lyon King of Arms 1945 - 1969. The author of many
learned papers on Scots Peerage Law, Heraldry and Ceremonial, he was deeply interested in the family history. He set about
restoring Kinnairdy with the help of his sister Miss Helen C. Innes of Crommy, a very able and astute lady who assisted with
many of the more mundane tasks and who's advice was invaluable during restoration of the interior.
Following on from Sir Thomas' work, his
son Sir Malcolm Innes, (Lord Lyon King of Arms, now retired) continued to restore the building which is now nearing completion
under the guidance of the present owner, Mr Colin Innes.
********************************
CLAN JARDINE
Chief: Sir Alexander Maule Jardine of Applegarth, 12th Baronet and Chief of the Name and Arms of Jardine.
Chief's crest: A spur rowel of six points Proper
Chief's
motto: Cave adsum (Latin: Beware I am
present)
Plant
badge: Apple blossom
Names &
Septs Associated with Clan Jardine: Jardine,
Jardines, Gardino, Gardin, Gardinus, Garden, Jardin, Jardane, Jerdane, Jerden, Jerdone, Jarden, Jardyne, Jarding, Jardyn,
Gerden, Gerdain, Gairdner, Gardynnyr, Gardynsr, Gardnsrd, Gardinare, Gardinar, Gardenar, Gardenare, Gardnare, Gardener, Gardennar,
Gardnar, Gardiner, Gardner.
Origins
of the clan: The Clan Jardine is believed to be of French
origin. The French word jardin means garden or orchard and it is presumed that the Jardine family originally
came from France. Members of the Jardine family travelled with William during the Norman conquest of England in 1066. However records of the name Jardine do not appear in Scotland until 1153 with the name Wmfredus de Jardine appearing on several charters.
The first mention of the name Jardine is contained
in Hollingshead's
Chronicles of England as one of the Normandic knights that fought for William at the Battle
of Hastings (AD 1066). There is also evidence that may suggest that the Jardines were of
Norse extraction that migrated to Normandy with a warrior named Rollo prior to 1066.
At some point in time the name or its meaning
appears to have been translated into English. Patrick de Gardinus was chaplain to the Bishop
of Glasgow and there is a signature on a document from 1245 of Sir Humphrey de Gardino.
To add to the confusion Jorden del Orchard's signature appears on the Ragman
Rolls of 1296. Later Humphery de Jardine's name appears on a charter drawn up by Robert
the Bruce.
Wars
of Scottish Independence: Unlike many Scottish clans during the
Wars of Scottish Independence the Clan Jardine are said to have fought against William Wallace and in support of the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297 and the Battle of Falkirk (1298). However the Clan Jardine supported King Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1311 where they helped the Scottish King defeat the English.
During the 14th century the Clan Jardine settled
in Applegirth in Dumfriesshire. There they built Spedlins
Tower which was the family's seat until the 17th century when Jardine
Hall was built on the opposite banks of the River
Annan.
16th century and
Anglo Scottish Wars: The
border region between England and Scotland
was a difficult place to live. There were constant raids and incursions by both sides. Chief Sir Alexander Jardine of Applegirth
led the clan when they met an advancing force of English near Carlisle in 1524 where they took hundreds of English prisoners during the Anglo-Scottish Wars.
In 1547 the tables were turned when Alexander's
son, the next chief, had to deal with over 5,000 English who overran the area, sacking the Jardine lands and forcing John
Jardine of Applegirth to yield. John later sought assistance from the French and along with the Clan Jardine fell on their
English oppressors taking many lives.
The Clan Jardine also supported the cause of Mary,
Queen of Scots, however her scandalous marriage to Bothwell after the suspicious murder
of Lord Darnley turned the Jardines along with many other Scots to support her infant son James's claim to the throne.
In 1573 the King confirmed the grant of
lands to Sir Alexander Jardine of Jardinefield in Berwickshire; Applegirth and Sibbaldbie in Dumfrieshire; Hartside and Wandel
in Lanarkshire; and Kirkandrews in Kirkcudbright. It is recorded that he had to muster 242 men to fight for the King if required.
It was these retainers who then had no surnames who became known as "Jardine Men" and adopted Jardine as their surname
17th
century: A later Sir Alexander Jardine forged a link to the powerful
Clan Douglas through marriage to Lady Margaret Douglas, sister of the first Duke of Queensberry. They had a son, Alexander, in 1645, who was later created a Baronet of Nova Scotia.
The chief of the Clan Jardine and his family were
reportedly forced to move from their seat at Spedlins
Tower to Jardine
Hall because of a grisly family secret; A miller had been left to starve to
death in the dungeon of the tower and his ghost had driven the family from their home.
18th
century: The fourth Baronet was a Knight of the Sovereign Order
of Malta, taking a vow of celibacy. When he died in 1790 the title passed to his brother, Sir William. Jardines also made
their mark on the literary world. Reverend John Jardine, born in 1716 mixed in the intellectual heart of Edinburgh during
the Scottish Enlightenment had the good fortune to be part of a society that included great Scots such as economist and writer
Adam Smith, philosopher David Hume, and the painter Allan Ramsay. He was one of the founders of the Edinburgh Review. His son, Sir Henry Jardine, was one of those present when the Honours of Scotland were re-discovered in 1818. He was knighted in 1825 and later made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.
Clan seat: The seat of the Chief of Clan Jardine was at Spedlins Tower. Spedlins Tower
is situated by the River Annan, 4 miles (6.5 km) northwest of Lockerbie. It is a 15th century fortalice which was abandoned by the Clan Chief when he built a new mansion nearby. The tower fell
into ruin. In the second half of the 20th century its ownership changed hands three times. The present owner bought Spedlins Tower in
1988 from her predecessor who had restored it.
**********************************************
CLAN
BOYLE
Motto: "Dominus provedebit" which means "God will provide".
The de Boyvilles were Anglo-Norman knights from Beauville, near Caen, who came to Scotland after the Norman
conquest of England in 1066 - there is
a record of a David de Boivil witnessing a charter as early as 1164. Henry de Boyville was the keeper of the castles of Dumfries
and Galloway in 1291 (taking over from another, earlier, Boyville) and three de Boyvils signed
King Edward's Ragman Roll in 1296.
For some time the name was confined to the south-west of Scotland
where it was pronounced as "bowl". Gradually, pronunciation and spelling became one syllable, Boyll in 1367 and Boyle in 1482,
although as with so many names, there were many other variants.
The family spread into Ayrshire and Largs and Kelburn Castle became the seat of the major line. John Boyle was a supporter of King James III and was killed at the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488. The family lands were forfeited but John's son managed to
have them restored by King James IV. Support for Mary Queen of Scots and later, King Charles I, did not help the family fortunes. But during the 17th century the Boyle's grew rich
through shipping and shipbuilding. John, the 3rd Earl of
Glasgow, followed a military career in Europe and lost a hand in the Battle of Fontenoy in
1745 and was wounded twice at the Battle of Lauffeldt in 1747. He later became Lord High Commissioner to the General Assembly
of the Church of Scotland. His widow built a monument to the Earl in the grounds of Kelburn
Castle, which has survived to this day.
In
1869, the 6th Earl of Glasgow inherited Kelburn and land in Dalry, Stewarton, Corshill and Fenwick and the estate at Hawkeshead
outside Paisley, plus estates in Dunbartonshire, Fife, Northumberland and the greater part
of Cumbrae. However, he ran into debt building Episcopal churches all over Scotland,
including a Cathedral in Perth and one in Cumbrae. By 1888
he was one million pounds in debt. His cousin, David Boyle of Stewarton, later Seventh Earl of Glasgow, sold his own lands
to buy back the Kelburn Estate at auction. All the rest was lost to the family. The 7th Earl was a naval officer and became
Governor of New Zealand from 1892 to 1897.
A
branch of the Boyles from Kelburn became established in Ireland
and eventually became the Earls of Cork The 10th Earl of Glasgow still lives at Kelburn Castle, land held by the family since
the 13th century and Boyles from all over the world visit the estate, which is now a country park.
*************************************
CLAN BRODIE
Motto: "Unite"
Badge: A hand holding a sheaf of arrows
In 1550 Chief Alexander Brodie, the rebel,
and 100 others were denounced for attacking the Clan Cumming of Altyre. In 1562 Brodie joined the Earl of Huntly who raised
the flag of rebellion. They attacked Mary Queen of Scots but were routed at Corrichie. Huntly was killed and Brodie, escaping,
became an outlaw.
During the Civil Wars of the 17th century
Alexander Brodie of Brodie was responsible for the destruction of Elgin Cathedral in 1640.
In 1643 Alexander Brodie of
Brodie became a Member of Parliment for Moray and an Elder of the Forres Presbytety to the General Assembly of the Church
of Scotland.
In 1645 Brodie Castle was burnt down by Lewis Gordon
3rd Earl of Huntly and chief of Clan Gordon. This was part of the Covenanting conflict during the Civil War, as a result there
are few surviving documents and little is known about the Clan Brodie.
Alexander Brodie was one of the six commissioners
that were sent to The Hague to negotiate with Charles Stuart.
They were there to persuade Charles II to sign the National Covenant and resume the Scottish Crown. On his return to Parliment
he was made a Lord of Session (a senior justice).
Alexander Brodie's diplomatic career also included a summons by Cromwell
to London in 1651 to consider a Scottish union with England. He resisted attempts to appoint him to judicial office, though Cromwell's
death in 1658 forced the issue for him, and he was appointed Justice of the Peace. The consequence was royal disfavour following
the Restoration, Charles II finding it hard to forgive men who had tried to force their Presbyerian beliefs upon him as the
price of their allegiance. The Good Laird Brodie died May 5th, 1680.
While it is inferred that there were Clan
Brodie Members on both sides of the 1715, 1719 and 1745-46 Jacobite conflicts, The Lairds of Brodie did not support the Stuarts
or the Jacobites.
In 1720 Alexander Brodie became 19th Laird Brodie of Brodie. That same year he became Member of Parliment
for Elgin.
In 1724 General George Wade (British Army) reports
the Clan Brodie to be "well affected" to His Majesty's Government.
Alexander Brodie was appointed Lord Lyon, King of Arms
in 1727.
In 1736 David Brodie of Muiresk became a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy. He was Promoted to 'Master and Commander"
in 1740.
During the Rising of 1745 The Brodie is reported to have spent time on board the Royal Navy Sloop Vulture patrolling
the Moray Firth.
After the Battle of Culloden, Alexander spoke in Parliament to oppose
the ban on wearing of the Kilt. Alexander died in 1754. Hs wife, Mary Sleigh, is credited with starting the flax industry
in Scotland.
There are still Brodies
present to this day in Scotland, England
(lower Scotland), Europe, Canada,
United States, Africa, Australia,
New Zealand, China,
Polynisia, and many other Countries. Clan Brodie is a World-Wide presence.
************************
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLAN BURNS
Names associated with the
clan: BERNIS BERNES BERNYS BURNS BURNIS BURNICE BURNESS BURNES
BURNACE BURNASSE BURNS
The
surname of Burns comes from "Burnhouse" a dwelling near a burn or a stream. Although "burn" is a common word in Scotland
for a stream, the word originated in Old English. The singular form "Burn" is found in Dumfries and Galloway in the 13th and 14th century.
The
poet Robert Burns' father came from Kincardineshire on the east coast of Scotland
and spelt his name Burness. Robert and his brother adopted the spelling "Burns" a form which first appeared in written records
only in the 17th century.
1759 - Robert Burns Born Robert Burns was born in Alloway, Ayrshire on 25 January 1759.
His
father was a gardener and tenant farmer, and the life he was brought up in made him acutely aware of society’s unfairness
as he laboured hard yet lived in poverty.
In
1786 he published 612 copies of Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, the preface of which explains his early need to write
to find ’some kind of counterpoise’ in his unhappy life. The book’s success changed that life.
He
moved to Edinburgh and was welcomed into the literary circles.
With the earnings from an expanded volume of his book, Burns began to travel around his country, drawing inspiration from
the environments and people. As important to him as his own writing was the collecting of traditional works he came across.
In
time he returned home to farming and trained to become a full-time excise officer in Dumfries.
As well as editing volumes of James Johnson’s Scots Musical
Museum from 1788 until his death on 21 July 1796, he wrote copiously
and collected works with almost all his spare time.
With
what remained of his spare time he socialised. Whether the women in his life brought to him his romantic words or vice versa,
he wrote often of love and loved many women. His tolerant wife was Jean Armour.
With
his eloquent identification of the injustices of society and his ability to describe the little sensations that make life
bearable, such as the pleasure of drinking, the ‘Heaven-sent ploughman’ is held as a poet who belongs to the workers
before the intellectuals, and his work still speaks for people all over the world today.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Clan Brown
Motto: (Colstoun)
"Floreat majestas" which means "Let majesty flourish".
Branches: Broun of Colstoun
Names
associated with the clan: BRON BROWNE BROWYN BROWN BRWNE BRAUN BRUN BRUNE BROUIN BROUNE BROUN
Brown is the second most
common name in Scotland
and is also found frequently in England and the USA as well as other parts of the world. It might be thought that a name such as
this, which was spread so widely, would not have a specifically Scottish pedigree. But the Broun family (spelt thus) has a
crest recognised by the Lord Lyon King at Arms and is included in the list of clans and families maintained by the Standing
Council of Scottish Chiefs. They also have a recognised tartan.
The French "Le Brun" appeared
early in England (around 970) but did not arise in Scotland until the 12th century. Walterus Brown was involved
with the church in Glasgow in 1116 and Richard de Broun and others with the same surname signed the Ragman Roll in 1296 when all the nobles and landowners were forced to swear allegiance to King Edward I of England.
A long line of Browns, which
can be traced for 850 years, is the Brouns of Colstoun in East Lothian. The first of the
line may have been Sir David le Brun who gave the land and witnessed the charter founding the Abbey of Holyroodhouse in 1128.
These Brouns claimed that they were originally descended from the royal house of France
- their arms bore the three gold lilies of France.
The Broun arms registered with the Lord Lyon has a lion rampant holding a French "fleur de lis".
Sir John Brune was High Sheriff
of Aberdeenshire in 1368. Patrick Broun of Colstoun was created a baronet of Nova
Scotia in 1686. The 13th Baronet is Sir William Windsor Broun who lives in New
South Wales, Australia.
Robert Brown, who was born
in Montrose in 1773 was a botanist who worked in Australia.
His experiments on powder suspended in water resulted in a phenomenon known as the "Brownian Motion".
Agnes Broun was the mother
of the poet Robert Burns and the name occurs frequently in Ayrshire. James Brown of Lochton was the provost (roughly the mayor) of Dundee in 1844-47.
George Brown of Edinburgh emigrated to Canada in 1843 and was influential
in the purchase of the Northwest Territories by Canada. The name Brown was adopted by a fair number of Highland
clansmen when they wanted to get rid of their cumbersome (or at times politically incorrect) Gaelic names. John Brown, Queen
Victoria's famous gillie may have been in this category.
Additionally, it has been suggested by some researchers that at least some of Celtic origins may have been named after local
judges who were called "brehons". Browns are sometimes regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Lamont or MacMillan
clans.
*********************
Clan Cameron
Motto: "Aonaibh Ri Cheile" (Unite)
Badge: A
sheaf of five arrows
The clan, settled in Lochaber since at
least Bruce's time, later became an important branch of the Clan Chattan confederacy and their name, taken as Cam--shorn
('s' silent) "hook-nose", is reported to have fitted many Highland Camerons. But
Camerons also, from the Norman name Cambron, had for a century before Bruce been spreading widely from their Fife headquarters of the
same name. If the name in common is more coincidence, it is not the only one.
Among several branches of the Highland clan, hat of the Chief acquired their Lochiel property by marriage and made that name, with
their motto "For King and Country" resound in the Stewart causes. Then in 1793
under Cameron of Erracht they founded the 79th or Cameron Highlanders to serve with no less distinction.
The southern Camerons of the 17th century
directed their zeal rather differently. The scholarly John Cameron founded a
protestant group in France called Cameronites;
Richard Cameron, killed at Airdsmoss, 1680, a militant Covenanter, gave his name to the Cameronian sect and a later Lowland
regiment.
Septs:
Chalmers, Chambers, Clark, Clarke, Clarkson, Cleary, Clerk, Dowie,
Gibbon, Gilbertson, Kennedy, Leary, Lonie, MacAldowie, MacAlonie, MacChlery, MacClair, MacLeary, MacGillery, MacGillonie,
MacIldowie, MacKail, MacKell, MacLear, MacCleary, MacLerie, MacMarti, Maconie, Macostrich, MacPhail, MacSorley, MacUlrig,
MacVail, MacWalrick, Martin, Paul, Sorley, Sorlie, Taylor.
***************************
***************************
CLAN CHISOLM
Motto: Feros ferio - "I am fierce with the fierce"
Badge: A hand holding aloft a
boar's head on the point of a dagger.
Names associated with the clan: CHESOLME
CHEISHAME CHESOM CHEISHOLME CHESOME CHESEHELME CHESSAM CHESEIM CHESSAME CHESHELME CHESSEHOLME CHESHOLME CHISHOLM CHESIM CHISHOLME
CHEISHELM CHISM CHESEHOLM CHISOLM CHESHOLM CHESOLM CHESAME CHESHELM CHESHOM CHISOLME CHISOMME CHISSEM CHISSIM CHISSOLME SHESHELM
SCHISOLME SCHISHOLME SCHISHOME SHISHOLME SCHISOME
Origins of the Clan
The early
Scottish Chisholms were not to be found in the Highlands, but owned land near the English border. In 1296, in the Ragman Rolls, John de Chesolm (Chesehelm) was described as "of the county of Berwick" and Richard de Chesolm (Chesehelm) as "of the county of Roxburgh", while in 1335 Alexander de Chesholme was called "Lord of Chesholme in Roxburgh and Paxtoun in Berwickshire."
In Scottish Gaelic, the name is rendered "Sìosal" or Sìosalach".
Wars of Scottish Independence
Robert Chisholm
fought against the English at the Battle of Neville's Cross in 1346, was taken prisoner with King David II and probably not released until eleven years later when his royal master returned to Scotland. In 1359 Robert Chisholm succeeded his grandfather as Constable of Urquhart Castle, and later became Sheriff of Inverness and Justiciar of the North. This Robert was the last Chisholm to hold lands in both the North and South of Scotland. He divided his estates among his younger children.
Clan Conflicts
Battle of
John o' Groats; Hugh Freskin Sutherland is said to have strengthened the family's royal favor by ridding the north of a ferocious band of robbers lead
by Harold Chisholm. Among the crimes, a number of Sutherland churchmen were tortured by nailing horseshoes to their feet and
making them dance to entertain the followers before putting them savagely to death. On hearing of this outrage, King William
the Lion ordered Hugh of Sutherland to pursue Chisolm to the death and a great fight ensued near John o' Groats. All of the
robbers were either killed or captured. Harold Chisolm and the other leaders were given a punishment to fit the crime, horse
shoeing and hanging. The rest were gelded to prevent any offspring from men who were so detestable. This seems to have been
a frequent punishment of the time. The Chisholms became well known for cattle raiding. In 1498 Wiland Chisholm of Comar and
others carried off 56 oxen, 60 cows, 300 sheep, 80 swine and 15 horses belonging to Hugh Rose of the Clan Rose. Later in 1513 Wiland Chisholm of Comar and Sir Alexander MacDonald of Glengarry were with Sir Donald MacDonald of Lochalsh on his return from the Battle of Flodden Field when he decided to invade the Clan Urquhart. Some sources say that Macdonald occupied Urquhart Castle for three years despite the efforts of Clan Grant to dislodge them.
Civil War
In 1647,
Alexander Chisholm was appointed to the committee which arranged the defence of Inverness on behalf of the Covenanters against the Royalists. In 1653 the Chisholms stole cattle from the Clan Munro and Clan Fraser, they were however captured and brought to court where they were ordered to return all they had stolen and pay
the Chief Munro of Foulis and Chief of Clan Fraser £1000 interest each.
After the
Stuart restoration in 1660, Alexander followed his father as a Justice of the Peace, and in 1674 was appointed Sheriff Depute
for Inverness. Once again his duties brought him up against the MacDonalds, for in 1679 he was ordered to lead a thousand men of the county to quell a disturbance created by some members
of the clan, and in 1681 he was given a commission of fire and sword against them.
Jacobite Uprisings
During the
Jacobite uprisings the Chisholms sided with their old enemies the Clan MacDonald in support of the Jacobites against the British Government. The Clan Chisholm took part in the Battle of Culloden in 1746.Another portion of the Clan was on the Government side at Culloden. After the battle, the officer leading
the Government Chisholms was declared The Chisholm, the head of the Clan.
Clan Chief
The present
Chief is Andrew Francis Hamish Chisholm of Chisholm, Thirty-third Chief of Clan Chisholm
***************************************
CLAN CLARK
Names associated with the clan: CLAERK
LEARY MACALEERIE MACCLERICHE MACCLERIE MACCHLERICH MACCLERICH MACCLURICH MACCLERY MACCLEARY MACCLEAREY MACCLIRIE MACCHLERY
MACELEARY MACINCLERYCHT MACINCLERIE MACINCLERICH MACLERIE MACLEARY MACLERICH MACLEAR MACKLEIRY MAKLEARIE MACLEERIE CLERK CLERC
CLEARY CLERKSOUN CLERKSONE CLERCSONE CLERKE CLEARKSON CLARKSON CLERKSSON CLARKSONE CLERKSON CLARKE CLARK CLERCK CLERACH CLERIE
The term "clericus"
was originally applied to someone in a religious order but it was later applied to anyone who was a secretary, scribe, scholar
as well as a cleric in the church. It is therefore not surprising that this occupational name became widespread when surnames
began to be used. At the end of the 12th century, a Roger clericus held land in Kelso and in 1249 Alan clericus was a witness
to a charter in Aberdeen. There were nine people from Scotland
with that name who signed the "Ragman Roll" when King Edward I of England
demanded in 1296 that all landowners had to swear allegiance to him. However, it is only after 1400 that we can be certain
that it was being used as a surname rather than as a description of someone's occupation or status.
There was never a
Highland clan of that name. However, it is frequently found among the Clan Chattan confederacy.
Clarks appear to have been a sept (under the protection) of the MacPhersons (whose origins were also from the church, "Mac-a Phearsain" meaning in Gaelic "son
of the parson" in the days when celibacy of the priesthood was not enforced). The name is common throughout the Lowlands and Highlands of Scotland. It is particularly prevalent in Caithness and there were important
families of Clarks in places as far apart as Aberdeen, Edinburgh,
Paisley and some have become landed families with baronetcies. Two unrelated Clarks
reached high office in the Swedish navy in the 17th century and the name is found in Sweden
and Finland in the form Klerck. The American
explorer George Rogers Clark (1752-1818) was of Scottish descent. The tartan used by the Clerks is a variation
of one called "Blue Clergy" which was worn by ministers, though it dates from the re-invention of tartan after the visit (orchestrated
by Sir Walter Scott) of King George IV to Scotland in 1822. Clark is currently the 14th most frequently
found name in Scotland. The name is also
common in England where it is often spelt
Clarke. Clark is regarded as a sept (sub-branch)
of both Cameron and Macpherson
---------------------------------------------------------------------
CLAN CRAIG
A "craig" in Scots is a cliff or an outcrop of rock (Ailsa Craig in the Firth
of Clyde being a prime example). It followed that someone with the name Craig came from a place with that name or perhaps
just a well-known crag of rock. The name is thus found across Scotland and was never identified with one specific area.
Landowners whose name was the same as the area they came from, were sometimes
described as being "of that Ilk" - of the same name. Usually that title is applicable to only one person but in the 15th century
were three "Craigs of that Ilk" in different parts of Scotland.
Johannes de Crag, a burgess of Aberdeen, held land at Rubislaw and his family
and heirs occupied Craigston Castle at Kildrummy for over 250 years.
Richarde de Crag was the vicar at St Mary's in Dundee in the 1550s and John
Craig at St Andrews University was imprisoned during the early stages of the Reformation for adopting Protestantism. He was
sentenced to death but escaped and joined John Knox and survived to see the Reformation triumph.
Sir Thomas Craig of Riccarton was a renowned writer on feudal law and his
work "Jus Feudale" published in 1655 is still used by Scottish lawyers. Sir Thomas was admired by King James VI and was one of the Scots invited to attend the coronation of King
James as king of England in Westminster Abbey in 1603.
The winner of the design for Edinburgh's New Town in 1766 was James Craig.
Although his plans were modified, it is thanks to him that Edinburgh's 18th century Georgian architecture can be seen in all
its splendour.
Sir James Craig took his family and followers to Ulster in 1610 during what
was known as the "Plantations". A descendant, another James Craig, was a millionaire Irish whiskey distiller who organised
the Ulster Volunteer Force against Home Rule for Ireland in the 1920s. He then became the first Prime Minister of Northern
Ireland. He later became Viscount Craigavaon and the new town of Craigavon in County Armagh was named after him.
The Craig clan motto is "Vive Deo et Vives" which means "Live for God and
you shall have life".
Craig was the 55th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995 but apart from descendants of those who emigrated from
Scotland, is relatively unknown elsewhere.
Names associated with Clan Craig: Crag, Craig,
Craigie
CLAN CRAWFORD
Branches: Crawford of Auchinames, Craufurd of Craufurdsland, Craufurd of Kilbirnie
Motto: Tutum
te robore reddam (Latin: I will make you safe with strength)
Names associated with the clan: CRAUNFORD CRAFORT CRAWEFORD
CRAFOORD CRAWFORD CRAWFURD CRAWFFURD CRAWFAIRD CRAFFORD CRAFOARD CRAFORD CRAFUIRDE CRAUFURDE CRAFURD CROUFORD CRAUFFURD CRAUFURD
CRAWFEURD CRAUFOORD CRAUFORD CRAUFORTH KRAUFORD
The early history of Clan Crawford is diverse and complicated. And like so many other Clan histories, competing
theories of Crawford history are difficult to decipher looking back 900 years through 30 generations. However, by employing
all we know about the secular and religious history of the period and using certain physical and biological rules [eg. a person
can't be in 2 places at the same time, people 15- and 50+ years typically are not prolific reproducers, and nobody lived over
100 years] we can sort out competing theories.
One anecdote that keeps returning "like bad haggis" is the claim that the Crawfords derive from Alan, the
4th Earl of Richmond. This version was widely distributed in Burke's General Armory, a series of editions published between
1842 and 1884, and separately in Burke's History of the Commoners. The registration of the Arms of Colonel Robert Crawford
of Newfield in the mid-1800's states the basis of the connection being "presumptive evidence" in reference to the similarity
of Arms between the House of Crawford (gules, a fess ermine) and the Earls of Richmond (gules, a bend ermine). There are several
problems with this formulation. The first styling of the unofficial "Earls of Richmond" did not come about until 1136, well
after the establishment of the House of Crawford absolutely no later than 1127 (stag incident and first use of the surname).
Second, Arms designs of England (Richmond) and Scotland (Crawford) were independent with no prohibition against similarity
as registrations didn't begin until a few centuries later. Third, aside from Alan technically being the 1st Earl of Richmond
(although he could be justified as the 4th), Alan wasn't born until 1116. The claim is that his younger son, Reginald, is
the father of John and Gregan who saved King David from the stag. Therefore, Alan was the 11 year old grandfather of the valorous
Gregan of 1127, conclusively debunking the anecdote.
In 1296 Sir Reginald Crawford was appointed sheriff of Ayr. His sister married Wallace of Elderslie and thus
became the mother of William Wallace the great Scottish patriot. Needless to say, the Crawfords rallied to his cause.
The main branches of the family were Crawford of Auchinames (in Renfrewshire) who received a grant of land
from Robert the Bruce and Craufurd of Craufurdland (in upper Clydesdale). Sir William Craufurd of Craufurdland was a brave
soldier who was knighted by King James I and fought for King Charles VII of France. The castle at Craufurdland was much extended
in the 17th century. The castle passed to the Howiesons in 1793 and was restored in the 1980s.
Other lines of Crawfords began in the reign of James III when descendants of Archibald Craufurd created the
families of Auchenairn, Beanscroft and Powmill. Archibald's son John was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.
In the 16th century, Thomas Crawford of Jordanhill was a member of the household of Lord Darnley, husband
of Mary Queen of Scots. During those turbulent times he captured Dumbarton Castle in 1571 with 150 men by scaling the supposedly
impregnable rock and later received the surrender of Edinburgh Castle.
Lawrence Crawford (1611-45) fought for Gustavus Adolphus in the Thirty Years War and returned to Britain to
fight for the Parliamentary forces against King Charles I.
************************************************
CLAN CUNNINGHAM
Branches: Cunningham of Auchinharvie, Cunningham of Coreshill, Cunningham of Craigends, Cunningham
of Kilmaurs, Cunningham of Robertland.
Motto: Over fork over
Names associated with the clan: CHONIGHAM CONIGHAM
CONIGHAME CUNNYNGHAME CWNNINGHAME CUNNYNGAYME CUNYNGHAME CUNNYGAM CUNYNGAHAME CUNNINGHAME CUNYMGHAM CONYNGHAME CWNYGHAME CUNYNGAME
CUNYNGAHAM CUNYGHAME CWNYGHAM CUNNINGHAM CONYNGHAM CUNNINGGHAME CONYGHANS CONNINGANS CUNYGAM CUNIGHAM CUNIGOM CUNINGGAME CUNINGHAM
CUNINGHAME KUNINGHAM KYNINGHAME
This name is from an area in Ayrshire which in turn got its name from "cuinneag" meaning "milk
pail" along with the Saxon "ham" meaning "village".
In the 12th century, the lands of Kilmaurs in Ayrshire were granted to a Norman named Warnebald.
His descendants took the territorial name Cunningham and Harvey de Cunningham is reputed to have fought for Alexander III
at the Battle of Largs against the Vikings in 1263.
The Cunninghams gave support to Robert the Bruce and received additional lands as a result. King
James III created Sir William Cunningham as Lord Kilmaurs in 1462 and earl of Glencairn in 1488. But the first Earl was killed
(along with his king) a few months later at the Battle of Sauchieburn when James was attempting to subdue some rebellious
barons.
Alexander, the fourth Earl of Glencairn was a friend of the protestant radical John Knox and may
have been responsible for vandalising the chapel at Holyrood after Mary Queen of Scots defeat at the Battle of Langside in
1568. During this time there was a feud between the Cunninghams of Glencairn and the Montgomery earls of Eglinton. The 4th
Earl of Eglinton was later murdered by the Cunninghams in 1586.
The 8th Earl of Glencairn led an uprising in support of Charles II in 1653 and against General
Monck, who was Governor of Scotland. He was captured but managed to stay alive until the Restoration in 1660 when Charles
II appointed him Lord Chancellor. The title of Earl of Glencairn is now extinct.
The 14th Earl was a patron of Robert Burns (Burns named his fourth son James Glencairn Burns) and
the poet wrote a lament on the Earl's death.
"The mother may forget the child
That smiles sae sweetly on her knee;
But I'll remember thee, Glencairn,
And a' that thou hast done for me."
**********************************************************
CLAN DUNBAR
Motto: "Honour is the prize of honesty".or “In Promptu”
which means “In Readiness.”
Badge: A white horses head.
Septs:
Clugston, Corbett, Dunbar, Dundas, Edgar, Grey, Heryng, Home, Knox, Nisbett, Peddie, Strickland, Washington, Wedderburn
Names associated with the clan: DUNBARRE DUNBAR DUMBARE DUMBAR DOUNBARE ABERLADY
The
name comes from the old barony of Dunbar, now in East Lothian. The name Dunbar
itself comes from the Gaelic "dun" meaning "fort and "barr" meaning "summit". The lands were granted by King Malcolm III to
the Earl Gospatric who had lived further south in Northumberland in the 11th century but had been forced to flee by William
the Conqueror. Earl Gospatric in turn was descended from Crinan, the thane of Dunkeld whose grandfather was probably Duncan, lay-abbot of Dunkeld who died in 965.
Patrick
of Dunbar married a daughter of King William the Lion in 1184. A later Patrick "Black Beard", 8th Earl of Dunbar, was one of
those who competed for the crown of Scotland in 1291 when King Edward I
of England volunteered to mediate in the
argument. Later, the 9th Earl of Dunbar sheltered King Edward II at Dunbar after the flight of the English king from the field
of Bannockburn in 1314.
During
the 14th century, the 10th Earl enlarged his estates and became one of the most important nobles in Scotland. He accompanied the Earl of Douglas in his raids into England and fought at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388 in which
the Scots defeated Henry Percy, (Hotspur) but with the loss of the Earl of Douglas. But he fell out with the Douglas
family when they disrupted his plans for his daughter to marry the son of King Robert III.
In the
early 15th century, the 11th Earl of Dunbar became so powerful that he became perceived as a threat to King James I and he was imprisoned on a trumped up charge of treason so that the king
could take over the large Dunbar estates. The last Earl died in exile in England in 1455.
In
1368 the Dunbars obtained lands of Glenkens and Mochrum in Dumfries and Galloway and the Dunbars also appear in Caithness around the middle of the 15th century, descended from the Dunbars of Westfield in that county.
The present chief of the Dunbars is from the Mochrum line.
There have
been a number of other Dunbars who have walked across the pages of Scottish history. In 1337, Agnes, Countess of Dunbar, known
as Black Agnes, conducted a sturdy defence of Dunbar Castle while her husband was absent. She was the daughter of King Robert the Bruce's
friend, Thomas Randolph, Earl of Moray. She calmly dusted the stones off the battlements with her 'kerchief whenever the besieging
cannons of the Earls of Salisbury and Arundel crashed into
the castle walls. The siege lasted 19 weeks and was eventually abandoned. In the 16th century, the Archbishoprics of both
Glasgow and Aberdeen were both
held by Gavin Dunbars from the Mochrum line. The Archbishop of Glasgow was a tutor of King James V and became his Lord Chancellor.
Perhaps
the best known member of the family was William Dunbar (1460-1513) who was a court poet to King James IV. While much of his poetry was composed by royal command, he also managed
to include advice to his monarch! His works were meant to be read out loud and Sir Richard Burton listed Dunbar's
"Lament for the Makaris" as one of his three favourite poems. William Dunbar may have died at the Battle of Flodden with his
king.
In 1694,
Sir James Dunbar of Mochrum was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia and in his coat of arms he was allowed to use supporters
"Imperially Crowned". The present line of Dunbar clan chiefs was established in a celebrated
court case in 1990 which went all the way to the House of Lords.
------------------------------------------------------
CLAN DUNDAS
Branches: Dundas of Arniston, Dundas of Fingask, Dundas of Inchgarvie
Motto:
Essayez (French : Try)
Names associated with the clan: DASS DUNDAS DUNDASS
The name Dundas (the emphasis should be on the second syllable) is derived from a place name near Edinburgh
which, in Gaelic was "dun deas" (south fort). The first record of the name is Helias de Dundas in the reign of William the
Lion in 1200. He may have been a descendant of Gospatrick, earl of March. His descendants styled themselves as Dundas of that
Ilk, signifying the head of a landed family and held their property until the 19th century.
In the reign of King James III, Sir Archibald Dundas was a favourite of the king and was sent on missions to England. James IV later gave a grant of lands to the Dundas family.
The main branches of the family can be found in Duddingston in Edinburgh, Linlithgow, Blair Castle, Arniston
and in Fingask in Perthshire.
The 18th Laird of Dundas supported the cause of the Covenanters and was a member of the committee which tried
the first Marquis of Montrose when he refused to support the extreme aspects of Presbyterianism. Sir James Dundas was knighted
by King Charles I in 1641 and became a Member of Parliament. On the restoration of the monarchy (in 1660), he became
a member of the supreme court, with the title Lord Arniston, in 1662. There were a number of further generations of Dundas
(all confusingly named Robert) who became judges also.
William Dundas of Kincavel was a supporter of the Jacobites in 1715 and was afterwards imprisoned. The 23rd Laird joined the East India Company and died in
a shipwreck off the coast of Madagascar in 1792.
The most famous Dundas was Henry, 1st Viscount Melville, who lived from 1742 to 1811. He held the office of
Lord Advocate, Keeper of the Signet and Privy Seal and, by controlling political patronage in Scotland, he had considerable
power in the Westminster Parliament. He was instrumental in taking over India (from the East India Company) and large numbers
of Scots gained the opportunity to work there as a result. He was also the driving force behind the repeal of the Proscription
Act which banned the wearing of tartan and the carrying of weapons (implemented as a result of the 1745 Uprising in support
of Bonnie Prince Charlie). A Bill in 1784 also restored forfeited land to the Jacobites. His power as a politician was unequalled
in his day and has not been matched since, lending his support to a succession of UK Prime Ministers. He built a house in
St Andrew Square in Edinburgh. It was recently the head office of the Royal Bank of Scotland and is fronted by a statue of Viscount Dundas, designed by William Burn.
CLAN FARQUHARSON
Motto: Fide et Fortitudine - "By fidelity and fortitude".
Badge:
The upper half of a lion rampant, with a sword in his paw.
Septs of the Clan:
Barrie, Brebner, Christie, Coates, Coutts, Farquhar, Findlay, Findlayson, Finlay, Finlayson, Gracie, Greusach,
Hardie, Hardy, Kellas, Lyon, MacCaig, MacCardney, Macartney, MacCuaig, MacEarachar, MacFarquhar, Machardie, Machardy, MacKerchar,
MacKerracher, Mackindlay, Mackinlay, Paterson, Reoch, Riach, Tawse.
The immediate ancestor of the Farquharsons of Invercauld,
the main branch, was Farquhar or Fearchard, a son of Alister "Keir" Mackintosh or Shaw of Rothiemurchus, grandson of Shaw
Mor. Farquhar, who lived in the reign of James III, settled in the Braes of Mar, and was appointed baillie or hereditary chamberlain
thereof. His sons were called Farquharson, the first of the name in Scotland. His eldest son, Donald, married a daughter of
Duncan Stewart, commonly called Duncan Downa Dona, of the family of Mar, and obtained a considerable addition to his paternal
inheritance, for faithful services rendered to the crown.
Donald's son and successor, Findla or Findlay,
commonly called from his great size and strength, Findla Mhor, or great Findla, lived in the beginning of the sixteenth century.
His descendants were called MacIanla or Mackinlay. Before his time the Farquharsons were called in Gaelic, clan Erachar or
Earachar, the Gaelic for Farquhar, and most of the branches of the family, especially those who settled in Athole, were called
MacEarachar. Those of the descendants of Findla Mhor who settled in the Lowlands had their
name of Mackinlay changed into Finlayson.
Findla Mhor, by his first wife, a daughter of the Baron Reid of Kincardine
Stewart, had four sons, the descendants of whom settled on the borders of Braemar, and some of them in the district of Athole.
His
eldest son, William, who died in the reign of James IV, had four sons. The eldest, John, had an only son, Robert, who succeeded
him. He died in the reign of Charles II.
Robert's son, Alexander Farquharson of Invercauld, married Isabella, daughter
of William Mackintosh of that ilk, captain of the clan Chattan, and had three sons.
William, the eldest son, dying
unmarried, was succeeded by the second son, John, who carried on the line of the family. Alexander, the third son, got the
lands of Monaltrie, and married Anne, daughter of Francis Farquharson, Esq. of Finzean.
The above-mentioned John Farquharson
of Invercauld, the ninth from Farquhar the founder of the family, was four times married. His children by his first two wives
died young. By his third wife, Margaret, daughter of Lord James Murray, son of the first Marquis of Athole, he had two sons
and two daughters. His elder daughter, Anne, married Eneas Mackintosh of that ilk, and was the celebrated Lady Mackintosh,
who, in 1745, defeated the design of the Earl of Loudon to make prisoner Price Charles at Moy castle. By his fourth wife,
a daughter of Forbes of Waterton, he had a son and two daughters, and died in 1750.
His eldest son, James Farquharson
of Invercauld, greatly improved his estates, both in appearance and product. He married Amelia, the widow of the eighth Lord
Sinclair, and daughter of Lord George Murray, lieutenant-general of Prince Charle's army, and had a large family, who all
died except the youngest, a daughter, Catherine. On his death, in 1806, this lady succeeded to the estates. She married, 16th
June 1798, Captain James Ross, R.N. (who took the name of Farquharson, and died in 1810), second son of Sir John Lockhart
Ross of Balnagowan, Baronet, and by him had a son, James Farquharson, a magistrate and deputy-lieutenant of Aberdeenshire,
representative of the family.
There are several branches of this clan, of which we shall mention the Farquharsons of
Whitehouse, who are descended from Donald Farquharson of Castleton of Braemar and Monaltrie, living in 1580, eldest son, by
his second wife, of Findla Mhor, above mentioned.
Farquharson of Finzean is the heir male of the clan, and claims the chieftainship,
the heir of line being Farquharson of Invercauld. His estate forms nearly half of the parish of Birse, Aberdeenshire. The
family, of which he is representative, came originally from Braemar, but they have held property in the parish for many generation.
On the death of Archibald Farquharson, Esq. of Finzean, in 1841, that estate came into the possession of his uncle, John Farquharson,
Esq, residing in London, who died in 1849, and was succeeded by his third cousin, Dr Francis Farquharson. This gentleman,
before succeeding to Finzean, represented the family of Farquharson of Balfour, a small property in the same parish and county,
sold by his grandfather.
The Farquharsons, according to Duncan Forbes "the only clan family in Aberdeenshire", and
the estimated strength of which was 500 men, were among the most faithful adherents of the house of Stuart, and throughout
all the struggles in its behalf constantly acted up to their motto, "Fife et Fortitidine". The old motto of the clan was.
"We force nae friend, we fear nae foe". They fought under Montrose,and formed part of the Scottish army under Charles II at
Worcestor in 1651. They also joined the forces under the Viscount of Dundee in 1689, and at the outbreak of the rebellion
of 1715 they were the first to muster at the summons of the Earl of Mar.
In 1745, the Farquharsons joined Prince Charles,
and formed two battalions, the one under the command of Farquharson of Monaltrie, and the other of Farquharsons of Balmoral;
but they did not accompany the Prince in his epedition into England. Farquharson of Invercauld was treated by government with
considerable leniency for his share in the rebellion, but his kinsman, Farquharson of Balmoral, was specially excepted from
mercy in the act of indemnity passed in June 1747.
_________________________________________
CLAN FERGUSON
Motto:
"Dulcius ex asperis" - literaly, "Sweeter after difficulties". Names Associated with Clan Fergus: Ferguson, Fergusson, Fergie, Fergushill, Ferrar, Ferrie, Ferries, Ferris, Ferriss, MacFergus, McKerrass,
McAdie, Keddie, and Kiddie, Kydd, MacAdie, MacCade, MacErries, MacFergus, Mac Fhearghuis, Mac Firries, MacHerries, MacInlay,
MacIrish, MacKeddie, MacKerras, MacKersey, MacKestan, McMagnus, MacTavert.
History of the clan
Before
the 18th century, at least five groups of Fergusons possessed lands and lived in the style of a clan under their respective
chiefs in Argyll, Perthshire, Aberdeenshire, Galloway, and Carrick. Today, the Kilkerran Fergusons in Ayrshire and the family of Ferguson
of Baledmund and the Fergusons of Balquhidder, both in Perthshire, are still owners of extensive lands.
Fergussons
from both Galloway and Carrick alike claim descent from Fergus of Galloway. The grandfather of Donnchadh, Earl of Carrick and in turn great-great-grandfather to Robert Bruce, Fergus, restored the see of Whithorn and founded Dundrennan Abbey during the reign of David I and Malcolm IV. He died as a monk at Holyrood in
1161. Through Robert Bruce passes the line of the Royal Family of Britain. It was the 1st Earl of
Carrick's signature that might suggest the origins of the Fergusson surname, Duncan, son of Gilbert, the son of Fergus, hence
MacFhearguis.
It is known
with certainty that by the 13th century there were men in widely separated districts of Scotland which called themselves "sons of Fergus". It is recorded in the Annals of Ulster there was in 1216 a day of disaster to the Cenel-Ferghusa at the hand of the Mormaer of
Lennox's son, Muireadhach. Through the passing of the ages however the particulars of the story have been lost.
Robert I of Scotland granted certain lands in Ayrshire to Fergus MacFergus, and in 1466 John Ferguson resigned a portion of his estate to Fergus Ferguson (of Kilkerran),
his son, and Janet Kennedy, his wife. From this line stems Sir Charles Fergusson, 9th Baronet, and Baron of Kilkerran who holds the undifferenced arms as Chief of the
Name.
The name
is also common in Ulster where there have been several landed families, some claiming to have been
planted there from Ayrshire in the 17th century. Others of the name in Antrim and nearby counties descend from people who
did not migrate to Dalriada in the 5th century.
The Anglicised
"Fergusson" was widely used by the reign of James IV. The shortened form of the name with the single "s" was initiated by record
clerks before the 1600s. The common spelling of the day was "Fergussoun" and by the reign of Charles II, "Fergussone".
17th century & Civil War
The dispersed
Clan Fergusson has not blazed the battlefield with glories won by the sword. However, "Sons of Fergus" fought with Clan Bruce in the Scottish Civil War and the English Civil War. Some Perthshire Fergusons fought alongside James Graham the 1st Marquess of Montrose in 1644.
18th century & Jacobite Uprisings
The oldest
soldier in Prince Charles Edward's Army at the Battle of Prestonpans in the '45 was an 80-year-old Ferguson.
In the 18th century the head of the Kilkerran family came gradually to be regarded as the chief of all the Fergus(s)ons.
This family has produced notable statesmen, military leaders, lawyers, writers and agricultural improvers. The present Chief
is Sir Charles Ferguson of Kilkerran, 9th Baronet, who lives in the ancestral home near Maybole, Ayrshire.
World wars
In
modern times and during World Wars I and II many Fergus(s)ons from Scotland
and abroad were distinguished military leaders. Clan Ferguson
has been termed a "gentle force" that gained respected prominence from live and let live. Recently, however, a clansman, after
looking at McIan's depiction of "The Ferguson" as a barefooted, Claymore-wielding, helmeted warrior wearing the ancient Lein-croich,
or saffron colored shirt of the Celts, remarked that "if Clan Ferguson is a "gentle force" he was glad the warrior was one
of us and not a foeman!"
Clan Fergusson today
"Sons of
Fergus" the world over have gained distinction in nonmilitary activities, e.g. in the law, the church, government, the arts
and sciences, medicine, education, agriculture and in business and industry. Mention can only be made of Adam Ferguson the philosopher (1724-1816) and Robert Fergusson (1750-1774) the poet and mentor of Robert Burns. And in the realm of romance, the heroine of the song Annie Laurie was married to Alexander Ferguson of Craigdarroch.
In the
modern era the peers of Ayrshire, Dumfries, Argyll, and Perthshire families have retained the double 's' while those of Fife, Aberdeenshire, Angus and Ireland have the
single "Ferguson".
_____________________________________________
CLAN
FORSYTH
Forsyth
Clan Crest: A crowned blue griffin.
Forsyth
Clan Motto: Instaurator Ruinae (A repairer
of ruin).
Origins of the Clan
The
first recorded person of the name was William de Firsith on the Ragman Roll in Berwick on the 28th August 1296. Much of the records of Clan Forsyth were destroyed
by Oliver Cromwell in the Civil War, therefore little is known.
Wars of Scottish Independence
In
the 14th century during the Wars of Scottish Independence Robert de Forsyth received lands from King Robert I of Scotland. Roberts de Forsyth's son called Osbet Forsyth led the clan against the English
at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
In
1364 the accounts of the 'Customers' of Stirling were rendered by Fersith the Clerk who was probably Robert's brother and
who was granted ú100 per annum from the lands of the Polmaise Marischal by Robert II.
15th Century
In
1418 Robert Forsyth renderd the accounts of the Burgh of Stirling. In 1432 his son who was also called Robert became Burgess of Stirling and a Baille in 1470. Duncan Forsyth and David Forsyth became Burgesses
in 1497 and descendants of the family settled in Stirling and held civic office for centuries.
In
1488 David Forsyth the now Burgess of Stirling bought the land of the Dykes also known as Hallhill which is near Strathaven near Lanarkshire. The castle there had fallen into ruin but it was not demolished until
1828.
16th Century Anglo-Scottish Wars
In
the 16th century the Clan Forsyth led by Alexander Forsyth fought against the English at the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513 where Alexander was slain.
Alexander's
grandson James Forsyth married Elizabeth Leslie in around 1520. Elizabeth
was the granddaughter of George Leslie who was the Chief of Clan Leslie and the 4th Earl of Rothes. Elizabeth was also the great granddaughter of
King James III of Scotland.
In
1540 the family left Dykes and moved to Inchnoch Castle in Monkland which was also in Lanarkshire.
17th Century
In 1621 William Forsyth had become a member of Forres in the Scottish Parliament.
20th Century
Alistair
Charles William Forsyth, Baron of Ethie, was recognised by Lord Lyon King of Arms as Chief of the Name and Clan of Forsyth
in 1978.[1]
******************************
CLAN GRAHAM
Motto: Ne oublie - "Do not forget".
Badge: A winged falcon attacking a stork.
Septs of the Clan: Airth , Allardice,
Allardyce, Bonar, Bonnar, Bontein, Bontine, Buntain, Bunten, Buntine, Bunting, Graeme, Grahame, Grahym, Grim, Grymn, Hadden,
Haldane, Macgibbon, Macgilvernock, Macgrime, Maharg, Menteith, Monteith, Pitcairn, Pye, Pyott.
History
The Grahams
By
Archie McKerracher
From the greed of the Campbells,
From the ire
of the Drummonds,
From the pride of the Grahams,
From the wind of the Murrays,
Good Lord Deliver us, prayed a 17th century laird who’s land was bordered
by all four. And indeed, the pride of the Grahams was famous throughout Scotland
for they were a close knit race deeply loyal to kith and kin. The also took pride in their unswerving devotion to their monarch
even when this was sometimes rewarded with scant thanks. And lastly, they took pride in following their personal conscience,
whatever the consequences.
Tradition says the first Graham was a Caledonian chief called Graym who attacked and burst
through the mighty Antoine Wall which divided Scotland in two, and drove
the Roman legions back to Hadrian’s Wall on the English border. More likely, the chiefs
spring from an Anglo-Norman family who originally came to England with
William the Conqueror in 1066, and are recorded in his Doomsday Book as holding the lands of Graegham or Grey Home.
David I, king of Scots, was brought up in England
and given a Norman education. He married a Norman heiress and through her acquired vast estates in England. Thus when he succeeded to the Scottish throne in 1124 he brought with
him many of his Anglo-Norman friends to help create order in what was then a very primitive and savage land. He granted them
large estates in the Lowlands and without exception these barons then intermarried into the
local Celtic aristocracy. Within a generation or two they had become totally integrated with the older race and were soon
exclusively Scottish.
William de Graham, the first recorded of that name, was granted land around Dalkieth and Abercorn
in Midlothian and appears as a witness on David I’s charter of 1128 founding the Abbey
of Holyroodhouse. His descendant, Sir David Graham, acquired the lands of Dundaff in Strathcarron in 1237, and built a castle
there. This was probably a wooden fortification on a motte or artificial earth mound in the Norman style. The remains of the
later stone castle can still be seen. Sir John de Graham of Dundaff was William Wallace’s right hand man and close friend
in the first struggle for Scottish independence in the late 13th century. The contemporary poet Blind Harry calls
him ‘’Schir Jhone the Grayme’’ and records his brave death at the battle of Falkirk in 1298 when the
small, ragged Scottish army was crushed beneath the hooves of the heavy armoured cavalry of the English army of Edward I.
Sir John’s gravestone and effigy can be seen today at Falkirk Old Church and bear the inscription ‘"Here lyes
Sir John the Grame, baith wight and wise, Ane of the chiefs who rescewit Scotland thrise, Ane better knight not to the world
was led, Nor was gude Graham of truth and hardiment".
Although principally a Lowland and Border clan the Grahams never forgot the Highlanders who
had fought for them. The 3rd Duke of Montrose, when Marquis of Montrose and a Member of Parliament, was responsible
in 1782 for the repeal of the law forbidding the wearing of Highland dress. Mugdock was the
principal seat of the Graham chiefs until 1680 when they acquired the lands of the Buchanans and moved to Old Buchanan House
near Drymen. In 1707 James Graham, 4th Marquess, was created the 1st Duke of Montrose by Queen Anne.
He is perhaps better known for being firstly the partner, and then the foe, of the Highland
folk-hero Rob Roy McGregor.
The Grahams had become the largest landowners in Stirlingshire by Victorian times and in 1857
built the huge Gothic Buchanan
Castle on the foundations of a much older fortification. This became
the residence of the Dukes of Montrose until the beginning of the Second World War when it was requisitioned as a military
hospital. Here was kept Rudolf Hess, Hitler’s deputy, after he made his mysterious flight to Scotland in 1940. The roof was removed after the war and the castle is now a ruin.
James Angus Graham, b. 1907, was the 7th Duke of Montrose and was also Earl of Kincardine; Viscount Dunduff, Lord
Graham; Aberuthven; Mugdock and Fintry. He became a farmer in Rhodesia
(now Zimbabwe) and was a cabinet minister
in the Rhodesian Government of Ian Smith. He moved to South Africa and
later returned to Scotland before his
death in 1992. His son, James, the 8th Duke of Montrose lives on the ancestral estates, at Auchmar near Loch Lomond. The name of Graham is an honourable one not only in Scottish history but also in more modern
times. For example, it was the 6th Duke of Montrose who invented the aircraft carrier during the First World War.
Others of note include the evangelist Billy Graham; Kenneth Graeme who wrote the classic "Wind in the Willows:; Admiral Sir
Cunningham Graham of the last war and many others too numerous to mention.
***************
CLAN GUTHRIE
Motto: I Stand For Truth [Sto Pro Veritate]
Clan Chief:
The current chief of Clan Guthrie is Alexander Guthrie of Guthrie, 21st of that
Ilk, who lives in both Italy and England.
Following the sale of Guthrie Castle out
of the family, the clan seat is known generally seen as being Torosay Castle on the Isle of Mull
Origins of the name: The name Guthrie almost
certainly derives from the barony of the same name near Forfar. Other theories are that it is a corruption of Guthrum, which
was the name of a Scandinavian Prince.
Branches
of Clan Guthrie: Although the Guthries of Guthrie were the
main line of the family, many offshoots existed, some of them mentioned in an old rhyme: "Guthrie o' Guthrie And Guthrie o'
Gaigie Guthrie o' Taybank An' Guthrie o' Craigie." An old tale without substance gives an alternative derivation for the name.
One of the early Scottish Kings had taken shelter, along with two attendants, in a fisherman's hut. The King, knowing his
attendants would be hungry, asked the fisherman to prepare two fish for them, but the fisherman offered to feed the king as
well and "gut three"; and so, the legend insists, the name stuck.
Wars
of Scottish Independence: The
first of the name Guthrie on record in Scotland
was one Squire Guthrie in 1303 during the Wars of Scottish Independence. He had been sent to France to request the return of William Wallace, who had retired there having resigned the guardianship of Scotland.
The mission was evidently successful, as William Wallace did indeed return to Scotland.
However, Wallace was later captured and executed by the English.
The Guthries of Guthrie received their estates by
a charter from King David II of Scotland between the years 1329 and 1371.
15th
Century: In 1457, Sir David Guthrie of Guthrie was Armour-Bearer to King James III of Scotland and the Sheriff of Forfar; he became Lord Treasurer of Scotland
in 1461 and continued in this office until 1467, when he was appointed Comptroller of the Exchequer. In 1468, he obtained
a warrant under the Great Seal to build Guthrie Castle near Friockheim in Angus, which remains standing to this day.
16th
Century & Anglo-Scottish Wars: In the 16th Century, during the Anglo-Scottish Wars, Clan Guthrie fought at the Battle of Flodden Field (1513) against the English. Sir David Guthrie's eldest son Sir Alexander was killed in this battle.
The Guthries were supporters of the young King James VI of Scotland against his own mother Mary, Queen of Scots, who had been portrayed as a challenge to his authority as King. It was around
this time that Alexander Guthrie was murdered following a feud with the neighboring Gardynes (which continued until 1618).
********************************
CLAN GRAY
Gray Clan Crest: An anchor
Gray Clan Motto: Anchor, Fast Anchor.
Gray Clan History
Fulbert de Gray was Great Chamberlain to Robert, Duke of Normandy, and owned lands in Picardy. There is a tradition that his
daughter Arlotta was the mother of William the Conqueror and that the family arrived in England in 1066 with the Norman Conquest.
The name first appears in Scotland in 1248 and Henry Gray
of Fife rendered homage to Edward I in 1296, but, like many other established families of
the time, followed Robert the Bruce when the timing was right. It was Sir Andrew Gray who scaled the rock of Edinburgh Castle to recapture it from the English
in 1312, and he was rewarded with lands at Longforgan in Perthshire. In 1377, the lands of Fowlis also passed to the
Gray family through marriage to a daughter of the powerful de Maule family, and in 1444, Sir Andrew's descendant, also Sir
Andrew, and a loyal supporter of James I and II, was created 1st Lord Gray.
Thereafter the Grays remained close to the ruling House of Stewart. Patrick, son of the 2nd Lord Gray, was a Gentleman
of the Bedchamber to James II. The 3rd Lord Gray was Lord Justice General of Scotland in 1506. Patrick, 5th Lord Gray, was taken prisoner at the Battle of Solway
Moss in 1542 and ransomed for £500 sterling, a princely sum at the time. Patrick, 7th Lord Gray, was caught up in the intrigues
surrounding the fall of Mary Queen of Scots and although tried for treason, was released and exiled. Andrew, 8th Lord Gray,
followed the Marquis of Montrose. In 1639, he resigned his honours to obtain a new patent in favour of his daughter
Ann who had married her kinsman William Gray, younger of Pittendrum. William was killed in a dual with the Earl of Southesk
in 1660 and the title passed to the earls of Moray, but on the death of the 14th Earl of Moray passed to his niece who became
Baroness Gray in her own right.
David Gray (1838-61), born in Kirkintilloch, was a prominent Scottish poet.
Places of Interest:
Huntly Castle,
Longforgan, Perthshire was built in 1452 for Lord Gray of Foulis. Broughty Castle, Dundee, Perthshire. Five storey tower built
by Lord Gray of Foulis in 1490. Owned by Historic Scotland.
***********************************
CLAN BARCLAY*
Roger de Berchelai came to England with William the Conqueror and was granted Berkeley Castle in Gloucestershire.
This early form of the name was believed to be the Anglo-Saxon version of 'beau' meaning beautiful, and 'lee', a meadow or
field. Roger was mentioned in the Domesday Book as well as his son, John. In 1069 John de Berchelai accompanied Margaret (later
St. Margaret) to Scotland. In gratitude for his service, King Malcolm (Canmore) granted him the lands of Towie, near Turriff,
in Aberdeenshire, as well as the title, Barclay of that Ilk. 900 years of Barclay history in Scotland descend from John's
three sons, Walter, Alexander, and Richard.
The Barclays formed important alliances and held land throughout the north-east of Scotland, principally
Towie, Mathers, Gartley and Pierston in Aberdeenshire. They also settled in Banff, Collairnie in Fife, Brechin in Forfarshire
and Stonehaven in Kincardineshire. One family line settled on the west coast in the Ardrossan and Kilbirnie areas in Ayrshire.
Sir David Barclay was one of Robert the Bruce's chief associates and was present at many of his battles.
Sir Walter de Berkeley, Gartley III, Lord Redcastle and Inverkeillor, was Great Chamberlain of Scotland 1165-1189. Alexander
de Berkeley, Gartley IX, became Mathers I in 1351 when he married Katherine Keith, sister of the Earl Marischal. Their son
Alexander was the first to adopt the Barclay form of the surname. Sir George Barclay, Gartley XIX, was Steward of the household
of Mary, Queen of Scots, and a later Sir George was second in command of James IV forces in the Highlands in the 1689.
One of the major Barclay families was established at Urie near Stonehaven in Kincardineshire. The
first Laird, Colonel David Barclay, was a professional soldier serving with such armies as that of Gustavus Adolphus. He returned
home when civil war broke out and serviced as a colonel of a regiment of horse fighting for the king. Following his retirement
and the conclusion of the war, he was confined in Edinburgh Castle where he was converted to the Society of Friends (Quakers).
His son Robert, Urie II, was widely known for his Apologia, described on the title page as being an Explanation
and Vindication of the Principles and Doctrines of the People called Quakers.
The last Laird of Urie, Captain Robert Barclay-Allardyce (Allardyce added when he married an heiress of that name
whose lands were added to those of Urie), was known as the Great Pedestrian. Many tales exists of his walks over the Scottish
hills, such as his walk from Urie to Crathynaird (28 miles), staying less than an hour and then walking home again the same
day. His most famous record, however, was that of walking 1,000 miles in 1,000 hours. This feat was accomplished in 1809 and
five days later, he embarked with his regiment for the Walcheren Expedition in the Napoleonic Wars.
Names Associated with Clan Barkley: Ardrossan Barklaw Berclie Barckley Barklay Berekele Barckly
Barkley Berkeley Barclaye Barkly Tollie Barclet Barraclough Tolley Barclye Berckley Towie Barcula Berclay Towy Barkla Bercley
Tullie
*excerpted from Clan Barclay web site
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLAN BUCHANAN
Buth Chanain is Gaelic for “Canon’s House,” and the lands which
received this designation border Loch Lomond. The Earl of Lennox, to whom the first MacMhuirich bard to come to Scotland addressed
a poem early in the 13th century, referred to Sir Absalon of Buchanan as “Clericus Meus.” The Buchanans
thus appear equally early in the ranks of the Scottish intelligentsia.
Among the Buchanan Clan, two men are outstanding. George Buchanan (1506-1582) was born at Killearn in Stirlingshir.
George was sent to study in Paris during the intellectual ferment of the Reformation. He became an outstanding scholar, wrote
plays and poetry in Latin, and returned to Scotland a convert to Calvinism - just as Mary, Queen of Scots, returned from France
and began to reign in Scotland. She became his patron despite the fact that he did not share her Catholic beliefs. When Mary
was deposed, he sided with her enemies - as did many others. He was appointed tutor to her son and it was felt by Mary that
he poisoned the child’s mind against his mother. However he was a brilliant man and it may well have been due to his
influence that the child who later became King of both England and Scotland is known for his own intelligence and pursuit
of knowledge.
James Buchanan (1791-1796) 15th President of the United States, was born near Mercersburg, Pennsylvania. He
was the son of a Scottish Calvinist who emigrated to the States with his family in 1783. It was Buchanan’s misfortune
to preside over the outbreak of the American Civil War. Though the clan no longer holds land around the area of Loch Lomond,
Buchanan County in Missouri commemorates their name and their president.
Septs: Colman, Cormack, Cousland, Dewar, Dove, Dow, Gibb, Gibbon, Gibson,
Gilbert, Gilbertson, Harper, Harperson, Leavy, Lennie, Lenny, MacAldonich, MacAlman, MacAslan, MacAslin, MacAuselan, MacAuslan,
MacAusland, MacAuslane, MacCalman, MacCalmon, MacCammond, MacCasland, MacChrutter, MacColman, MacCormack, MacCubbin, MacCubing,
MacCubin, MacGeorge, MacGibbon, MacGreusich, MacGubbin, MacInally, MacIndeor, MacIndoe, MacKinlay, MacKinley, MacMaster, MacMaurice,
MacMurchie, MacMurchy, MacNeur, MacNuir, MacNuyer, MacQuattie, MacWattie, MacWhirter, Masters, Masterson, Morrice, Morris,
Morrison, Murchie, Murchison, Richardson, Risk, Rusk, Ruskin, Spittal, Spittel, Walter, Walters, Wason, Waters, Watson,Watt,
Watters, Weir, Yuill, Yool, Yule, Zuill
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLAN BOYD
The Gaelic for Bute, the island next in size to Arran in the Firth of Clyde, is Bod and its genitive
case is Boid. The first in Scottish records to take their name from the island were vassals of the de Morevilles, and may
have accompanied them from England.
In the 15th century Malcolm de Bute became chaplain to King Robert III and Thomas Boyd was selected as one
of the hostages for the King of Scots in 1425. About 1466, Robert, eldest son of Sir Thomas Boyd of Kilmarnock, carried out
a daring coup d’etat. He had been created Lord Boyd in 1454 by James II. James was subsequently blown up by a cannon,
and Lord Boyd became Regent for young James III in 1460. He then kidnapped his charge and obtained an Act of Parliament appointing
him sole governor of the realm. His rule was competent and his role was cemented when he was appointed Great Chamberlain for
life. His son married the King’s sister Mary and was created Earl of Arran and Lord Kilmarnock. In 1468 Boyd negotiated
the royal marriage with Norway which brought the Orkney islands to the Scottish Crown.
Despite many reverses due to evil plots furthered by enemies of Clan Boyd, the clan persisted. The 10th Lord
Boyd was created Earl of Kilmarnock in 1661 for his family’s services to Charles II. The 3rd Earl supported the Union
with England in 1707, but the 4th commanded the cavalry of Prince Charles at Culloden and was beheaded on Tower Hill. His
earldom was forfeited but his second son became the 15th Earl of Erroll by inheritance from his great-aunt and adopted the
surname of Hay. To this title the barony of Kilmarnock was added in 1831. So when the 22nd Earl of Erroll died in 1941, leaving
a daughter as Chief of Clan Hay and Countess of Erroll, his brother resumed the name of Boyd and became the 6th Lord Kilmarnock
as Chief of Clan Boyd. He was succeeded in 1975 by the 7th Lord Kilmarnock.
For further information on Clan Boyd contact: Donald Boyd Mellen, 4820 Carlton, NW, Canton, Ohio 44709.
Tel.: 330-497-8110
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLAN CAMPBELL
Like most Europeans, the Scots are a blend of races: Neolithic survivors mixed with Celtic "Pict", Britonic
Celt incomers, Celtic "Scots" invaders from Ireland, Viking and Norse raiders and settlers, Norman and Flemish knights and
even some few Angles in the south. All these joined to add their genes to this sturdy race of people. Like most Scots, all
Campbells are a blend of races through maternal ancestry, although there were times from the 16th through the 18th centuries
when, among some leading families in Argyll and Perthshire, they had grown so numerous as frequently to intermarry, intensifying
their characteristics as a kin. Many also share the Scots Gaelic blood of the Dalriadic O'Duibne people whose heiress their
ancestor married on Lochawe in the 13th century.
Their paternal ancestry is apparently from the Britonic Celts of Strathclyde, sometimes called the "Romano
British" from the northwestern part of the early "Kingdom of Strathclyde".
The capital of Strathclyde was Al Cluit or DunBriton (now Dumbarton Rock) in the area known as the Lennox.
According to legend, here in An Talla Dearg, the Red Hall of Dun Briton, was born the first ancestor of the Campbells who
appears in all three of the early Gaelic genealogies; Smervie or Mervyn, son of an Arthur, who became known as "the Wildman
of the Woods", perhaps being a notable hunter. If the legend is based upon a real character, he likely lived in the eleventh
or twelfth century. However those names at that period can have absolutely no actual connection with the legendary Arthur,
whose possible existence is said to have been many centuries earlier.
The name Campbell did not come into use until several generations later.
It was Sir Cailein Mor Campbell's grandfather Dugald on Lochawe who is said to have been the first given the
nickname "Cam Beul" since he apparently had the engaging trait of talking out of one side of his mouth. Cam beul means curved
mouth in the Gaelic. This Duncan was so much loved by his family that they took his nickname as their family name and held
to it even beyond Argyll.
The spelling of the surname (family name) was originally Cambel. Then when Robert the Bruce's son King David
came to the throne as King of Scots he brought with him a number of Norman knights to whom he gave lands in an attempt to
introduce Norman efficiency in administration. David had been at the English court and admired the Norman system of feudalism.
The use of the spelling "Campbell" may perhaps have been as a result of Norman rather than Gaelic scribes attempting to write
the Gaelic name.
The name Cambel was first used by the family in the 13th century. The first chief of the clan to appear on
record as "Campbell" may well have been Sir Duncan of Lochawe when he was created Lord Campbell in 1445
Clan means family group in the Gaelic. There came to be roughly three uses of the word clan: for the large clans like Clan Campbell, Clan Donald and Clan Gordon; for the smaller clans like Clan Callum or Clan Lachlan; for the sub-clans or name
groups within the larger clans like Clan Tavish or Clan Arthur (the McTavishes of Dunardry and McArthurs of Tirevadich).
The idea of all members of a clan being of one name is a Victorian misconception. Clans begin to emerge as
recognizable units in the 12th and 13th century. Initially the Chief and the Chief's close kin were the leaders of the clan
while their followers were the local people who were their tenants or who looked to them for leadership in defense. So while
the Clan Campbell were led by Campbells, until about the 18th century, many of their followers, and sometimes even they themselves
often used patronymics or father's names.
Patronymics lie behind many modern Scottish family names, particularly those now beginning with the `Mac'
or `Mc' prefix, meaning `son of'. Further, in early records these sometimes appear with `Vic', meaning `grandson of'. For
example Archibald MacDougall V'Gillespic (Gaelic for Archibald) was Archibald son of Dougall son of Archibald. Sometimes,
such as in the 16th century, such names might even appear followed by `alias Campbell'. In modern times families who were
not of Campbell origin yet who had long given their allegiance to the Chief of the clan have come to be called "septs". Names associated with Clan Campbell may be found on their web site.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLAN CHATTAN
This long-powerful group of clans comprised two main divisions, respectively under Macintosh and MacPherson
leadership, with some subsidiary septs and family groups joining for protection. Dissension arose among the sections from
various causes, not least from their encroaching neighbours, the Gordons, enticing them into opposing camps.
Accounts of the Clan Chattan’s origin vary. The Macintoshes, holding to their own Maduff origin, regard
it as a confederacy, with the MacPhersons just a branch from Macintosh stock. MacPhersons, putting reliance on a written genealogy
of 1450, favour the Chattan sections as having branched from an ancestor, Gillechattan Mor, a Moray chief of the early 11th
century, his elder son Nechtan founding the MacPhersons and the younger, Neil, the Macintoshes, which surname only appears
two centuries later. Either way of it, the Clunie MacPhersons retained the old Chattan chiefship, although in 1291 the Macintoshes,
through marriage of their chief Angus to Eva, the MacPherson heiress, achieved the greater share of land and followers and
also their chief’s right to be styled “Captain of the Clan Chattan” leaving their claim to full chiefship
a good-going dispute scarcely yet settled.
MacPherson Group/ Macintosh Group:MacPherson,Macintosh, Machardie,Davidson, Farquharson,
Macqueen,Gillespie, Macbean, Noble,Keith, Macgillivray, Mactavish,Smith, Macglashan, Shaw. Also: Cameron, Cattanach,
Clark, Macphail.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLAN CUMMING
The name Cumming (or Comyn) is of Norman origin, derived from Comines near Lisle on the French/Belgian border.
Robert de Comyn came to England with William the Conquerer in 1066 and was given lands in Northumberland. His grandson was
later given land in Roxburghshire by King David I. His nephew, Richard de Comyn, married a grandaughter of Kind Duncan I.
Through careful alliances and beneficial marriages, the Comyn held three earldoms by the 13th century: Monteith, Mentieth,
and Atholl and Buchan.
The Cummings (as the name came to be spelled) of Altyre were eventually recognized as the chiefly line. Alexander
of Altyre was created a baronet in 1802. Until recently the chief was Sir William Gordon Cumming. He lived at Blairs House,
Altyre, Forres in Morayshire. His son, Alastair succeeded him in the baronetcy.
Branches: Cumming of Altyre, Cumming of Inverallochy.
Septs: Buchan, Cheyne, Chiene, Common, Commons, Cummin, Cummings, Cumyn, Farquharson,
MacNiven, Niven, Russell, Skinner, Tindell, Tyndale.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLAN DONALD
Clan Donald,
greatest and largest of the Highland Clans, begins it's recorded history with Somerled, a descendant of Conn of the Hundred
Battles and Clan Colla. Somerled's defeat of the Norse King of Man in 1156 gained independence for southwestern Scotland that
survived for over four centuries.
The clan takes it's name from Donald, the 3rd Lord of the Isles and grandson of Somerled
who lived until 1269. Donald's son was the original "Mac" (meaning "son of"). It was Donald's great-grandson, Angus Og, the
6th Lord of the Isles who sheltered Robert the Bruce at the lowest ebb of his career. Later, leading a small band of Islemen,
Angus Og was instrumental in Bruce's defeat of the English at Bannockburn. This battle won independence for Scotland. In recognition
of Clan Donald's part in the victory Robert the Bruce proclaimed that Clan Donald would forever occupy the honored
position on the right wing of the Scottish Army.
Angus Og's grandson, Donald, the 8th Lord of the Isles, married the
heiress of the Earldom of Ross and in 1411 fought the Battle of Harlaw to keep his wife's inheritance from being usurped by
the Regent Duke of Albany. His army of 10,000 men included the forces of almost every clan of the Highlands and Isles. All
these clans were willing vassals of the Lord of the Isles. They regarded the MacDonald Chiefs as the heads of the ancient
"Race of Conn," and lineal heirs of the ancient Kings of the Dalriadic Scots, going back to the 6th century and beyond.
Donald
of Harlaw's son and grandson were both Earls of Ross and Lords of the Isles, controlling not only the Hebrides from Islay
and Kintyre to the Butt of Lewis, but most of Argyll and the modern County of Inverness, along with the County of Antrim in
northern Ireland. The Earldom was lost in 1471, but the Lordship of the Isles was not absorbed by Scotland until the middle
of the 16th century. A MacDonnell (a variation of the surname MacDonald) is still Earl of Antrim.
The power of the
clan survived and formed the backbone of the army of the Marquis of Montrose, fighting for the survival of the Stewarts in
the 17th century, and, though divided, it was an important factor in the Jacobite Rebellions of the 1700's.
Names & Families of Clan Donald
Some people and clan associations speak of a "sept list" to indicate the various
names associated with their clan. It is the official position of the Clan Donald-USA Genealogy Committee that this an improper
use of the term, at least when speaking of Clan Donald, and probably when speaking of any Highland clan. Our preferred terminology
is "Families of Clan Donald."
Most of the family names connected to Clan Donald have territorial limitations. (This
is true with names connected with almost all clans, although many do not recognize or impose those restrictions, leading to
unseemly confrontations about, for example, "my Clark" no "MY Clark!" -- when almost every clan probably had families named
Clark attached to them -- from the clerks or clerics who did most of the accounting and book work. The same can be said of
Gowans, Smiths, Taylors and a number of others.)
Clan Donald feels that these territorial limitations are important. Therefore,
where those limitations are listed, a prospective member must indicate that his or her family of the correct name did come
from the indicated area before they may be accepted for membership. In over 35 years of using this list we have found that
a strong family tradition of being of Clan Donald has proven correct in 99.99% of all cases.
If you feel you might have Clan Donald heritage, it is strongly suggested
you check the Clan Donald web site for more information: http://www.clan-donald-usa.org/
[above material extrapolated from Clan Donald web site]
For more information on Clan Donald in Ohio:
Deputy Regional Commissioner
Donne E. Shepperly, 4373
Westchester Ct.,Hudson, OH 44236-4177,(h) 330-463-5559,(c) 216-650-1311 - cragnadun@aol.com clandonaldohio@aol.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLAN DOUGLAS
An adequate history of the Douglases would be largely one of Scotland itself, where they long rivaled the
royal power and eleven times married into it. It would be far too lengthy to do justice here. But an attempt to somewhat sum
up their history follows.
Perhaps originally kinsmen of Freskin, the founder or Clan Murray, it is in the South the Douglas Family is
first noted. In the 12th century we find the Black Douglases of Douglasdale, Dumfriesshire, and Galloway. The next century
saw the establishment of the Red Douglases at Dalkeith, and then in Angus. The first use of the term “Black Douglas”
was applied by the English in referring to Sir James Douglas, lieutenant to Robert the Bruce. The term, of course, was redundant.
The name “Douglas” derives from the Gaelic “dubh” meaning black and “glas”
meaning grey. The origins are unknown, despite a multitude of legends. The first known to carry the name is William of Douglas.
He witnessed several charters between 1175 and 1199, and again in about 1200 and 1211. Between 1198 and 1239 came Archibald
Douglas, progenitor of those great families that were to play a resounding part in Scottish history. He was succeeded by William,
who became the founder of the senior line of the Black Douglases. He was the father of Sir William the Hardy, the companion
of William Wallace of “Braveheart” fame.
The son of Sir William was named James. As Good Sir James Douglas, the first Earl of Douglas, he is often
given a place equal to that of King Robert himself. He attended Bruce at his death in 1328 and promised to take his heart
to the Holy Land. But he was unable to do this as he fell in battle in Spain, and his son fell fighting against the English
at Halidon Hill in 1333. He did, however, leave a bastard son named Archibald the Grim, who inherited his father’s estate
as the 3rd Earl of Douglas. He is known to have ruled with strength and justice. The ruins of his castle at Threave
still stand as a memorial to the Black Douglas Lords of Galloway.
Through a long and complicated disagreement with King James II of Scotland, the Douglas family lost its estates
and the earldom was extinguished. But this was not the end of them. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the Douglas family
was to rise to power again, this time as the Red Douglases. A bastard son of the first Earl, named George, married a daughter
of King Robert III and was then raised to the earldom of Angus, as befitted the husband of a princess. By the time the Black
Douglases had forfeited their lands and title, he was well established and had an heir, Archibald. The Red Douglases, therefore,
began to occupy the centre of the stage of Scottish history almost as soon as the Black Douglases had departed from it.
Septs: Cavers, Douglass, Drysdale, Forest, Forrest, Glendinning, Inglis, Kirkpatrick,
Lockerby, Macguffie, Macguffok, Morton, Sandilands
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLAN DRUMMOND
The name is from the clan’s earliest land at Drymen, near Loch Lomond. Tradition says it was conferred
upon their ancestor, Maurice, who married Queen Margaret’s maid-of-honour. Either he or his father was the Hungarian
prince who piloted the refugee vessel of 1066 that brought Malcolm Canmore’s bride-to-be to Scotland. The earliest chief
now documented was Malcolm Beg (the “little”) a 13th century steward to the Earl of Lennox.
The Drummond arms display a motto, “Gang Warily,” and the caltrops. These are the four-spiked
cavalry spikes that a later Sir Malcolm contributed to the victory at Bannockburn. For his services, Bruce awarded the lands
in Perthshire where the clan was to flourish. Annabella Drummond became Queen to Robert II, the first Stewart king; and from
then on to the last Stewart, no clan remained more faithful to the Stewarts than the Drummonds.
Septs of Clan Drummond include: Begg, Brewer, Cargill, Dock, Doig, Grewar, Gruar, Gruer, Maccrouther,
Macgrewar, Macgrouther, Macgruder, Macgruer, Macgruther, Macrobbie, Macrobie, Mushet, Robbie.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLAN ELLIOT
The Elliots were an important family in the south of Scotland. The Chief of the clan was of Redheuch, and
some other branches of the family were designed as of Larriston, Braidlie, Horsliehill, Arkleton, and Stobs.
Of the last-named branch came Gilbert Eliot of Stobs, celebrated in Border history as “Gibbie wi’
the gowden garters,” who died leaving several sons. William, the eldest, was ancestor of the Baronets of Stobs, now
regarded as the principal line of Eliots extant; also of John Eliot, M.D., Physician to the Prince of Wales, who was created
a Baronet, 1778, but died unmarried in 1786; and also of the celebrated General George Augustus Eliot, who successfully defended
Gibraltar for three years (1779-83) against the whole power of France and Spain. General Eliot was created Lord Heathfield
Baron Gibraltar, 1787, but the title became extinct on the death of his son, Francis, 2nd Baron, 1813.
Gavin Eliot of Midlem Mill, 4th son of the above-named Gilbert Eliot of Stobs, was father of Gilbert Eliot,
Lord Justice Clerk, created a Baronet in 1700. His great-grandson, Gilbert, after having been Governor-General of India, was
created Earl of Minto in 1813.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLAN FORBES - Motto: Grace Me Guide
Names associated with Clan Forbes: Bannerman, Berrie, Berry, Boyce, Boyes, Faubus,
Fobes, Fordice, Fordyce, Forbess, Forbis, Forbus, Forbush, Furbush, Lumsden, Macouat, Macowatt, MacQuattie, MacWatt, Mechie,
Meldrum, Michie, Middleton, Walter, Walters, Watson, Watt,Watters, Wattie,Watts
Forbes is a parish in the Aberdeenshire area. A reliable tradition tells that the 'Braes o’ Forbes'
were once uninhabitable because of bears living in the area. Oconachar, founder of the clan, killed the bears and claimed
the land as ‘first occupier’. The present chief still holds part of the Lordship of these Forbes lands.
In 1271, the chief of the time, Duncan de Forbes, obtained a charter from Alexander III for the land, confirming his claim. In the fourteenth century John de Forbes of the Black Lip had four sons with
whom the family expanded widely and prosperously. William began the Pitsligo line, John was progenitor of the branch of Polquhoun
and Alistair of Brux was ancestor of extensions in Skellater and Inverernan.
Alexander, the eldest of the brothers, fought in the 1411 Battle of Harlaw against the invaders from the Isles, led by Donald. He was created Lord Forbes by James I around 1444. To this
day the Lordship is regarded as Scotland’s premier. His own three sons would extend the family with the branches of
Corsindae and Monymusk, Corse, and later the Baronets of Craigievar.
There was a point where, from the coasts of Banff and Buchan, to the mountains of Aberdeenshire, there were
one hundred and fifty Forbes houses and estates. Clan Forbes was, through the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, constantly
at odds with their powerful, predatory neighbours the Gordons, Earls of Huntly. The consistent murders by both sides escalated, fuelled with the excuses of religious self-importance,
into two battles at Craibstone and Tillieangus during 1571.
These were followed by the plunder of Lord Forbes' seat itself, and then the murder of twenty-seven Forbes'
of Towie at Corgarff. It eventually took two Acts of Parliament to force them to lay down their arms against each other.
During the 1715 rebellion, Duncan Forbes of Culloden, President of the Court of Session, was in opposition to the Jacobite cause.
He is remembered however, for his efforts to win the rebels better treatment from their captors. Speaking out for the people
after Culloden, Butcher Cumberland responded with the sneer, 'that old woman talked to me about humanity.' A memorial to Duncan
Forbes stands in the Parliament Hall at Edinburgh.
Built in 1815, Castle Forbes stands on the land claimed by Oconachar, overlooking the Don. Information
obtained at: www.scotclans.com
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Clan Fraser
(Scottish Gaelic: Clann Frisealach, French: Clan Frasier) is a Scottish clan of French origin. The Clan has been strongly associated with Inverness and the surrounding area since the Clan's founder gained lands there in the
13th century. Since its founding, the Clan has dominated local politics and been active in every major military conflict involving
Scotland. It has also played a considerable role in most major political turmoils.The Clan's current chief is Simon Fraser, the 16th Lord Lovat, and 25th Chief of the Clan. The arms of Clan Fraser are Quarterly: 1st and 4th Azure, three fraises
Argent, 2nd and 3rd Gules, three antique crowns Or, or in layman's terms, the traditional three cinquefoils, or fraises (strawberry flowers), as they have come to be known, in the first and fourth positions and
three crowns in the second and third positions. Only the Lord Lovat is allowed use of these arms plain and undifferenced
Origins of the surname
The surname 'Fraser' is of an uncertain origin.The first record of the name
occurs in the mid-twelfth century as "de Fresel", "de Friselle", and "de Freseliere", and appears to be a Norman name, though there is no known placename in France that corresponds with it.
Also, it has been thought possible that a medieval scribe could have corrupted a Gaelic name beyond recognition.
A tradition, favoured by the leading family of Fraser, derived the clan's
descent from a Frenchman, Pierre Fraser, Seigneur de Troile, who came to Scotland in the reign of Charlemagne to form an alliance with the mythical King Achaius. Pierre's son was then to have become thane of the Isle of Man in 814.
Another explanation for the surname is that it is derived from the French
words fraise, meaning strawberry (the fruit), and fraisiers, strawberry plants. There is a fabled account of
the Fraser coat of arms which asserts during the reign of Charles the Simple of France, a nobleman from Bourbon named Julius de Berry entertained the King with a dish of fine strawberries. De Berry was then later
knighted, with the knight taking strawberry flowers as his Arms and changing his name from 'de Berry' to 'Fraiseux' or 'Frezeliere'.
His direct descendants were to become the lords of Neidpath Castle, then known as Oliver.This origin has been disputed, and seen as a classic example
of canting heraldry, where heraldic symbols are derived from a pun on similar sounding surname:
(strawberry flowers - fraises).
Early Frasers
Around the reign of William the Lion (r.1165-1214), there was a mass of Norman immigration into Scotland. Thomas Grey, a fourteenth century English Knight, listed several Norman families which took
up land during William's reign. Among those listed were the Frasers. The earliest written record of Frasers in Scotland is
in 1160, when a Simon Fraser held lands in East Lothian at Keith. The Frasers moved into Tweeddale in the twelfth and 13th centuries and from there into the counties of Stirling, Angus, Inverness and Aberdeen.
During the Scottish Wars of Independence, Sir Simon Fraser, known as "the Patriot", fought first with the Red Comyn, and later with Sir William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.
Sir Simon is celebrated for having defeated the English in three separate engagements at the Battle of Roslin in 1303, with just 8,000 men under his command. Along with the Clan Fraser,
the Red Comyn's Clan Comyn, and the Clan Sinclair are known to have fought at the battle, which took place on 24 February 1303.At the Battle of Methven in 1306, Sir Simon led troops along with Bruce, and saved the King's life in
three separate instances. Simon was allegedly awarded the 3 Crowns which now appear in the Lovat Arms for these three acts of bravery. At the end of the day, he was captured by the
English and executed with great cruelty by King Edward in 1306, in the same barbaric fashion as Wallace. At the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, Sir Simon's cousin, Sir Alexander Fraser of Cowie, was much more fortunate. He fought at Bannockburn, married Bruce's sister,
and became Chamberlain of Scotland. The Frasers of Philorth trace their lineage from Alexander. At
the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333, Alexander Fraser's three younger brothers, Simon Fraser of Lovat, Andrew,
and James, were killed while fighting the English.
As most all Highlanders, the Frasers have been involved in countless instances
of Clan warfare, particularly against the Macdonalds. Two Gaelic war cries of the Frasers have been generally recognized.
The first, "Caisteal Dhuni" (Castle Dounie/Downie) refers to the ancestral Castle and Clan seat, which once existed
near the present Beaufort Castle. The second is "A Mhòr-fhaiche" (The Great Field).
In 1544, the Frasers fought a great clan battle, the Battle of the Shirts (Blar-ne-Léine in Gaelic) against the Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald, over the disputed chiefship of Clan Ranald. The Frasers, as part of a large
coalition, backed a son of the 5th Chief, Ranald Gallda (the Stranger), which the MacDonalds found unacceptable. The
Earl of Argyll intervened, refusing to let the two forces engage. But on their march home,
the 300 Frasers were ambushed by 500 MacDonalds. Only five Frasers and eight MacDonalds are said to have survived the battle.
Both the Lovat Chief, Hugh Fraser, and his son were amongst the dead and were buried at Beauly Priory.
Robert Mor Munro, 15th chief of Clan Munro, was a staunch supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots, and he consequently was treated favourably by her son, James VI. Robert was also a faithful friend of Mary. Scottish historian George Buchanan, a contemporary, wrote that when the unfortunate princess went to Inverness
in 1562: "as soon as they heard of their sovereign's danger, a great number of the most eminent Scots poured in around her,
especially the Frasers and Munros, who were esteemed the most 'valiant of the clans inhabiting those countries in the north.'
" These two clans took Inverness Castle for the Queen. The Queen later hanged the governor, a Gordon who had refused her admission.
In 1571 the Clan Fraser joined forces with the Clan Forbes in their centuries-long feud against the Clan Gordon. The Frasers and Forbes
were joined by Clan Keith and Clan Crichton. The Gordons were joined by Clan Leslie, Clan Irvine and Clan Seton. The feud culminated in two full scale battles: the Battle of Tillieangus and
the Battle of Craibstone. At the first, the 6th Lord Forbes's youngest son, known as Black Aurther Forbes, was killed.
During the Wars of the Three Kingdoms of 1644–1650, the Clan was as active as ever, supporting the cause of
the Covenanters.
In 1645, at the Battle of Auldearn, in Nairnshire, the Clan opposed the Royalist leader James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose, and fought under a Fraser of Struy (from a small village at the mouth of Glen Strathfarrar). The battle left eighty-seven Fraser widows
In 1689, the Glorious Revolution deposed the Roman Catholic King James VII as monarch of England, replacing the King with his Protestant daughter Mary and her husband and cousin William of Orange. Swiftly following in March, a Convention of the Estates was convened in Edinburgh,
which supported William & Mary as joint monarchs of Scotland. However, to much of Scotland, particularly in the Highlands,
James was still considered the rightful, legitimate King.
Bonnie Dundee
On 16 April 1689 John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, raised the royal standard of the recently deposed King James VII on the hilltop
of Dundee Law. Many of the Highland clans rallied swiftly to his side. The chief of the Clan
Fraser, Thomas Fraser, tried to keep the members of his clan from joining the uprising, to no avail:
The Clan marched without him, and fought at the Battle of Killiecrankie. In 1690, Thomas gave in and joined them.
The Fifteen
The Clan Fraser was split during the first Jacobite rising in 1715. While some supported the Jacobite cause, Simon "the Fox" Fraser, Chief
at the time, supported the British Government. In 1715, a force led by Simon, who had been outlawed by the Stewarts and was
in exile, surrounded the Jacobite garrison in Inverness. The Clan MacDonald of Keppoch attempted to relieve the garrison, but when their path was blocked by the Frasers,
Keppoch retreated.The Inverness garrison surrendered to Fraser on the same day that the Battle of Sheriffmuir was fought.
The Forty-Five
On 2 August 1745, a frigate successfully landed Bonnie Prince Charlie, grandson of James VII with his seven men of Moidart on the island of Eriskay in the Outer Hebrides. He would go on to raise the royal standard at Glenfinnan, and led the second Jacobite rising in Scotland. The by-now-infamous Simon "the
Fox" Fraser supported the Jacobites and Bonnie Prince Charlie during The '45. One very strong reason was that Simon had been created Duke of Fraser, Marquess of Beaufort, Earl of Stratherrick and Abertarf, Viscount of the Aird and Strathglass and Lord Lovat and Beauly in the Jacobite Peerage of Scotland by James Francis Edward Stuart in 1740. Frasers were on the front lines of the
Jacobite army at the Battle of Falkirk, and the Battle of Culloden in 1746.
Culloden
The Battle of Culloden in 1746 was a decisive defeat for the Jacobites and the House of Stuart. At
the battle, Frasers made up the largest Centre Regiment of the Front line, with 400 men under Charles Fraser of Inverallochy, and Simon Fraser, Master of Lovat. The Fox was not present at the battle, reportedly trying to
gather dispersed Clansmen to fight.
Being on the front line, the Frasers were one of the few units to actually
close with Government forces, breaking through Barrell's regiment with 800-900 other Highlanders. The Frasers were massacred
by the Government second line. Hundreds may lie buried in a mass grave underneath the Fraser gravestone at Culloden. Each
clan had its own grave.
Today the Clan Fraser is composed of many thousands all over the world. Large
Fraser populations exist in the United States and Canada, and smaller populations are in Australia, New Zealand (both of which
have had Fraser Prime ministers), and South Africa, not to mention those who never left Scotland. In 1951, the
Lord Lovat Simon Christopher Joseph Fraser was able to muster some 7,000 Frasers to the family seat at Beaufort Castle,
and in 1997, some 30-40,000 Frasers from 21 different countries came to Castle Fraser over a period of four days for a world-wide Clan gathering
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLAN GORDON
The Gordons had their Scottish origin in the Berwickshire lands of Gordon. As a Norman family they became
settled there under David I and retained estates for three centuries. Sir Adam de Gordon was one of the ambassadors who conveyed
to the Pope the 1320 Declaration of National Independence, the first of its kind. For this and other services, Robert the
Bruce granted him land forfeited by the Cummings at Strathbogie in Aberdeenshire. From that centre the Gordons came to exert
great power (their chief was often called “The Cock of the North”) and often feuded with neighboring clans. In
1777 and 1794 they founded the regiments that became the Gordon Highlanders.
Septs for Clan Gordon include the following names: Adam, Adams, Adamson, Addie,
Addison, Adie, Aitchison, Aiken, Aitken, Atkin, Atkins, Atkinson, Barrie, Connon, Craig, Cromb, Crombie, Cullen, Darg, Darge,
Dorward, Duff, Durward, Eadie, Eddie, Edie, Edison, Esslemont, Gardiner, Gardner, Garioch, Garrick, Garriock, Geddes, Gerrie,
Huntly, Jessiman, Jopp, Jupp, Laing, Lang, Laurie, Lawrie, Leng, Marr, Maver, Mavor, Meldrum, Mill, Mills, Miln, Milne, Milnes,
Moir, More, Morrice, Morris, Muir, Mylne, Tod, Todd, Troup
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLAN GRANT
A correction to our prior information was sent to us by Clan Grant. They would prefer that any
members interested in their history check their web site at: http://www.clangrant.org.uk/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLAN GUNN
Clan Gunn claims descent from the Norse Jarls or Earls of Orkney and from the ancient Celtic Mormaers of Caithness
through Ragnhild, daughter of Moddan in Dale, son of Moddan, Mormaer (High Steward) of Caithness, who was killed in 1040,
and granddaughter of Saint Rognvald, Jarl of Orkney, who married Gunni, the reputed name-father of the Clan. Gunni was himself
a grandson of Sweyn Asleif's-son, the 'Ultimate Viking' and hero of the Orkneyinga Saga.
Sweyn Asleif's-son had his long hall on the island of Gairsay, off the east coast of the Mainland of Orkney
and lands in Caithness at Freswick, a few miles south of Duncansbay. The principal Gunn lands were, however, acquired through
Ragnhild, who inherited great estates in Caithness and Sutherland on the death of her brother, Harold Ungi, Jarl in Orkney
and Earl of Caithness in 1198.
These were inherited by Snaekoll (White head) Gunni's-son the second chief of the Clan. His rights to the
Norse Earldom were, however, forfeited as he had murdered John, the then Jarl in Orkney, over a land claim dispute arising
from their mutual descent from the ancient Jarls of Orkney. Thus from the middle of the 13th century the Gunns were essentially
a Caithness family.
At this time Clan Gunn were at the height of their power. They appeared to possess virtually the whole of
Caithness, which was then passing from the influence of the Norse Earldom to that of the King of Scots. Snaekoll Gunni's-son
is reputed to have built Castle Gunn at Bruan, on the east coast of Caithness south of Wick. There is a tradition that Castle
Gunn was destroyed by the King of Norway, whose daughter one of the Gunn chiefs had married, though he already had a wife
at Castle Gunn. When the second wife sailed to Caithness to join her husband, the Gunn clan arranged for the beacon to be
placed on a dangerous rock at Ulbster and so wrecked the ship and all aboard were drowned. The castle was destroyed in revenge
and the Gunn chief and his retainers were slain.
Little is known of the history of the Clan during the 13th and 14th century and it is not until the 15th century
that history records the exploits of the Clan and its chiefs. Nonetheless, it is clear that during the 14th and 15th centuries
the Gunns were gradually dispossessed of their lands in the fertile parts of Caithness by the Sinclairs, Keiths and others,
who obtained grants of land from the Scottish kings, anxious to increase their influence over the fringes of their kingdom.
Consequently by the mid 15th century George Gunn of Ulbster, Chief of Clan Gunn and Crowner of Caithness, held his main lands
at Ulbster and Clyth on the rocky coast of Caithness, and the majority of the Clan by then occupied the highland regions of
Caithness in what are now the Parishes of Latheron, Halkirk and Reay.
It was George Gunn, the Crowner, also known as "Am Braisdeach Mor", or "Big Broochy" from the insignia worn
by the Gunn Chiefs, as Crowners of Caithness, who after many skirmishes with Clan Keith over rival land claims sought to reach
a conciliation with the Keiths at St. Tayre's Chapel, near Ackergill Tower, the seat of Keith of Ackergill in 1478 (other
say 1464) and was killed in the unequal battle at the chapel where the Keiths arrived for the twelve-aside parlay with two
men to each horse. In 1978 the Earl of Kintore, Chief of Clan Keith and Iain Gunn of Banniskirk, the Commander of Clan Gunn,
signed a Treaty of Friendship between the two clans at the site of the chapel, bringing to end the 500 year old feud.
After the death of George, the Crowner, and his sons at Ackergill, the Clan split into three distinct families
-- James or Seumas, the Crowner's eldest son who survived the battle, moved with his family to Kildonan in Sutherland, subsequently
known as Gleann na Guineach or Gunn's Glen, where he obtained lands from the Earls of Sutherland; Robert, the second surviving
son established his line in Braemore, in the southern heights of Caithness as the Robson Gunns, and John, the third surviving
son settled in Cattaig or Bregual in Strathmore, in the higher reaches of the River Thurso above Westerdale.
The Hendersons and Williamsons and Wilsons of Caithness are said to be descended from Henry and William, two
of the Crowners' younger sons. Other Gunn families established themselves at Crosskirk, near Forss, on the North coast of
Caithness and in Reay, Strathy and Strath Halladale in the MacKay country. The various chieftains leased their lands from
the Chiefs of Clan Sutherland and Clan MacKay and in turn sublet these to their immediate families who subdivided them among
their families. There was, however, a surprising amount of movement from one part of the country to another and so it cannot
be assumed that all Gunns in one area were necessarily all of the same branch of the family.
Indeed many clansmen do not bear the surname of Gunn. Surnames were not commonly used until comparatively
recent times. They would have been of little use where everybody was of the same clan. A man or a woman was therefore known
as John or Jean mac Sheumais or mac Dhaidh, son or daughter of James or David, of Clan Gunn, and when a surname came to be
used many adopted their father's name and hence John or Jean Robson, Georgeson, Williamson etc.
The Mac Sheumais (or McHamish) Gunns continued to live in Strath Kildonan, first at Killearman and later at
Badenloch at the top of the Strath, until the old line died out in 1782.
The chiefship of the Clan has been dormant since the death of the son of George Gunn of Rhives in 1874. The
head of the Clan, in the absence of a recognized chief is Iain Gunn of Banniskirk, who has been appointed Commander of the
Clan by the Lord Lyon King of Arms at the request of the landed and armigerous members of the Clan.
The Clan Gunn Society which was formed in 1960 to promote a spirit of kinship among members of the clan throughout
the world acquired the Old Parish Church at Latheron as a Clan Heritage Center. The Clan gathers in Caithness every three
years.
Material from The Clan Gunn and Its Country, published by the Clan Gunn Heritage Center, Latheron,
Caithness.
================================================================================
CLAN HOME
“Home” pronounced “Hume” and frequently spelled in this manner, comes from the lands
in Berwickshire acquired in marriage by a 13th Century descendent of the Northumbrian Earl Gospatrick, ancestor also of the
Dunbars. By further marriages the Homes extended widely over the east Borderland and participated fully in its wars and forays.
David Hume (1711-76), philosopher-historian and indirect inspirer of many efforts to bring logic into practical history, also
John Home, minister unfrocked for producing his poetic drama Douglas in 1756, might both
claim family predeccors. Lord Kames, the lawyer-philosopher, and Lady Grizel Baillie, the balladist were also from the clan.
Members were sometimes described as the “Haughty Homes” because of all their lofty achievements.
Septs: Ayton, Buncle, Bunkle, Dunbar, Eaton, Greenlaw, Haliburton, Holm, Landale, Landels, Mack, McHolm, Nesbitt,
Nisbet, Wedderburn
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
CLAN HUNTER
The first Hunters arrived in Ayrshire in the opening years of the 12th century. Experts in hunting and fieldcraft
with generations of experience in the forests of their land of origin, these Norman lords were invited to Scotland by Scottish
King David I who was himself brought up in the Norman court. In papers relating to the King’s Inquisition in 1116, we
|
