Clan Tartans |
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The Barony of Dalzell in Lanarkshire is the origin to this name. A kinsman of King Kenneth II, so it is said, was hanged and the King offered a great reward to the man who could rescue the body. A man stepped forward and exclaimed 'DalZell, which in old Scots means 'I dare'. the family held the lands in Lanarkshire and Dumfries-shire and a cadet branch built the House of the Binns in West Lothian. |
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Donald Dubh of Invernahavon, Chief of The Davidsons, married a daughter of Angus, 6th Mackintosh of Mackintosh, and sought protection from William, 7th of Mackintosh, before 1350, thus becoming associated with the Clan Chattan Confederation. The clan became known as Clan Dhai. |
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The first record of this name is Willian de Douglas, who lived in the 12th century. Grants of land were made to Sir James Douglas, one of Robert bruce's chief lieutenants. At one time they they became the most powerful family in Scotland, and because of their strength and wealth were a constant threat to the Stewart Kings. This was the main reason for their title and estates being forfeited in 1455. |
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The surname derives from the lands of Drymen in Stirlingshire. Malcolm Beg, Steward of the Earldom of Strathdearn in 1255, is the first recorded and his son, Sir Malcolm, took the name of Drummond. Margaret Drummond married King David II in 1364, and Annabella Drummond married King Robert III. |
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Crinan the Thane and Seneschal of the Isles was father of King Duncan I and of Maldred, whose son. Gospatric, became Earl of Northumbria in 1067. In 1072, he was deprived of that Earldom by William the Conqueror, and coming to Scotland for refuge, was given the Earldom of Dunbar by King Malcolm III. |
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Descended from the Earls of Atholl, the name was taken from a chief of Clan Donnachaidh,'Fat Duncan', who led the clan at Bannockburn. Considered as a sept of Clan Donnachaidh, the Duncans possessed lands in Forfarshire including the barony of Lundie and the estate of Gourdie. |
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Serle de Dundas is recorded in the reign of William the Lion. The lands of Dundas were obtained by charter from Waldeve, son of Gospatric, most probably in the reign of Malcolm IV. They were undoubtably a great Lowland family who played a prominent part in the legal affairs of the nation from the time of Sir James, 1st Lord Arniston, who lived in the 17th century. |
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A family of Southern Scotland, one of the great 'riding' clans of the borders. The Elliots of Redheugh were recognised as the principal family. One fell at Flodden and one became Captain of Hermitage Castle near Langholm. |
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The name derives from the barony of Erskine in Renfrewshire and was held by Henry de Erskine in the reigh of Alexander II. Sir Thomas de Erskine married Janet Keith, grand-daughter of Lady Eline de Mar, and their son Robert, became heir to one of the oldest Celtic Earldoms and Chief of the ancient 'tribe of the Land' of Mar. |
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Farquhar, son of Alexander Ciar, 3rd Shaw of Rothiemurchus in Strathspey, was originator of this clan, and came to braemar before the end of the 14th century. His son, Donald, married Isobel Stewart, heiress of Invercauld, and he was appointed keeper of the king's forests of braemar. Faquhar's son, Finlay Mor, first Farquharson of Invercauld, was killed at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547. |
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The first settlement of this clan would appear to have been at K intyre.Kilkerran, the seat of the Fergusson chiefs in Ayrshire is the modern Gaelic form of the name Campbeltown, and is named after St Ciaran, one of the 12 apostles of Ireland, who landed at Dalruadhain in the 6th century. |
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This name means arrow maker and is therefore found all over Scotland. The Fletchers followed the clans for whom they made arrows. Andrew Fletcher of Saltoun (1653-1716) was a member of Parliament who bitterly opposed the Duke of Lauderdale, later James VII and II, in their plans to devolve power from Scotland to England. He was exiled, but returned at the time of William and Mary, defiantly leading the anti-unionist movement. |
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The Clan Forbes is said to originate from one Ochonochar, who slew a bear and won the up until then uninhabitable braes of Forbes in Aberdeenshire. His family settled there and a charter of 1271 altered the tenure to feudal. Alexander de Forbes was one of the fiercest opponents of King Edward I of England and lost his life defending the Castle of Urquhart beside Loch Ness. |
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The name could be from the Gaelic Fearsithe, meaning 'man of peace'. Robert de Fauside signed the Ragman Roll in 1296. Later Forsyth chiefs became members of the Royal Stewart household at Falkland and their arms are shown in the 16th armorials. |
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The world-wide family of Fraser traces it's ancestry to Anjou and Normandy. There is evidence to suggest that they sailed with William the Conquereor in 1066. The main line of Fraser developed from Sir Gilbert of Touch-Fraser, who died in 1263. Sir Laurence Abernethy was created 1st Lord Saltoun in 1445. |
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