According to tradition, a Fleming named Freskin was given land by King David I in the area known as "Moray" (in Gaelic 'Moireabh' which means 'sea-settlement') in the 12th century and his descendants took the name of the area. Over time it became Murray, the most common "territorial" name in Scotland. One branch became the Earl of Sutherland and another branch, by marriage, Lords of Bothwell in Lanarkshire. Sir Andrew de Moray was an ally of William Wallace and participated in the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. By further advantageous marriages ( a standard event in those days) the Murray family inherited lands in Abercairney and Tullibardine in eastern Perthshire and in time the Murrays became the Dukes of Atholl with estates covering 300,000 acres. A descendant became the Earl of Mansfield who built the magnificent Palace at Scone. The 6th Duke of Atholl founded the Atholl Highlanders who so delighted Queen Victoria that she granted the Duke the right to bear arms, a unique privilege for an individual in the UK. The clan motto "Furth Forth and Fill the Fetters" dates from 1475 when the Earl of Atholl was sent by King James II to suppress the Lord of the Isles.
Murray was the 12th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.
The clan motto is "Furth fortune and fill the fetters". _________________ FOA BOB -
Napier Tartan Believed to have descended from the Celtic royal families through the Earls of Lennox, the name is thought to derive from the occupational name of "naperer" who looked after the linen in the royal household. However, the name is first recorded at the end of the 13th century when Malcolm, Earl of Lennox granted lands at Kilmahew in Dunbartonshire, to John de Naper. These lands were held by Napiers for 18 generations, finally being sold in 1820.
Alexander Napier was the 1st Laird of Merchiston in Edinburgh and became Lord Provost of the city. Early in the 15th century, his son was wounded rescuing the widow of King James I from rebels and James II made him Comptroller of the Royal Household in 1440. Alexander's grandson, John, was killed at the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488. The next Laird of Merchiston and his son were both killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1413.
The 7th Laird of Merchsiton, John Napier, (1550-1617) developed the system of logarithms and his son Archibald accompanied James VI to London in 1603 when he became king of England also. Archibald subsequently became a Baronet of Nova Scotia and then Baron Napier of Merchiston.
Another branch of the Napiers became lords of Napier and Ettrick in 1627 with a seat at Thirlestane castle. Later Napiers served in the Napoleonic Wars (there were six British generals and one admiral named Napier at that time) and the 8th Lord Napier was captured during the American War of Independence.
The Napier clan motto is "Sans tache" which means "Without stain". _________________ FOA BOB -
MacNicol(red) MacNicol Ancient Hunting Some elements of the name Nicolson are thought to derive from the Norse personal name Olsen and "Nic" - the Gaelic for "daughter of". Another origin could be a corruption of Nicolassen - Haakon, the last Norse king to attempt an invasion of Scotland, sent a war party to Scotland under Anders Nicolassen and tradition says that he settled in Scotland after the Viking defeat at the Battle of Largs in 1263 and the Treaty of Perth in 1266. The Nicolson clan chief of that line is said to have died in 1340, leaving no sons.
There was also a Lowland origin of the name with Norman ancestry - Malcolm fiz Nicol rendered homage in 1296 and William Nicholai was a burgess in Glasgow from 1419-21.
The Nicolsons of Lasswade were established in Midlothian for many generations and a knighthood was conferred in the 17th century. In the 18th century, Sir William Nicolson married four times and had 23 children.
While MacNicol is a Highland variation on the name, a branch in Skye Anglicised the name to Nicholson and that form is now found around the Hebrides. Alexander Morison Nicolson became a successful shipbuilder in China and he founded the Nicolson Institute in Stornoway. The Skye line established a chief of "Clann Mhic Neacail Scorrabreac" which is now known as Clan MacNicol. That line continues in the person of Ian Nicholson, a sheep farmer in New South Wales. In 1983 another Nicolson was granted recognition as chief of "Nicolson of that Ilk" as he was a descendant of the Nicolsons of Lasswade.
The Nicolson clan motto is "Generositate" which means "By generosity" and that for MacNicol is "Sgorra Bhreac" which means "Grey Ridge". _________________ FOA BOB -
Ogilvy Hunting Ogilvy Crest
The name is derived from a Brethonic word "Ocel-fa" meaning a high plain. Ogilvie was a province of the Picts in Angus (there is still a Glen Ogilvie there), ruled by a mormaer, who became the first earls in the area. In the 12th century Gillebride, Earl of Angus gave the lands of Ogilvy to his son who anglicised his name to Gilbert. The Ogilvys were hereditary sheriffs of Angus in the 14th and 15th centuries.
Early in the 15th century, Sir Patrick Ogilvy commanded the Scottish contingent fighting with Joan of Arc against the English and was called "Viscomte d'Angus". Later in the 15th century, Walter Ogilvy was Lord High Treasurer of Scotland. His eldest son, John, obtained the castle and lands of Airlie in 1459 and other descendants became Earls of Seafield and Deskford. John's descendants became Lord Ogilvy of Airlie. Ogilvys spread over large parts of Aberdeenshire and Banffshire.
The Jesuit martyr John Ogilvie was hanged at Glasgow Cross for refusing to accept the supremacy of King James VI in spiritual matters. He was canonised in 1976, the last Scot to be so honoured.
The Ogilvys were staunch supporters of the Stewart monarchy and joined Montrose in his campaign; the earl's second son was killed at the Battle of Inverlochy in 1645. The Ogilvys had a violent feud with the Lindsays and there was a clan battle at Montrose in 1646 when the Ogilvys suffered heavy losses. A feud with the Campbells resulted in the "Bonny Hoose o' Airlie" being burned to the ground.
Lord Ogilvy joined the 1715 Jacobite Uprising and his grandson raised a regiment in support of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745.
Clementine Ogilvy Hozier, wife of Winston Churchill, was a descendant through the female line of David, 6th Earl of Ogilvy. The present chief served as Lord Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth II and Angus Ogilvie, the chief's brother, married Princess Alexandra.
The Ogilvy clan motto is "Ŕ fin" which means "To the end".
Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Ogilvy clan include Airlie, Findlater, Gilchrist, MacGilchrist, Milne, Richardson and Storie. _________________ FOA BOB -
The surname Paterson is derived from "Son of the devotee of Patrick" ie St Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Patrick initially became a popular first name. Later, as surnames started to be used, there was a Clan Pheadirean (the Gaelic name is MacPhadraig) on the northern shores of Loch Fyne, Argyllshire in the 13th century. The name spread across the Lowlands of Scotland and nowadays Paterson/Patterson is amongst the 20 most frequently found surnames in Scotland. Other variants on the name include Peterson and Patison.
In the 15th century, William Paterson became Provost (mayor) of Aberdeen and in the 16th century Fyndlay Patersoun leased land from the Abbey of Cupar in Angus. The most famous bearer of the name was William Paterson, a Dumfriesshire farmer's son, who founded the Bank of England in 1694 and, later, promoted the disastrous Darien Scheme in Panama which collapsed in 1700.
During the 1745 Jacobite Uprising, Sir Hugh Paterson of Bannockburn entertained Prince Charles Edward Stuart in January 1746. Sir Hugh's niece, Clementine Paterson, became the Prince's mistress and bore him a daughter in France in 1753.
Castle Huntly in Perthshire belonged to a Paterson family from 1777 to 1948.
The Paterson clan motto is "Huc tendimus omnes" which means "We all strive for this".
Paterson was the 18th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995. _________________ FOA BOB -
Ramsay Tartan The name originated from a place in Huntingdonshire and Sir Symon de Ramesie was one of the many Norman knights who accompanied King David I when he returned to Scotland in 1124. Sir Symon was granted land in Midlothian but by the 13th century the family had become established not only in Dalhousie, Midlothian but also in Angus and Banff (on the Moray Firth). Neis de Ramsay from Banff was a physician to King Alexander II in the first half of the 13th century. William of Dalhousie was one of the signatories to the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320.
Sir Alexander Ramsay successfully defended Dalhousie Castle against King Henry IV of England in 1400 and, in 1513, another Alexander Ramsay died at the Battle of Flodden. His son, Nicolas, supported Mary Queen of Scots and also King James VI. John Ramsay (a grandson of Nicolas) killed the Earl of Gowrie when they appeared to be attempting to kidnap King James VI in what became known as the "Gowrie Conspiracy" in 1600. As a result of this service, John was created Earl of Holderness. His son, who was created Earl of Dalhousie, fought at the Battle of Marston Moor in 1644 during the Civil War.
Allan Ramsay In the 18th century, Allan Ramsay, originally a wig maker in Edinburgh, established what was probably the first lending library in Britain. He became a poet and collector and publisher of early Scottish poetry and built a house on Castle Hill which is now part of Ramsay Gardens, overlooking Princes Street in Edinburgh. The illustration here shows the statue to the poet standing in Princes Street Gardens, below Edinburgh Castle. His son, also Allan, became a famous portrait painter.
In the 19th century, the 9th Earl of Dalhousie was Governor General of Canada from 1819 to 1828 (and, later, commander-in-chief of India). His son was Governor General of India from 1847 to 1856. Sir William Ramsay was a distinguished chemist and discovered several new gases and was awarded the Nobel prize for chemistry in 1904. Dalhousie Castle is now a hotel and the seat of the Ramsay chief is Brechin Castle in Angus.
There is a clan Ramsay Web site here.
The Ramsay clan motto is "Ora et Labora" which means "Pray and Work". _________________ FOA BOB -
There are claims that the Robertsons are the oldest documented clan in Scottish history, descended from the Celtic Earls of Atholl, who in turn were from a line of the kings of Dalriada. Conan, the second son of Henry, 3rd Earl of Atholl inherited extensive lands including Glenorchie. His descendant, Duncan, was the first chief of the Clan Donnachaidh. When surnames began to emerge, they adopted Robertson of Struan from Robert, the 4th chief. (Others adopted names such as Duncanson, MacConochie, Collier and Reid). Robert obtained a charter for his lands in 1451. Other Robertson families were Robertson of Lude and Robertson of Straloch. The first recorded Robertson was in 1371 but his origins are unknown.
The Robertsons were loyal to Robert the Bruce and to the Stewart kings - Alastair the 17th chief took up arms for the Stewarts in 1689, was pardoned in 1703 but took part in both the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite Uprisings.
There are Robertsons in many parts of Scotland with a concentration in Dundee and Perth. It is the fifth most common name in Scotland. The present chief is Alexander Haldane Robertson and there is a Clan Museum between Blair Atholl and Struan.
The clan motto is "Virtutis gloria merces" ("Glory is the reward of valour"). _________________ FOA BOB -
The gaelic word "ros" means a "headland" and is often used as part of place names in Scotland. There was an ancient Celtic earldom of Ross in the north-east of Scotland, in what is now the county of Ross and Cromarty, between the Cromarty and Dornoch Firths, north of Inverness. The clan was sometimes referred to as Clan Anrias or Gille Andras/Gillanders, the old Celtic Earls of Ross, who were said to have descended from Gillianrias, the son of the hereditary abbot at the monastery of Applecross.
In 1214, when Alexander II led an army to the north to repress a rebellion by Donald Bane, who was claiming the throne, Clan Ross assisted the king and was rewarded with the title Earl of Ross. The Rosses fought at the Battle of Largs against the Vikings in 1263.
The clan and their chief served with distinction in the Wars of Independence against the English. Their chief was captured at the Battle of Dunbar in 1296 and was taken as a prisoner to London. He was released but was captured again while protecting Robert the Bruce's wife and daughter at the shrine of St Duthac in Tain. The clan fought bravely at Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and the earl's seal is one of those on the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320. Hugh Ross married a sister of Robert the Bruce and fell at the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333.
The earldom was forfeited when the Lord of the Isles was defeated in 1476 but the surname survived and the chieftainship devolved to the Rosses of Balnagowan near Tain. The 12th chief led 1,000 of his clansmen against Oliver Cromwell at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. However, many were captured and transported to the colonies in New England.
After a long struggle with the neighbouring clan MacKays, the clan Ross was defeated at a battle at Strathcarron by the Mackays in 1486 and never recovered. Despite this, Ross is still one of the five most frequent names in the northern Highlands and the 16th most frequently registered in the whole of Scotland in 1995.
A Norman family called de Ros settled in south-west Scotland in the 11th century and some of their descendants also became known as "Ross" or sometimes "Rose". At one time they managed to convince the Lord Lyon that they were the chieftains of the clan Ross but this was overturned in 1903 and David Ross of Ross and Shandwick is the current chief.
The Ross motto is "Spem successus alit" - literaly, "Success nourishes hope", which nowadays we would call "Success breeds success".
The Corbet, Dingwall, Duthie, Fair, Gillanders, Haggart, McLulich, MacTaggart, MacTear, MacTire, Taggart, Train, Vass and Wass families are all regarded as septs (sub-branches) of the powerful Clan Ross. _________________ FOA BOB -
Russell Tartan This name is probably derived from "rous" meaning red and early bearers of the name no doubt had red hair - and were probably of Norman or French extraction. While the name is by no means confined to Scotland, it is within the top 50 most frequently found names in the country.
The name is one of the earliest surnames recorded in Scotland, the first being a Walter Russell who witnessed a charter in Paisley Abbey some time between 1164 and 1177. John, son of Robert Russel of Duncanlaw granted land to found a Hospital between 1180 and 1220. Robert Russel of Berwickshire was a big enough landowner to be required to sign the Ragman Roll and pay homage to Edward I in 1296.
Russels can be found in Aberdeenshire where Rozel, an English baron who had fought at the siege of Berwick and the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333, obtained an estate at Aden. The family was described as "Russel of that Ilk" implying that they were substantial landowners. As such, Russel is one of the clans and families of Scotland with a coat of arms recognised by the Lord Lyon.
Not all Russells were recorded for their good works. Jerome Russell, a monk, was burned at the stake in the High Street, Glasgow, for heresy in 1539.
There was a significant family of Russels in Selkirkshire in the Scottish Borders and many entered military service in India in the 18th and 19th centuries.
In England, a family which began with a Rufus (another form of Russell), rose to become the Dukes of Bedford. The 3rd son of the 6th Duke of Bedford studied at Edinburgh University where he was greatly influenced by the independent and democratic philosophy taught there. He became a great Reformer and was an architect of extending the franchise for the Westminster parliament in the first Reform Act of 1832. His grandson, the 3rd Earl Russell, was also an independent thinker, better known as the philosopher Bertrand Russell.
Russell was the 47th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995. _________________ FOA BOB -
Rutherford Crest The name is from the lands of Rutherford in Roxburghshire in the Scottish Borders. There is some debate as to whether the placename is derived from a man named Ruther who guided an ancient king of the Scots over a little-known ford on the river Tweed or from "Rue the Ford" after an English army had been defeated crossing the river.
There are records of Robert de Rutherford witnessing a charter by King David I around 1140 and there was a Gregory and Nicholas de Rutherford in the reign of William the Lion and King Alexander II (1165-1249). Others appear in the reign of Alexander III (1249-1286). Two Rutherfords signed the Ragman Roll in 1296, as required of 2,000 prominent landowners by King Edward I of England. Sir Richard Rutherford was a favourite of King Robert III at the end of the 14th century and was an ambassador to England in 1398.
The Rutherfords were well known for their raids into Northumberland. Thomas Rutherford, the Black Laird of Edgerston, turned the tide at a battle at Carterfell in 1575. A descendant of that Laird fought on behalf of Charles I during the Civil War in the next century but he was severely wounded and many of his men were killed at the Battle of Dunbar in 1650. Lieutenant General Andrew Rutherford was raised to the peerage in 1663 and later became Governor of Tangier in Morocco. The title became extinct when he died without issue.
Sir Walter Scott's maternal grandfather was John Rutherford and his son Daniel was the discoverer of nitrogen. Ernest Rutherford (later Lord Rutherford) won the Nobel Prize for chemistry in 1908 and is also known as the "father of atomic power" having named the proton and propounded the theory of smashing the atom. His father had emigrated to New Zealand in 1841.
The Rutherford clan motto is "Nec sorte nec fato" which means "Neither by chance nor fate". _________________ FOA BOB -
One of the most powerful of the Border families, the name was derived from the Scots who invaded Dalriada (Argyll) from Ireland and the surname is found in all parts of Scotland. The name would often have been applied to people who spoke Gaelic in the English speaking Lowlands, rather than someone who originated in the west of Scotland. The first record of the name Scott is when Uchtred filius Scot witnessed the foundation charter of Selkirk in 1120. "Uchtred" is in fact a good English name of the time and he probably came from south of the border. Henricus le Scotte witnessed a charter by David Earl of Strathearn around 1195.
Michael Scott "the wizard" originated in the Tweed Valley but lived in Fife where he gained his reputation for magic. In the last quarter of the 13th century the Scotts appear in Fife when Michael Lescot agreed to serve King Edward I of England overseas. (In the 16th century author Sir John Scott would build Scotstarvit Tower near Cupar in Fife which is now a prominent landmark).
In the Ragman Roll (all nobles and landed gentry were required to sign by Edward I in 1296) there are six Scott lairds. One of these, Sir Richard le Scot of Murthoxton (now Murdostoun) in Lanarkshire may have acquired those lands by marriage - he also had estates in Selkirkshire. It is his line which became established and spread out between Ettrickdale and Liddesdale. Sir Michael Scott, 2nd Laird of Buccleuch was a staunch supporter of Robert the Bruce and distinguished himself at the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333. The Lanarkshire estate was exchanged for Branxholm in Selkirkshire as the family became more and more established in the Borders. In the 15th century, as was common in the Borders, the Scotts quarrelled frequently with their neighbours, particularly the Kerrs. The feud caused the deaths of both chiefs and was only resolved by marriage during the chieftainship of the 10th Laird. The 13th Baron was created Lord Scott of Buccleuch by James VI and in 1619 Lord Scott was created an Earl. The male line failed and Anne, Countess of Buccleuch married the illegitimate son of King Charles II, the Duke of Monmouth. Charles created the couple Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch but the Duke supported the protestant cause and at one stage led an unsuccessful rebellion against King Charles. The third Duke of Buccleuch married the heiress of the Duke of Queensberry (the Douglas family) and became one of the richest men in Britain. In the 19th century, Sir Walter Scott (from a junior branch, the Scotts of Harden) changed Scotland's image forever. The Duke of Buccleuch today is one of the largest landowners in Scotland and the art collections at the family's great houses of Drumlanrig, Bowhill and Boughton are internationally famous.
The clan motto is "Amo" (I love).
The Laidlaw family is regarded as a sept (sub-branch) of the Scott family.
Scott was the 10th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995. _________________ FOA BOB -
Shaw Tartan There are two origins for this name - one in the Highlands and another in the Lowlands.
An Old English word "sceaga" (meaning a small wood or thicket) gave rise to the Shaw name in the Lowlands, particularly in Lanarkshire. There were three landowners from there who were forced (along with thousands of others) to sign the "Ragman Roll" in 1296, swearing loyalty to King Edward I of England. The name spread across southern Scotland and into Northern England and also Ireland (giving rise, later, to George Bernard Shaw).
In the Highlands, the name came from the Gaelic "sithech" meaning "wolf" and was initially used as a first name but became a surname early in the 13th century. Shaw Macduff, a younger son of Duncan, Thane of Fife (a descendant of Kenneth mac Alpin) assisted King Malcolm IV in putting down a rebellion in Moray and he was made keeper of Inverness castle. Shaw's grandson was granted land in Rothiemurchus (in Strathspey). His son married a daughter of the Macdonald Lord of Islay in 1291.
The Shaws and their Mackintosh allies supported Robert the Bruce against the Comyns (Cummings) and took part in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
James Shaw of Rothiemurchus, a descendant of Shaw "Corrfhiaclach" (Bucktooth) is regarded as the first chief of clan Shaw. He was killed at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411. In the 16th century the Rothiemurchus lands were lost after a Shaw chief murdered his stepfather and the lands were forfeited to the Crown who sold them to the Laird of Grant.
The Shaws of Tordarroch (in Strathnairn, south of Inverness) were known as Clan Ay (meaning children of Shaw) and may have been recognised as the chiefs of the Shaws after the collapse of the Rothiemurchus branch. Certainly it was this line which signed the Clan Chattan bonds of union in the 17th century. Tordarroch was held on a lease from clan Mackintosh who reclaimed the land in the late 18th century but it has since been regained by the chiefs of Clan Ay.
Although the Shaws were part of the clan Chattan confederacy, they became dispersed and spread across the Highlands. Variants of the name (Schiches, Schiochs) appeared in Perthshire, Shiachs in Aberdeenshire and Seath in Fife.
The Shaw clan motto is "Fide et fortudine" which means "By faith and fortitude".
Macay is regarded as a sept (sub-branch) of the Shaw clan.
Shaw was the 85th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995 _________________ FOA BOB -
The name Sinclair is derived from Saint-Clair-sur-Elle in Normandy. William de Sancto Claro, whose father had come over with William the Conqueror in 1066, came to Scotland with his wife. There were, however, other members of the St. Clair family who came north also. They became established near Edinburgh and were granted the barony of Rosslyn.
Sir William de St Clair was involved in negotiating the marriage of Yolande de Dreux with King Alexander III. Sir William signed the "Ragman Roll" of King Edward I of England in 1296. His heir, Henry, was initially loyal to the English king but then supported Robert the Bruce and fought at the Battle of Bannockburn. The king granted him lands in the Pentlands, south of Edinburgh. Sir Henry Sinclair died in Spain with Sir James Douglas as they took the heart of Robert the Bruce on a crusade.
Through marriage, the earldom of Orkney was obtained. Henry de St Clair was a notable seaman and probably reached North America a 100 years before Columbus. His son surrendered the Orkney earldom and was created Earl of Caithness in 1445 by King James II. It was Henry who constructed Rosslyn Chapel with its ornate carvings and it was around this time that the spelling "Sinclair" came into use, usually pronounced in Scotland as "Sinkler".
The Sinclair clan motto is "Commit thy work to God".
Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Sinclair clan include Caird, Clyne, Linklater, Lyall and Mason.
Sinclair was the 79th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995 - but in Orkney it is easily the most frequently found surname.. _________________ FOA BOB -
Royal Stewart Dress Stewart The most famous "occupational" name in Scotland, the name is derived from the office of steward (from Old English "stig" meaning house and "weard" meaning keeper). A Norman knight, William Fitz Alain became hereditary Great Steward of Scotland during the reign of King David I and was given estates in Renfrewshire and East Lothian.. His descendants, using the name Stewart, obtained lands in Kintyre, Arran, Cowal and Bute. Other branches of the family became established in Strathearn and Atholl in Perthshire, Appin in Argyll and also in Strathspey.
Walter, the 6th High Steward married Marjory, daughter of Robert the Bruce. Bruce's own son, King David II died childless and Bruce's grandson, Robert Stewart, through Marjory, became King Robert II in 1371, thus starting the Stewart Dynasty which lasted until the death of Queen Anne in 1714. The royal male line of Stewarts probably ended with the death of Bonnie Prince Charlie (though illegitimate descendants continued to the 20th century). Currently, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, is High Steward of Scotland as the female-line descendant of Walter Fitz Alan.
The "Stuart" spelling arose because there was no letter "w" in the French language and Mary Queen of Scots, in particular, became Mary Stuart, following her marriage to the Dauphin of France, later King Francis II.
The Stewart clan motto is "Virescit vulnere virtus" which means "Courage grows strong at a wound".
Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Stewart clan include Cook, Cruickshanks, Duilach, France, Francis, Garrow, Jameson, Jamieson, Lombard, Lorne, MacCamie, MacCloy, MacCombich, MacGlashan, MacKirdy, MacLae, MacLea, MacLeay, MacMichael, MacMunn, MacMutrie, Moodie, Munn, Sharp.
Stewart was the 7th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995. _________________ FOA BOB -
The Vikings called the mainland south of Caithness "Sudrland" or southern land. They occupied all the land as far as a King David I granted a Flemish family Freskin land further south in Moray around 1130. As the power of the Vikings waned the family acquired land further north in Sutherland and by 1235 the first Earl of Sutherland was appointed by King Alexander II. The family split - with those in Moray taking the name Murray and those further north taking the name Sutherland.
Kenneth, the 4th Earl, was killed at the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333 fighting the English army led by Edward III. The 5th Earl was married to the daughter of Robert the Bruce and at one stage their son was heir to the throne but died of the plague. The 6th Earl built the original Dunrobin Castle. In 1651 a contingent of the clan fought with King Charles II when he was defeated at the Battle of Worcester.
There was frequent strife with the Gordon family to the south and at one stage the Gordons usurped the Sutherland earldom. In the 18th century the dispute over succession was heard in the House of Lords and the Countess of Sutherland was confirmed in the title in her own right. She married the Marquis of Stafford who was created 1st Duke of Sutherland in 1833. The Duke and Duchess were responsible for the "improvements" to the estates which resulted in the notorious Clearances and depopulation.The 2nd Duke of Sutherland transformed the original Scottish-styled Dunrobin Castle into a French chateau.
The Clearances and depopulation in Sutherland resulted in many with that name being dispersed but the name is still the 7th most common in the northern Highlands and 54th in the whole of Scotland.
The Sutherland motto is "Sans peur" - "Without fear".
The Duffus, Federith, Norman and O'May families are septs (sub-branches) of Sutherland. _________________ FOA BOB -
From the French word "tailler" which means "to cut", a tailor was originally a cutter of cloth. As such, the name came into use early in Scotland's history - Alexander le Taillur was a valet to King Alexander III in the last quarter of the 13th century. There were six landowners with the name Taylor who were of sufficient stature to be required to sign the "Ragman Roll" of King Edward in August 1296. Their lands ranged in places across Southern and Central Scotland such as Roxburghshire in the Borders, Edinburgh and Lanark, to as far north as the county of Angus.
In the early days, the name was often rendered in the Latin form "cissor" (from which the English word scissor is derived) and around 1137, Walter Cissor was granted land by King David II and William Cissor held a tenement in Edinburgh in 1392. Scissor and Cissor were recorded in Inverness and Perth in the 15th century. But, unlike the name Taylor which became prolific, the Cissor variant died out - possibly with some of the holders changing to Taylor.
The name spread into the Gaelic-speaking Highlands and became Macantaillear and Macintaylor but did not become widespread. However, "Taillear dubh na tuaighe" (Black Taylor of the battle-axe) was a legendary follower of Cameron of Lochiel. A number of Macintaileours were fined for providing shelter to members of the outlawed clan Macgregor in 1613.
James Taylor was involved with William Symington in building the first practical steam-powered ship in 1788. It sailed on Dalswinton Loch and a second vessel, powered by a larger engine, plied the Forth and Clyde canal.
In the first half of the 19th century, Dr John Taylor championed causes of political liberty including the movement for Greek independence from Turkey. At a time when trade unions were frowned on, he became the editor of "Liberator" which advocated the extension of voting rights, by revolution or republicanism if necessary. He was regarded as an extremist in his day, fighting for measures which we take for granted now.
The Taylor clan motto is "In cruce salus" which means "Salvation from the Cross".
Taylor was the 13th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995. _________________ FOA BOB -
"We're all Jock Tamson's bairns" suggests not only that we are all God's children and in the same boat, but that there are lots of Thomsons around. And indeed "son of Thom" has only recently dropped from 3rd to 4th place in the league of most common surnames in Scotland at the General Register Office in 1995. Thomson (without the 'p') is the most frequent spelling in Scotland; Thompson is found more in the North of England and Thomas in Wales.
The name is found most in central Scotland - there was a John Thomson in Ayrshire in 1318 who led part of Edward Bruce's invading army in Ireland on behalf of Robert the Bruce. There are Gaelic equivalents in MacTavish (son of Tammas) and McCombie (son of Tommy) and MacLehose is from the Gaelic 'mac gille Thoimis" or son of St Thomas.
Clan MacThomas was descended from Clan Chattan Mackintoshes and was based initially in Glenshee. The MacThomases supported King Charles I and the Marquis of Montrose but after the defeat of Montrose at the Battle of Philiphaugh, the chief withdrew his men and extended his influence into Glen Prosen and Strathardle. The chief approved of the stable government brought about by Oliver Cromwell and the Commonwealth. Consequently, after the Restoration of King Charles II the MacThomas fortunes declined and the clan drifted apart - some clansmen moving to the Lowlands and changing their name to Thomson or Thomas.
James Thomson (1700-1748) was a poet who wrote "The Seasons" which is regarded as a classic of English literature but is best remembered now for writing "Rule Britannia". Alexander "Greek" Thomson was a 19th century architect of note who is becoming more recognised at the end of the 20th. Robert William Thomson invented the pneumatic tyre in December 1845 and scientist and inventor William Thomson, though born in Belfast, became associated with Glasgow University and became Lord Kelvin. He gave his name to the measurement of temperature "Kelvin".
Clan McThomas, which is the only variant of the name recognised by the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, has a motto "Deo iuvante invidiam superabo" - I will overcome envy with God's help". _________________ FOA BOB -
Ancient Urquhart Tartan This name originated from a place name "Airchart" on the northwest shore of Loch Ness (in the area in which Urquhart Castle is now located, although the Urquharts only occupied it briefly). The name was recorded as far back as the days of St Columba in the 6th century. Translated from Gaelic, it means "by a rowan wood" or "a fort on a knoll." In old Scots spelling, "quh" represented "ch" as in "loch", hence the pronunciation sounding like "Urchart".
William de Urchard supported William Wallace and defended Cromarty (north of Inverness) against the English and supported Robert the Bruce. The Urquharts were rewarded by becoming hereditary sheriffs of Cromarty in the reign of David II, son of Robert the Bruce. Other Urquharts became established in Moray and in Aberdeenshire.
In the 16th century, Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty is reputed to have had 25 sons, 7 of whom were killed at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547 when it is estimated that 15,000 Scots were killed, 1500 captured and English losses amounted to only 500.
John Urquhart, the grandson of Thomas (above) translated the works of the French poet, Rabelais and still had time to fight at the battle of Worcester in 1651 in support of King Charles I. John died in 1660 - supposedly from laughing so much at the restoration of the monarchy when Charles II regained the throne.
The Urquharts participated in the Jacobite Uprising of 1715 and the clan chief died at the Battle of Sheriffmuir. The line of the Urquharts of Cromarty died out in the 18th century but the chief of the clan Urquhart was re-established in 1959 when Wilkins Urquhart, descended from an Urquhart who emigrated to America in the 18th century, established his rights with the Lord Lyon. The seat of the clan is Castle Craig on the Cromarty Firth. It was presented to the 25th clan chief by Major Iain Shaw of Tordarroch - the Shaws had been a neighbouring clan of the Urquharts in earlier times.
The Urquhart clan motto is "Meane weil, speak weil and do weil" which means "Mean well, speak well and do well". _________________ FOA BOB -
The Old English word "waelisc" and the Anglo-Norman word "waleis" meant foreign. It was applied to Cymru, in the west of Britain by the Britons, hence "Wales". In Scotland it may have been applied to Britons who came north but it may also have come to Scotland with King David I - a knight, Sir Richard Walency signed a charter around 1170 and he came from Shropshire (which borders Wales).
The name arises in Ayrshire and Renfrewshire in the 12th century. Adam de Waleys paid allegiance to King Edward I of England in the "Ragman Roll" of 1296. But Malcolm of Elderslie bravely refused. He and his eldest son paid the price and were executed by Sir John Fenwick. His younger son, William Wallace was taken to Dundee for safety but was soon to lead an uprising against the English. During the guerilla war which followed, the high point was the defeat of King Edward I at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, after which Wallace become joint Guardian of Scotland. However, the Scots were defeated ten months later at the Battle of Falkirk. Wallace attempted to keep continue the war but was betrayed and hung in 1305. A Wallace Monument in honour of the national hero was completed in 1869, overlooking the site of the Battle of Stirling Bridge
The Elderslie lands were held by Wallaces until the middle of the 15th century and other branches settled in Craigie near Dundee and in Fife. In 1669 Hugh Wallace of Craigie was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia. For several generations the clan chief lived in Jamaica in the West Indies.
Wallace was the 49th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.
The clan motto is "Pro libertate" - "For liberty".
Wallis is a sept (sub-branch) of the clan Wallace. _________________ FOA BOB -
Watson Ancient Tartan Watt is a form of Walter which also gave rise to the surnames Watson, Walters, Waters, Wattie, MacWatt and (mainly in England) Watts, Watkins and Watkinson. In some cases the name can be found in its full form as Walterson. Walter was originally a Germanic forename derived from "walt" (meaning "rule") and "heri" (meaning "army"). Of the various forms of the name, Watson is found the most frequently and it is the 20th most common name in Scotland. The Watsons have a coat of arms recognised by the Lord Lyon.
There were Watson landowners in Edinburgh as early as the 14th century and Robert Watsoun (spelt thus) is recorded in Aberdeen in 1402. Nicholas Watson of Dalkieth (near Edinburgh) held land near Arbroath in 1450 and Sir Donald Watsone was a church presbyter in the diocese of Moray in 1493. Walter Watson was a burgess (freeman) and landowner in Dumbarton in 1494 and a number of his descendants became bailies (senior magistrate) and provosts (mayors).
The name became more frequently found in the 16th century and is particularly frequent in the Lowlands and the North-East of Scotland. Wattie is found particularly in Aberdeen and surrounding area and in a fishing village in Banffshire some years ago 225 out of 300 inhabitants had the name Watt.
George Watson, who was born in 1654 was the first of many successful bankers in Edinburgh. He left money to set up an orphanage for children and this later became George Watson's College which is nowadays one of the leading private schools in the city.
The engineer and inventor James Watt, born in Greenock, is best known for his development of the steam engine and the unit of power "watt" is named after him.
The development of radar which played such an important part in the Battle of Britain in 1940 (and the development of aviation thereafter) was due to Robert Watson-Watt who was born in Brechin in 1892.
The Watson clan motto is "Imperata floruit" which means "It has flourished beyond expectation".
Watt and MacWattie are regarded as septs (sub-branch) Buchanan.
Watson was the 20th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.
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