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ABERCROMBIE -

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ABERCROMBIE - ABERCROMBIE(Y): The name comes from the Barony of Abercrombie in Fife, for which William de Abercromby swore fealty to Edward I in 1296. From William descended the Abercrombies of that Ilk, whose main line remained in Fife when a later second son of the family obtained the lands of Petmethan (Pitmeddan) in Aberdeenshire during the reign of Robert Bruce (1306-29).

The stem family held Abercrombie and Balcormo in Fife, and acquired the lands of Murthly in Perthshire about 1443. Balcormo passed to the Arnots through marriage about 1518, and Murthly was sold to the Stewarts of Grandtully c.1620, just prior the demise of the principal family.

The family were supporters of the Catholic Church, one having been Abbot of Scone, while another, Robert, a militant Jesuit father, escaped capture following the Battle of Glenlivet in 1594 and escaped abroad. The demise of the Fife line was hastened by the denouncement of Thomas Abercrombie for murder in 1626, and during his exile in Ireland his lands passed to Gibb of Knock, a relative by marriage.

Other Abercrombies were settled at Throsk near Stirling by 1456; at Gourdie, near Dundee by 1558, and in West Lothian by 1604, but the most unruly tribe settled at Pitelpie, near Scone, Perthshire,and frequently appear in 16th century records denounced as 'rebels'. Tradition relates a curious burial practice amongst the Abercrombies of that Ilk: On the death of a Laird his predecessor's skull was removed from the grave and stored in a niche in the church where 19 skulls were reputedly in situ by the 18th century.

The Pitmeddan line's fortunes rose while their kinsmen's declined, for in addition to the establishment of numerous Houses at Fetternear, Glassaugh and elsewhere, Alexander, 12th of Pitmeddan was created 'Grand Falconer' by James VI, and his son became 1st Baronet of Birkenbog (1636). Some Abercrombies appear in Scots Guards Lists in France as "Abre Commier".
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ADAMS / ADAM -

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ADAMS / ADAM - The antiquity of this name is not in any doubt but it came to particular prominence in the family of Robert Adam, the celebrated architect, born in Kirkcaldy in 1728. Prior to this, however, Adam, Sub-Prior of Melrose, is shown as Abbot of Cupar in 1189, and Adam son of Adam is a witness to a charter by William Bruce to Adam of Carlisle of the lands of Kynemund.

One Duncan Adam is stated by Anderson to have accompanied James, Lord Douglas, on his pilgrimage to the Holy Land with the heart of Robert the Bruce. William Adam, the father of the architects, Robert and James, and himself a distinguished architect, claimed descent from the knightly line of Duncan Adam. The Adam brothers were responsible for some of the most splendid classical buildings inside and outside Scotland, the inspiration for which they drew from studying classical architecture in Italy for several years between 1754 and 1757.

They have to their credit the homes of some of the most noble families in the land, including Hopetoun House, Culzean Castle and Gosford House, and in England Sion House, one of the seats of the Duke of Northumberland, and Luton Park in Bedfordshire. James Adam is known particularly as designer of Portland Place in London. The Adelphi buildings in the Strand in London are named after the two brothers, who participated jointly in this project. The family continued to give distinguished service through the line of John Adam of Blair Adam, which remains the family seat to this day. The Right Honourable William Adam of Blairadam was an eminent Scottish lawyer and is credited with the introduction of trial by jury in civil cases in Scotland. His son, Admiral Sir Charles Adam, was a Member of Parliament and Governor of Greenwich Hospital. General Sir Frederick Adam was wounded at Waterloo in 1815 and subsequently went to India to become Governor of Madras.
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AITKEN -

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ALEXANDER -

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ANDERSON -

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Putter
Full-swing
Set(14)

ARMSTRONG -

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The family grew in strength and could muster 3,000 horsemen and virtually controlled the whole Border region at one stage. This meant that they were in a more or less constant state of conflict with the English lords and earls on the other side of the border with England.

The power of the Armstrongs became a perceived threat to the monarch of Scotland and King James V (who reigned from 1513 to 1542) tricked John Armstrong of Kilnockie into meeting him at Hawick - and promptly hanged him. A few years later, however, the Armstrongs refused to support King James V's invasion of England. It is possible that this made a difference at the Battle of Solway Moss in 1542, which cost King James his life.

The Union of the Crowns in 1603 brought an official end to the cross-border conflicts but old habits died hard. In 1610 the Armstrong laird was hanged for a reiving (cattle rustling) raid on Penrith. The Armstrongs were scattered at that time and there has been no chief of the clan since then. Many Armstrongs moved to Northern Ireland and also around the world.

On the 21st July 1969, Neil Armstrong, an American descendant became the first man to walk on the moon and he carried with him a fragment of the Armstrong tartan.

The Armstrong motto is "Invictus maneo" which means "I remain unvanquished".

Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Armstrongs include Fairbairn and Nixon.
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AUSTIN -

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AUSTIN - A sept of Clan Keith.

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BARNES -

The surname is found in both Scotland and in England, but is more common in England. It is often derived from a significant barn in the local region.

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BARTHOLOMEW -

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The Clan Leslie claim descent from Bartholf, a Hungarian who obtained the Barony of Lesly in the 12th century, and it was his son Malcolm who was the first to take the name from the lands.

Sir Andrew Leslie was one of the signatories of the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320, a letter to the Pope asserting Scottish independance. His second son married the daughter and heiress of the Earl of Ross and hence in his wife's right became Earl . On his death in 1402 the right of earldom was fought by his brother-in-law, Donald of the Isles at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411. (Additional information on the Battle of Harlaw - Clan MacLean , Clan MacBean , Clan MacQueen , Clan Shaw , Clan Cameron.
The Leslies lost the title but the sixth Leslie Chief, Sir Andrew, was created Earl of Rothes by James II and the family have held the title up to the present day. William, 3rd Earl of Rothes was killed at Flodden and his son, George, was one of the chief conspirators in the assassination of Cardinal Beaton (Bethune). Andrew, 4th Earl who succeeded his father in 1588 was intimately concerned with the affairs of Mary Queen of Scots fighting on her side at Langside. George Leslie of Balgonie served with great distinction under Gustavus Adolphus, King of Sweden in the Thirty Years War. He returned to Scotland to command the Covenantors and captured Edinburgh Castle, as a reward, and to conciliate the Scots, Charles I created him Earl of Leven in 1641.
The Leslies of Balquhain were the most distinguished branch and were involved in a long feud with the Forbes. The most notable of their family was John Leslie, Bishop of Ross who wrote, in the Scottish vernacular, "A History of Scotland" for Mary Queen of Scots, of whom he was a loyal supporter. He was also involved in the Ridolfi plot, for which he was imprisoned in the Tower of London.
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BELL -

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BELL - Clan Bell , since only 1984, has had a tartan named "Bell of the Borders" and informally called the "Dress Blue" that is listed by the Scottish Tartans Society and in Tartan For Me! by Dr. Philip D. Smith.

Meaning of the colors of the Bell of the Borders tartan: "Black is for the border and in remembrance of our dead, Blue is for the sky above and the oceans o'er we fled, Green is the the border's hue, and the promise of nature's plan, Red is for the blood we've shed, our caourage and elan, Yellow is the sunburst, our honor shining bright for all to tell that soon, with justice proper the reestablishment of Clan Bell " - William H. Bell

The status of this Tartan is awaiting the appointment of a Chief. (Famous Bell's include inventor Alexander Graham Bell , actress and golfer Catherine Bell )

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BLAIR -

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BOYLE -

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BOYLE - 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.

The Boyle clan motto is "Dominus provedebit" which means "God will provide".

Boyle was the 84th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.
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BRODIE -

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BRODIE- There are three possible origins for this name. Firstly, a placename on the Moray Firth ("brothac" is a Gaelic word meaning "muddy") or secondly from the Flemish word for brother. Thirdly, that the name derives from a Pictish royal family named "Brude". There is certainly evidence of Pictish settlements around Brodie and it appears that Malcolm, Thane of Brodie, was a descendant of the old Pictish aristocracy. His son was granted a charter for property in Moray by Robert the Bruce , not for services rendered but because of an ancient right of his ancestors. Early records of the family are scant as many were burnt in 1645 by Lord Lewis Gordon during the Civil War.

Alexander Brodie of Brodie (1617-79) was a staunch Presbyterian who was among those who destroyed carvings and paintings in Elgin Cathedral in 1640 because he considered them to be idolatrous. In 1649 he was one of the commissioners sent to negotiate with the exiled King Charles II for his return to Scotland. He later accepted judicial office under the "Protectorate" set up by Oliver Cromwell (though only after Cromwell's death).

Brodies spread beyond Moray and Alexander Brodie was Lord of Session in Edinburgh in 1657-61 and other Brodies were prominent in the legal profession in the 17th century.

Castle Brodie was started in the 16th century and is now in the care of the National Trust . In 1727, Alexander Brodie of Brodie became Lord Lyon, King of Arms, responsible for heraldry in Scotland.There is a striking portrait of Alexander in his official robes on display in Brodie Castle. Alexander was Lord Lyon during the Jacobite Uprising and supported the Duke of Cumberland during the campaign.

In the 18th century, Deacon William Brodie was a respected Edinburgh councillor by day and a successful burglar by night. His exploits are said to have inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde".

The Brodie clan motto is "Unite".

Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Brodie clan include Bryde.

This tartan can be traced to the 1820's. It appears in several collections of hard tartans produced from that period, including the collection of the Highland Society of London. Stewart also mentions that the Brodies wore the Huntly district tartan prior to 1820.
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BROWN -

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BRUCE -

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BRYCE -

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BRYCE - A sept of MacFarlane.

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BUCHANAN -

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BURNER -

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BURNER - A sept of Clan Campbell. Similar to Barnes, Burns, Burnes.

A beautiful tartan...

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BURNETT -

This tartan was added in honor of Flight 93 passenger, American hero, patriot,and citizen soldier,
Thomas Burnett . For every Burnett tartan design sold, a contribution will be made to the Thomas Burnett Foundation.

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BURNETT - The name Burnett is a variant of Burnard from the Old English personal name Beornheard. Roger Burnard was established in the lands of Faringdon in the 13th century and made two grants to the monks of Melrose in his lifetime. Patrick Burnard also held lands near Gordon in Berwickshire about 1250. Down to the middle of the 14th century the family owned Faringdon in the county of Roxburgh and continued to figure prominently among the benefactors of Melrose Abbey and in 1296 William de Faringdon of Roxburgh paid homage to Edward I. Alexander Burnard or Burnett may have belonged to this family but as a supporter of King Robert the Bruce, he went north in his train and received charters of the lands of Drum and the Barony of Tulliboyll in Kincardinshire. His great-grandson, Robert was the first designated "of Leys" in 1446 and his descendant, Thomas was created a baronet of Nova Scotia in 1626. The seat of the chief is at Crathes Castle on the north of the River Dee in Kincardineshire which was founded in 1533 at the site of the "lake dwelling" that the family had occupied previously. The castle took 40 years to build and retains the traditional L-shaped form. In the main hall one can see the celebrated "Horn of Leys". The horn was employed in early days to mark the handing over of lands and the one present at Crathes is said to have been a gift of King Robert the Bruce. The Burnets of Barns gave their name to Burnetland in the parish of Broughton and claim descent from Robertus de Burneville who lived in the reign of David I (1124-53) ; however, this claim has not been substantiated.

ALTERNATE HISTORY: BURNETT: Of Anglo-Saxon origin, this name comes from 'Beonheard', a personal name which became 'Burnard', later 'Burnett'. Robert Burnard had settled in Teviotdale, Roxburghshire by the 12th century, and when a member of the family went North with Robert I (Bruce) he was given lands as keeper of the Forest of Drum. From this time the family heirloom, the 'Horn of Leys' (his 'badge of office') dates. Their earliest dwelling was on an artificial island in the Loch of Leys, and continued service to the Crown gained them the free barony of Banchory from James III, and later, through high church connection and marriage, they obtained substantial lands, once the property of Arbroath Abbey. Crathes Castle was begun in the 16th century and took 40 years to complete due to the family's involvement in various affairs in the reign of Mary Queen of Scots. Those who remained in the Borders founded the families of Burnetland and Barns while, from the Leys family, descended the Houses of Kemnay, Craigmyle, Elrick and Caskieben, as well as the legal dynasties of Crimond and Monboddo. Thomas Burnett of Leys was created a baronet of Nova Scotia by Charles I, but the family remained firm supporters of the Covenant, and were respected by both sides in the Wars which followed. They retained similar respect in the Jacobite risings. Sir Thomas (3rd Bt.) sat in the last Scottish Parliament and was opposed to the Union of 1707, and when the 5th Baronet died in 1759 a inheritance feud erupted and endured for 7 years before it was resolved in favour of Burnett of Criggie. Criggie's 2nd son acquired the Ramsay of Balmain inheritance, giving rise to the claim that the present Balmain line may have a claim to the dormant Leys Baronetcy, which may only pass in the male line.

Motto: Virescit vulnere virtus (Latin: Courage gains strength from a wound)

This tartan was added in honor of Flight 93 passenger, American hero, patriot,and citizen soldier,
Thomas Burnett . For every Burnett tartan design sold, a contribution will be made to the Thomas Burnett Foundation.

Names associated with the clan: BURNET BURNAITT BURNAT BURNETT BURNATE BLACKHALL

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BURNS -

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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.

Burns is regarded as a sept of Clan Campbell, and also includes Burnes, Barnes and Burner .

Burns was the 60th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.

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CAMERON -

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CAMERON - The name is thought to be derived the Gaelic "cam-shron" meaning "crooked nose" but the earliest records show the name as "Cambron" which may indicate that it originated in Camberone (from the Gaelic "cam brun" meaning "crooked hill" - now Cameron parish) in Fife. However, there is also a Cameron placename in the outskirts of Edinburgh and in Lennox.

To add to the confusion, there is a Cambron in Flanders and the Cameron coat of arms differ only in coloring from those of the family of Oudenarde, nobles in Flanders. There is a record of a John Cameron in the Carse of Gowrie (on the other side of the river Tay from Fife) and Hugh Cambrun was sheriff of Forfar and John Cambron was sheriff of Perth. A hundred years later the name appeared in Lochaber in the far west.

Often described as "fiercer than fierceness itself" the Camerons originally consisted of three branches in Lochaber - McMartins of Letterfinlay, McGillonies of Strone and McSorlies of Glen Nevis. The first chief of the combined families was Donald Dubh (born around 1400) who was descended from the McGillonies of Strone but through marriage with the McMartins brought the federation together. Donald Dubh and his successors were known as captains of Clan Cameron until the early 16th century when the lands of Lochiel were united by charter into the barony of Lochiel by Allan Cameron, the 12th chief. The clan assisted Donald, Lord of the Isles at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411. A chief of the clan, Ewen of Lochiel, was born in 1629 and was a supporter of King Charles II. He was knighted in 1682 and fought at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689.

Oddly, there were Camerons fighting on the other side - Camerons from Fife who supported the Protestant cause. Ewen of Lochiel was too old to fight in the 1715 Jacobite Uprising but sent his son and the clan to assist the Earl of Mar. Sir Ewen's grandson was known as "the gentle Lochiel" and is regarded as one of the noblest of all the Highland chiefs. He was persuaded, through loyalty to the crown and the persuasive words of Prince Charles Edward Stewart, to support the 1745 Jacobite Uprising.

It is said that if Cameron of Lochiel had not agreed to participate, the rising might never have got off the ground, such was his influence. During the Jacobite retreat, Lochiel prevented the Highlanders from sacking Glasgow and to this day when Cameron of Lochiel enters the city, the bells of the churches are rung in his honor. The Gentle Lochiel survived Culloden and was exiled to France. Following the General Act of Amnesty of 1784 the Cameron lands were restored and Gentle Lochiel's grandson, Donald, became the 22nd chief. In 1793 Allan Cameron maintained the fighting tradition of the clan by raising the 79th Regiment which, in 1881, became the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. The 25th chief, who died in 1905, was a Member of Parliament and his son raised four new battalions of the Cameron Highlanders on the outbreak of the First World War.

Cameron was the 35th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.

The motto of the Camerons is "Aonaibh ri chéile" ("Unite").

Septs (sub-branch) of the clan Cameron include Clark, Clarke , Clerk, Clarkson, Macolonie, MacChlery, MacGillonie, MacKail, MacLerie, MacMartin, MacSorley, Martin, Paul and Sorley.

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CAMPBELL -

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CAMPBELL - The tartan appointed for the Highland Companies in 1725 and later for the Black Watch in 1739 may in fact have been worn by the Campbells at an earlier date. There is a strong possibility that many others wore the sett or something similar before the idea of distinctive clan tartans took hold. The Black Watch is usually dyed in darker shades.

The name Campbell is undoubtedly one of considerable antiquity and the clan has long been one of the most numerous and powerful in the Highlands, although many families have adopted the name who have no connection with the Campbells proper by blood or descent. The Argyll family became latterly so powerful, that many smaller clans were absorbed in it voluntarily or compulsorily and assumed in course of time its peculiar designation.

The origin of the name, as well as of the founder of the family, remains still a matter of the greatest doubt. The attempt to deduce the family from the half-mythical King Arthur of course is mere trifling. The name is by some stated to have been derived from a Norman knight, named de Campo Bello, who came to England with William the Conqueror. As respects the latter part of the statement, it is to be observed that in the list of all the knights who composed the army of the Conqueror on the occasion of his invasion of England and which is known by the name of the Roll of Battle-Abbey, the name of Campo Bello is not to be found. But it does not follow as recent writers have assumed, that a knight of that name may not have come over to England at a later period, either of his reign or that of his successors. It has been alleged in the opposition to this account that in the oldest form of writing the name, it is spelled Cambel or Kambel, and it is so found in many ancient documents; but these were written by parties not acquainted with the individuals whose name they record, as in the manuscript account of the battle of Halidon Hill, by an unknown English writer, preserved in the British Museum; in the Ragman's Roll, which was compiled by an English clerk, and in Wyntoun's Chronicle. There is no evidence however that at any period it was written by any of the family otherwise than as Campbell, notwithstanding the extraordinary diversity that occurs in the spelling of other names by their holders, as shown by Lord Lindsay in the account of his clan; and the invariable employment of the letter p by the Campbells themselves would be of itself a strong argument for the southern origin of the name, did there not exist, in the record of the parliament of Robert Bruce held in 1320, the name of the then head of the family, entered as Sir Nigel de Campo Bello

The Campbell motto is "Ne obliviscaris" ("Do not forget).

A number of other clans/families are septs (sub-branches) of the Campbells, including Burns/Burnes, Caddell, Hastings, Hawes/Haws/Hawson, Lorne, Loudon, Louden, MacConnechy, MacDermid/MacDiarmid, McIsaac, MacIver/MacIvor, MacKellar, MacKelvie, MacLehose, MacOwen, MacPhedran, MacTavish, MacUre, Pinkerton and Ure.

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CARSON -

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CARSON - A sept of Clan MacPherson.

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CHRISTIE -

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CHRISTIE - The name, which is a shortened form Christian and possibly also of Christopher, is established in Fife and Stirlingshire. William Christie (1748-1823), son of a provost of Montrose, was the first Uniarian minister in Scotland. Thomas Christie (1773-1829), born in Carnwath, Lanarkshire, successfully introduced vaccination against smallpox in Ceylon, and was latterly a physician extraordinary to the Price Regent.

The name Christie in Scotland is thought to derive from the Norse word 'Trusty' meaning swordsman. (c.f. thrust).

Christies are traditionally associated with the Clan Farquharson.

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CLARK / CLARKE -

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CONNERY -

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CONNERY - Sean Connery's tartan - a Hunting MacLean, his mother's clan.

(Sir Sean toasting at Dressed To Kilt)

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COOPER -

(Could be used by famous golfing rock star, Alice Cooper...)

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COOPER / (COUPER) - The Cooper name occurs in many guises in nearly every English-speaking county of Scotland and it is also common throughout England and elsewhere for it's origin is largely derived from the occupation of barrel maker.

In Scotland it may equally be of local origin in that some originated in or near the town of Cupar in Fife, or from the ancient settlement around the Abbey of Coupar in Angus (Coupar Angus, Perthshire), for in both associations the name is common in early records. Its first appearance seems to be in a Charter dated 1245, and an early widespread distribution is evidenced by a John Cupar holding lands in Aberdeen in 1281, while a Symon Coupare in Berwickshire rendered homage to Edward I of England in 1296.

A family of Coupers held the lands of Gogar near Edinburgh in the 17th century, and of this House, John Couper was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1638, two years before being killed in an explosion which destroyed Douglas Castle during the 'Bishops' Wars'.

Sir John's 3rd son settled in Dumbartonshire and from his House came others who settled in the West of Scotland. Amongst others, these families comprised the Coupers of Banheath (Dumbartonshire); of Failford and Smeithston (Ayrshire), and of Ballindalloch (West Stirlingshire). Many changed their spelling to 'Cooper' during the 18th century.

In a letter from the 'English' poet William Cowper (1731-1800) he reminded a correspondent that his roots lay in Fife where his line was still extant.

There is however a Couper tartan, originally woven by Messrs Peter Macarthur of Hamilton for a family descended from the Coupers of Gogar. It is quite distinctive in its colourings and appears to have been copied from an old shawl.

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CRAIG -

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CRAIG - MacGregor Hastie wrote, "This tartan was designed by me to meet a long felt want. Many people have asked if there was a Craig family tartan, and as the name is not connected with any Highland clan, yet the family name is numerous, it seemed a good idea to design one. The design is based on the general colour of craigs and rocks." The Craig tartan is now in general production.

The surname Craig is one of great antiquity. It originated in the area of the Picts, the eastern portion of Scotland, where they (Picts) were allowed to settle on condition that all their Kings agree to marry an Irish Princess. The Picts are considered to be among the most ancient of the founding races of Scotland. Bede, a respected historian (born 673), estimated that they came to Scotland some fifteen centuries BC, from France. From some early documents researched such as the Inquisito, 1120 AD., the Black Book of the Exchequer, and others, records of the name Craig were produced in Aberdeenshire where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066.

The surname Craig was found in many different forms and spellings, From time to time it was spelt Craig, Craigh, Creag, Creagh, some of these are still used today. The name Craig emerged as a Clan and developed in their original territories of Aberdeen where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity, seated at Craigfintray Castle in Kildrummie in that Shire. This Northern Clan is frequently associated with the Gordons, but their first records appear in Ayershire and Lanarkshire to the south about 1180. There were two other branches, one of which is listed separately, the other was closely associated with the Huntly clan. Several of the Clan rendered homage to King Edward I of England on his brief conquest of Scotland in 1296. By 1300 they had moved to Aberdeen and Forfar, John Craig brought out his whole Clan (est. 1,000 warriors) at the battle of Culblean in 1335. They were granted Estircrag in 1440, where this important branch developed in Berwick. Several of the Clan were elected to Scottish Parliament. The Clan seat is at Riccarton, the last known Craig Chief was Thomas Craig of Riccarton who died March 13, 1823. He left no known male heirs.

The Craig crest, which includes a chevalier on horseback grasping a broken lance in bend Proper, is representative of a group of 'broken men' from other clans who had sought, and were granted, the protection of the clan. There are two Clan mottoes, the most common being in French - "J'ai Bonne Esperance" - ‘I have Good Hope', the other in Latin "Vive Deo et Vives" - ‘Live in God and You Shall Live'.
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CRAWFORD -

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CUNNINGHAM -

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DALY (O'DALY, O'DAILEY, McDALY,MacDALY)-

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DALY - An Irish surname, derived from O'Dalaigh, eventually shortened to Daly, or MacDaly, or McDaly in its Scottish form.

The earliest recording of the name was Cuchonnacht O'Dalaigh, who lived in Teffia, in what is now the County of Westmeath. Being noted for his learning, he was called "Cuchonnacht na Sgoile," meaning "Cuchonnacht of the School." He died in the year 1139.

The "O" prefixed to the name "Dalach" or "Dalaigh" signifies grandson or male descendant of Dalach in contrast to the prefix Mac or Mc which would mean son of the ancestor specified.

Famous golfers with the surname include John Daly, and Carson Daly, noted for playing in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am.

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DAVIDSON -

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DIXON -

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DONALDSON -

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DONALDSON - A sept of Clan MacDonald. The largest of the Highland clans, the Gaelic first name "Domnuill" was anglicised to "Donald". The original Donald was a grandson of the mighty King Somerled who drove out the Vikings in the 12th century. Somerled's mother was Norse and his father was descended from the kings of Dalriada, according to clan history. The family was founded in Islay and extended their territory to the mainland. Donald's great-grandson, "Good" John of Islay, became known as Lord of the Isles and later holders of the title became powerful enough to challenge the king of Scotland. The Lord of the Isles had its own parliament at Finlaggan on Islay. Eventually, the Lord of the Isles was defeated in 1493 by King James IV and the various branches of the clan evolved under their own chieftains. The main branches were Clan Donald of Sleat (in Skye), Clanranald (in Moidart, Glengarry, Lochaber and Glencoe). The Glengarry line adopted the spelling MacDonnell. The MacDonells of Keppoch were descended from Alastair, third son of John, first Lord of the Isles. Their lands were on the mainland in Lochaber; they were sometimes known as Clan Ranald of Lochaber. The last clan battle in the Highlands took place between MacDonell of Keppoch and Mackintosh of Mackintosh in Lochaber in 1688.

The Clanranald MacDonalds were involved in both the 1715 (the clan chief was killed at the Battle of Sheriffmuir) and 1745 Jacobite Uprisings. Bonnie Prince Charlie landed in Clanranald territory in 1745. Many MacDonalds emigrated to North America and other parts of the world in the 18th and 19th century. 300 MacDonalds from Clanranald emigrated to Prince Edward Island in 1790 and MacDonnells of Glengarry settled in some numbers in Glengarry County, Ontario.

MacDonald was the most frequently registered "mac" name in Scotland - it was the 26th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.

The motto of MacDonald of MacDonald is "Per mare per terras" (By sea and by land). The MacDonalds of Clanranald and MacDonalds of Sleat have the motto "My hope is constant in thee" and the MacDonnells of Glengarry have the motto "Cragan an Fhithich" (The rock of the raven).

As befits a large and powerful clan, the septs or sub-branches under the protection of the MacDonalds are many. The list provided by the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs include Alexander, Allan , Allanson, Balloch, Beath, Begg, Bowie , Burk, Colson, Connall, Connell, Coull, Coulson, Crombie, Crum, Daniels, Donaldson , et al .

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DOUGLAS / DOUGLASS -

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DOW -

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DOW - A sept of Clan Buchanan and Clan Davidson. The Clan Dow originated in Ireland, as Dowd. Dow (Scottish) means one with dark complexion or black hair ( Smith, Elsdon C. New Dictionary of American Family Names . New York: Gramercy Publishing Company, 1988 ).

Dow is also said to be a variant of Duff, and is common in Aberdeenshire. Dow, Dowe are associated with Dove which comes from the Gallic adjective duhb meaning "black" and pronounced like the Scottish "doo"; also can mean pigeon.

The name is also thought to be the Anglicizing of MacCalma or a varient of Daw, a diminutive of David. Ede Douw held land in vicoboreali in Edinburgh in 1366 ( Passelet. Registrum monasterii de Passalet 1877, 1, 261 and Sancti Egidii de Edinburgh. Registrum cantarum ecclesie, 1344-1567 . Edinburgh,1959, 19 ). The dove A George Dow appears in the Home Manuscripts in 1479 (p. 13). Dow is not uncommon in Perthshire. A Robert Dow held land in Perth in 1497 ( Black, George F. The Surnames of Scotland: Their Origin, Meaning, and History . New York: New York Public Library, 1999 ).

*** Dow is my maternal grandmother's side of the family *** Dow has an association to both the Davidsons and Buchanans, of the Clan Chattan ( Martine, Roddy. Scottish Clan and Family Names: Their Arms, Origins, and Tartans . Edinburgh & London: Mainstream Publishing Co., Ltd., 1996 ).

Motto: Clarior hinc honos (Brighter, hence the honor)
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DUNBAR -

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DUNBAR - 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.

The Dunbar clan motto is "In promptu" which means "In readiness".

Motto: "Honour is the prize of honesty".

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

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DUNCAN -

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DUNCAN - Duncans and Robertsons share a common ancestor, one of the ancient Earls of Atholl, 'Fat Duncan', who led the clan at the Battle of Bannockburn. This sett is also known as Leslie of Wardis.

From the Gaelic words "donn" (brown) and "cath (warrior) the name Duncan was initially a forename and there were two Kings of Scotland with that name in the 11th century, Duncan I and Duncan II. The surnames Duncan and Robertson or Clann Donnachaidh have similar origins, being descended from the ancient earls of Atholl and took their name from Donnachaidh Reamhar who led the clan at the Battle of Bannockburn (June 24, 1314). The Duncans owned lands in what is now the county of Angus but it is found over much of Central Scotland.

Adam Duncan from Dundee became a naval commander and defeated the Spanish at Cape St Vincent in 1780 and the Dutch fleet at Camperdown in 1797, one of the most famous victories of the British Navy for which he was created Viscount Duncan by George IV in 1800. The Rev Henry Duncan founded the first Savings Bank in 1810 in Ruthwell, Dumfriesshire.

Duncan was the 36th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.

The motto of the clan Duncan is "Disce pati" ("Learn to suffer"). TOP

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EDWARDS -

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EDWARDS - From an English surname.

The origins of the ancient name edwards belong to that rich Celtic tradition that comes from Wales. This surname was derived from the personal name Edward. This name is in turn derived from the Old English forename "Eadweard," which literally means "prosperity-guard."

First found in Denbighshire where they were seated from very ancient times, and were descended from Einion Efell, Lord of Cynlleth, living in 1182, son of Madoc, Prince of Powys, who built Oswestry Castle in 1148.

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ELLIOTT -

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ELLIOTT / ELLIOT - The name originated as Elwald or Elwold in Old English and there are many other variations on the spelling of this name which is strongly associated with the Scottish Borders and the reivers (raiders on horseback) of the area.

Family tradition says that the Ellots (as it was spelt at that time) came from the foot of Glenshie in Angus. In 1320 William de Soulis, a powerful Border noble, was convicted of treason. The Ellots were supporters of Robert the Bruce and they moved to Liddesdale to improve Bruce's hold on the area. The Elliot form of the name was used by the family in Minto while the Eliott form was used by those in Stobo. And there were other variations - Robert Ellot of Redheugh was the 10th chief in 1476. The family built around 100 strong towers around Liddesdale and, like so many of the Scottish nobility, the 13th chief was killed at the Battle of Flodden along with King James IV in 1513. At times, the Ellots of Redheugh held Hermitage Castle, south of Hawick.

In 1565 a feud arose between the Ellots and the neighbouring Scott family. 300 Ellots rode to avenge the execution of one of their kinsman by Scott of Buccleuch and casualties on both sides were heavy before they came to terms. The Ellots also had a dispute with the Earl of Bothwell (future husband of Mary Queen of Scots) and a royal force of 4,000 men ravaged the Ellots lands. After the Union of the Crowns in 1603, the Borders quietened down. Many in the Borders at this time emigrated to Ulster in what became known as "the Plantations".

Sir Gilbert Eliott of Stobs became chief in 1673 and King Charles II created him a Baronet of Nova Scotia. The poetess who wrote "The Flowers of the Forest" was an Elliot and the earl of Minto became Governor General of India in 1807. He became Earl of Minto and Viscount Melgund on his return. The 4th Earl became Viceroy of India in 1905.

The Eliott clan motto is "Fortiter et recte" which means "Boldly and rightly".

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ESTES -

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ESTES - An Irish surname - the family tartan is shown here. Also can use County Kildare tartan.

The surname Estes is derived from a nickname for a Iustas, indicating a fruitful person. This perhaps refers to someone with many offspring, or with extraordinary agricultural or material wealth. The Latin form Eustachius was originally derived from a Greek word which means fruitful.

Spelling variations include: Eustace, Eustice, Eustes, Eustach, Eustis and others.

First found in Kildare where they held a family seat from ancient times.
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FERGUSON -

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FERGUSON - Logan records only two threads for the red stripe. D.C. Stewart calls this Ferguson of Balquhidder to differenciate it from the Ferguson of Athol. Chiefs of the Clan are the Fergusons of Kilkerran, descended from Fergus of Dalriada, who brought the 'Stone of Scone' to Scotland. The Fergusons of Perthshire were recognised as the principal Highland branch of the clan and the chiefship belonged to 'MacFhearghuis' of Dunfallandy.

The sons of Fergus have spread across Scotland, from Ross-shire in the north to Dumfriesshire in the south-west. The Gaelic patronymic, ‘Mac Fhearghuis', is translated alternatively as ‘son of the angry' or ‘son of the bold and proud'.

The Fergusons held the lands of Kilkerran, probably from the twelfth century, but the first certain record is John Ferguson of Kilkerran in 1464. He may have been descended from John, son of Fergus, one of the witnesses to a charter of Edward Bruce signed at Turnberry shortly after the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. By 1600 there were Fergusons all over the southern part of Carrick, all of whom acknowledged Kilkerran as their chief. They sided with the Kennedys in their feud with the Lairds of Bargany and were part of the Earl of Cassillis's band in the skirmish around Maybole in 1601 when Bargany met his death.

The Ayrshire Fergusons adopted the Protestant faith during the Reformation. Sir John Ferguson of Kilkerran fought for the royalist cause in the civil war. The Kilkerran estates fell heavily into debt and it fell to one of Sir John's grandsons to restore the family fortunes. Sir John Fergusson, born around 1653, became a distinguished lawyer and a member of the Faculty of Advocates in 1681. He was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in November 1703. His son, James, became a judge of the Supreme Court in 1735 with the title, ‘Lord Kilkerran'. General Sir Charles Ferguson of Kilkerran, seventh Baronet, served in the army for almost forty years. His early career took him in 1895 to Egypt and later to the Sudan. In 1914 he was the youngest major general on the army list. He served throughout the First World War and was later military governor of occupied German territory. From 1924 to 1930 he was Governor General of New Zealand. The present chief still lives at the splendid Kilkerran House in Ayrshire.

Other distinguished branches of the family include the Fergusons of Pitfour, one of whom became a High Court judge in 1765 with the title of ‘Lord Pitfour'. His son, Lieutenant Colonel Patrick Fergusson, invented the first breach-loading rifle used by the British army and patented in 1776. Ronald Ferguson of Raith, Viscount Novar, was MP for Leith from 1886 to 1914, when he was appointed Governor General of Australia. His ancestor, General Sir Ronald Ferguson, was a distinguished soldier who was praised by the Duke of Wellington for his gallantry during the Peninsular War of 1808–14, and is perhaps now best known for the famous double portrait of him and his brother, Robert, in the uniform of the Royal Company of Archers (the monarch's bodyguard in Scotland). The Fergusons were not, however, without culture, and Robert Ferguson, who died in 1774, was the poet most admired by Robert Burns, who venerated his work and took it as his model.

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FINDLAY -

*** THIS IS A TOP TARTAN ***

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FLEMING -

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FLETCHER -

*** THIS IS A TOP TARTAN ***

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FLETCHER - Sometimes known as Fletcher of Saltoun, but commonly worn by all the Scottish Fletchers regardless of family origins.

According to legend, "Is e Clann-an-leisdeir a thog a cued smuid thug goil air uisge 'an Urcha." (It was the Fletcher clan that first raised smoke and boiled their water in Glen Orchy.)

Clan Fletcher of Dunans - The word fletcher means a "maker of arrows", and the medieval fletchers followed, and settled alongside, the clan whose needs they served. The Fletchers of Glenlyon served under the MacGregors. A family of Fletchers moved to Dunans from Achallader at the head of Glenorchy, where they were replaced by Campbells. Archibald Fletcher (1746-1828), born in Glenlyon, was the eldest son of a younger brother of Archibald Fletcher of Bennice and Dunans. A lawyer and reformer, he was also an abolitionist, and favoured the cause of American independence.

Clan Fletcher of Saltoun Saltoun is in East Lothian, the estate being bought by the Fletchers of Innerpeffer, Angus, in 1643. Andrew Fletcher (d.1650) was made Lord Innerpeffer in 1623. His son, Sir Robert Fletcher of Saltoun and Innerpeffer (d.1665), married Catherine Bruce, daughter of Sir Henry Bruce of Clackmannan, who claimed ancenstry from the grandfather of King Robert the Bruce. Their celebrated politician and political philosopher who strongly opposed the Act of Union of the Scottish and English parliaments in 1707.

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FORBES -

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FORBES - The name is from the Gaelic term "forb-ais" means "at the land". Originally the name was pronounced as two syllables sounding like "For bays" but that is largely lost.

Established in Aberdeenshire on the banks of the river Don, they had ben there long before being raised to a barony in 1271 by Alexander III. Duncan de Forboys paid homage in 1296 to John Balliol and John Forbes signed the "Ragman Roll" in 1296. The main lines of Forbes were established in the 14th century. Sir John de Forbes of the Black Lip, justiciary in Aberdeenshire, had four sons - William the first of the Pitsligo line, John the ancestor of the Forbes of Polquhoun, Alistair of Brux who established the lines of Skellatar and Inverernan. Sir John's eldest son fought beside the Earl of Mar at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411 against Donald, Lord of the Isles and became Lord Forbes around 1445. Forbes eventually became the premier lordship of Scotland. James, 2nd Lord Forbes had three sons, the two younger offspring establishing the Forbes of Corsindale and Monymusk and of Craigievar. The Forbes expanded their territory, at one time covering half of the earldom of Mar. However, over the years, there were feuds with the powerful Gordon clan and the Leslies, culminating in two battles and several massacres. Two Acts of the Scottish Parliament were required to force the factions to lay down their arms. King James VI confirmed the Forbes in their lands in 1582 but the cost of the struggles with the Gordons had created debts and much of the Forbes land had to be sold.

Robert Forbes, the episcopalian bishop of Ross and Caithness was arrested for being a Jacobite in 1745 but survived to write a three volume account of the Jacobite Uprising, entitled "The Lyon in Mourning." Involvement of the Forbes in the 1745 Uprising resulted in forfeiture of lands and title. The first Baronet of Craigievar, Sir William, built the outstanding Craigievar Castle in 1626 and it is now in the care of the National Trust for Scotland. Craigievar is said to be haunted by a member of the Gordon family who was murdered in the castle.

Another of the Forbes, the Baron of Monymusk, now lives in New Zealand. In 1815, the 17th Lord Forbes built Castle Forbes near Alford which is still the home of his descendants.

The Forbes clan motto is "Grace me guide."

Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Forbes clan include Berry , Boyes, Michie, Walters .

Forbes was the 93rd most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.

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FRASER / FRASIER -

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FRASER - (FRASIER) - The name Fraser originated in Anjou in France (originally de Frisselle, de Freselière or de Fresel). They settled first in Tweedale and Lothian, the name becoming Fraissier (strawberry bearer) with the flower of the fraisse or strawberry as part of their armorial bearings.

The earliest record of the name in Scotland is Sir Simon Frasee (sic) who held lands of Keith in East Lothian. A later member of the family was Sir Simon, "The Scottish Patriot" who was a supporter of William Wallace and defeated an English army at Roslin. Later, Sir Alexander Fraser married the sister of King Robert the Bruce and another Fraser founded the town of Fraserburgh.

In 1375, a marriage to the daughter of the earl of Ross gave them lands in Buchan which became the main seat of the family. The Lovat Frasers appear in the 15th century around Beauly. In 1544 the Lovat Frasers fought the "Battle of the Shirts" on the shores of Loch Lochy against the MacDonalds of Moidart - only five Frasers and eight MacDonalds survived. Simon, the 11th Lord Lovat, was executed at Tower Hill in London in 1747 after participating in the Jacobite Uprising. In 1757 the 12th Lord Lovat raised 1,800 Frasers Highlanders for military service in America.

Simon Christopher the 15th Lord Lovat served in the Scots Guards and was an outstanding Commando leader in World War II.

Fraser is the 23rd most common name in Scotland - but is one of the 6th most common around Inverness.

The motto of the clan is "All my hope is God".

Septs (sub-branches) of the Frasers include Bissett / Mackim / Simon / Brewster / Mackimmie / Simpson / Cowie / Macsimon / Sims / Frew / Mactavish / Syme/ Frizell / Oliver / Twaddle Macgruer / Sim / Tweedie.

The Fraser tartan is worn by Southern California pipe band, Cabar Feidh. (For every Fraser tartan design purchased, a donation will be made to Cabar Feidh.)

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*** Please specify desired spelling in special instructions section in shopping cart. ***

GALBRAITH -

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GALBRAITH - The name Galbraith probably originates from the Britons of the Kingdom of Strathclyde which did not become part of Scotland until 1124.

The first recorded chief of the Galbraiths appears in the 12th century, he married a daughter of Alwyn Og, son of Muireadhach, 1st Earl of Lennox. The fourth chief Sir William Galbraith married a daughter of the Black Comyn, he was one of the Co-Regents of Scotland in 1255. His son Sir Arthur married a daughter of Sir James Douglas and fought with Bruce. The chiefship passed out of the main line to the Galbraiths Strathendrick, a cadet branch at the end of the 14th century.

The Galbraiths were always closely linked to the Earls of Lennox and lent their support at the time when James I returned to Scotland from England and murdered his own kinsmen. The chief at the time is said to have aided in the raid of Dunbarton in 1425 and afterwards fled to Kintyre and Gigha escaping from the King. The 12th Chief, Thomas again took up arms with Lennox after the murder of James III in 1488, however after the defeat of Talla Moss, Thomas was captured and hanged in 1489. Andrew, the 14th Chief also partook with the Lennoxes when they attempted to rescue the young King James V from the Douglases in 1426.

During the 16th century the 17th Chief of the Galbraiths, Robert, was renowned for his misdeeds, including the attempted murder of his brother-in-law to whom he owed money and the abuse of his power to pursue the Clan Gregor to attack the chief of MacAulay who had married his widowed mother against his will. Finally he was denounced a rebel and fled to Ireland sometime before 1642. His heir James, 18th chief was the last traceable member of the line. The Galbraiths who moved to Gigha held the island for the MacDonalds of the Isles till after 1590 but later took their protection.

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GALLAGHER -

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The clan's territory extended over a wide area in the northern baronies of Raphoe and Tirhugh, Co. Donegal. The principle branch of the sept were seated at Ballyneit and Ballynaglack. Their chiefs were notable as marshals of O'Donnell's military forces in the fourteenth to the sixteenth centuries, and took a prominent part in all the military movements of Cenél Conaill, though some "renegade" O'Gallaghers are known to have helped Seán O'Neill escape after the battle of Fearsaid Suili in 1567. Hart lists them as the O'Donnell's cavalry.

True to the often contradictory nature of Irish history, ÓGallagher's were often mentioned as confidants to kings of the Ó Domhnaill and other leading clans such as the ÓDesmond, but almost as often became bitter enemies of the same (The O'Donnells were one of the two major clans of northern Ireland, the other being the O'Neils).

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GALWAY -

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GALWAY - Designed for ex-pat Irish by the House of Edgar.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galway

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GILLESPIE -

*** THIS IS A TOP TARTAN ***

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GILLESPIE - A sept of Clan MacPherson.

Dating from the time of the Celtic church, the name Macpherson is from the Gaelic "Mac-a Phearsain" meaning "son of the parson" in the days when celibacy of the priesthood was not enforced. The clan originated in Lochaber but Robert the Bruce gave them land in Badenoch as thanks for their assistance in defeating the Comyns (or Cummings). The clan later acquired land in Strathisla. The clan was part of the confederation of Clan Chattan. Indeed, Muriach, a main ancestor of Macphersons, was chief of the Clan Chattan in the 12th century.

The Macphersons and the Mackintoshes were frequent rivals for the leadership of the Clan Chattan. As there would be other parsons in Scotland, the name is also found in other parts of the country (but in smaller numbers).

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GIBBS / GIBSON -

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GIBSON (GIBBS) - A sept of Clan Buchanan.

It is said that the Buchanans have the oldest established clan society in Scotland. The clan's heartland lies on a small island, measuring a mere half a mile in length, of Clar Innis or Clarinch on Loch Lomond. The Buchanans have ecclesiastical origins, and are hereditary clerics of the Celtic church. Some evne say that the Buchanans are descended from the son of a King of Ulster, Anselan o'Kyan, who landed in Argyll at the beginning of the 11th century. The Buchanan lands, lying to the east of Loch Lomond, remained in the family for almost seven centuries. But after the John, the 22nd laird died they were sold in 1682 to the Marquess of Montrose. Despite the fact that there were many cadet branches - Leny, Carbeth, Drumakill, Arnprior, Spittal and Auchmar - the clan thereafter became dispersed.

Famous Gibson's / Gibbs include television anchorman Charles Gibson and Blue Devils Drum and Bugle Corps Executive Manager and 1979 Drum Major David Gibbs.

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GORDON -

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GORDON - Oldest of the Dress Gordons, this sett is based on the usual Gordon or 92nd regimental pattern.

Although this is one of the great families of Northeast Scotland, the name originally came from a location in Berwickshire (probably 'gor-dun' meaning hill fort).

The name appears in the Borders in the reigns of King Malcolm IV and King William the Lion in the 12th century. Sir Adam de Gordon was appointed to the lordship of Strathbogie and Badenoch in the North-East of the country by Robert the Bruce, in place of the Comyns, who had opposed him. Sir Adam had been one of those who petitioned the Pope to remove the excommunication of Bruce after he murdered John Comyn in 1306.

The Gordons were major landowners, rather than a traditional tribal clan but became known as the "Cock o' the North". The 1st Earl of Huntly is said to have rewarded anyone who adopted the name Gordon with a gift of oatmeal. In the 15th century, Sir Alexander Gordon was created Lord Gordon and his son the first Earl of Huntly (a name which had also originated in the Borders). In the power struggle between King James II and the Douglas family, the Douglases burned down Huntly Castle but were later defeated. A grander castle was built in its place.

The 4th Earl of Huntly was an adviser to Mary of Guise when she was regent in place of the absent Mary Queen of Scots. Gordons remained staunch Catholics and supporters of King Charles II in the Civil War of 1642-1648, but they refused to support the Marquis of Montrose. The 2nd Duke of Gordon supported the "Old Pretender" in the first Jacobite Uprising in 1715 and fought at the Battle of Sheriffmuir on September 12, 1715. His son, the 3rd Duke, remained loyal to the Hanoverian government in the 1745 Uprising but his brother fought for Bonnie Prince Charlie.

The Gordon clan motto is "Bydand" which means "Remaining".

Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Gordon clan include Addison, Adie, Aitcheson, Aitken , Barrie, Cullen, Eadie, Edie, Geddes , Huntly, Mavor, Milne , Todd .

Gordon was the 50th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.

Formation of the Gordon Highlanders:For an organisation dedicated to violence, The Gordon Highlanders enjoy a very romantic beginning. Alexander, 4th Duke of Gordon (nicknamed Coileach an taobh tuath, or the Cock o' the North), had raised several regiments for service in Scotland during the 1780s and early 1790s. With the growing threat of war with France, he obtained a Royal Warrant to raise a regular regiment of 1000 men in February, 1794. Since many of the men from his own lands had joined the Gordon Fencibles just a year before, he faced serious recruiting problems.

Enter the Duchess Jean. Known as one of the most beautiful women in the North East, she and her equally pretty daughters, all dressed in regimental jackets and feather bonnets, traveled to fairs throughout the North East offering the normal first day's pay plus the added incentive of a kiss.

One particularly fine young man had long resisted recruiters' enticements. When the Duchess Jean came to town, he enlisted, taking the pay and the kiss... then tossing the pay to the assembled crowd to show which had really attracted his interest. Another young man enlisted, took his kiss, then promptly 'paid smart' (a fee paid within 24 hours of enlistment which allowed a recruit out of his commitment), saying 'Never was a £1 coin so well spent!'

With the Duchess Jean's help, as well as recruiting efforts from as far away as the Hebrides, the regiment was ready for inspection in just a few months. A General inspected the new 100th Regiment on 24 June 1794 at Aberdeen and paraded for the first time the next day; the Regiment had begun to breathe! The next several years were spent in training and preparing for action. A reorganisation of the army led to a renumbering, changing the regiment's number from the 100th to the now famous 92nd. They had their baptism of fire and first Battle Honour came at Egmont op Zee (Holland, 1799), followed closely by Mandora (Egypt, 1801)

The Gordon Highlanders served with distinciton in both World Wars.

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GRAHAM -

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GRAHAM - There is a legend that the Roman Antonine Wall across Scotland was first breached by a Graham and due to this it is sometimes referred to as "Graeme's Dyke". More certainly, the Grahams can be traced back to the 12th century when William de Graham was granted lands of Abercorn and Dalkeith by King David I.

The name may have derived from the English town of Grantham which was spelt Graham in the Domesday Book. The Grahams had numerous branches in Menteith, Drymen, Angus and the Borders.

Sir John Graham of Dundaff was described as the "richt hand" of William Wallace and was killed at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298 (His gravestone and effigy can still be found in Falkirk Old Parish Church). The 3rd Lord Graham was created Earl of Montrose by James IV and fell at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. The 5th Earl was made Marquis of Montrose in 1644. A brilliant military tactician, he campaigned in support of King Charles I. John Graham of Claverhouse, Viscount Dundee, gained the title of both "Bloody Clavers" and "Bonnie Dundee" depending on whether you were a Covenanter or not, as he fought to crush them. In 1689 at the Battle of Killiecrankie he led a force of Jacobite Highlanders to victory over the forces of King William of Orange. But Viscount Dundee was killed leading the charge.

It was due to the efforts of the Marquis of Graham that the 1747 Act prohibiting or proscription of wearing tartan was repealed in 1782.

Graham was the 30th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.

The clan motto is "Ne oublié" ("Never forget"). The Bonar, Bontine, Haddon and MacGrime families are septs (sub-branches) of Graham.

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GRANGER / GRAINGER -

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GRANGER / GRAINGER - An English surname originally from the Renfrewshire area. The family tartan is shown here.

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GRANT -

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GRANT - There are some claims that the Grants were descended from King Alpin, the father of Kenneth Macalpin the first king of Scotland (or at least those parts occupied by the Picts and Scots). Other sources suggest that the name derives from the French "Le Grand" meaning of great stature as it was used originally in Normandy.

Lord Strathspey, the clan chief, supports the view that the clan has Viking origins, based on recent research. The family motto at that time was "Tenons ferme" which eventually evolved into the well known clan war cry "Stand Fast Craigellachie" (from a hill near Aviemore where a fire was lit to rally the clan to fight). A Nottinghamshire land-owner named Le Grand obtained land in Strathspey in the 13th century, founding the powerful clan which spread over Strathspey and the Grampian mountains into Aberdeenshire.

The Grants supported Robert the Bruce in the 14th century and John and Randolph de Grant were captured at the Battle of Dunbar in 1296. The first authenticated chief of the Highland clan was Sir Ian Grant who was Sheriff of Inverness in 1434. In 1493 the Grant lands became the barony of Freuchie and Sir James Grant built a castle there in 1536. Originally called Castle Freuchie it was renamed Castle Grant at the end of the 17th century. Like most clans, the Grants had occasional feuds with their neighbours and they joined the Campbells against the Gordons of Huntly in 1594.

The Grants were loyal to the crown in the Civil War in the mid-17th century and joined the Marquis of Montrose on his campaign after the Battle of Inverlochy. Grants also gave shelter to the MacGregors during the persecution of that clan as there had been a long history of alliance between the two. Later, the Laird of Grant supported William and Mary and their government and did not get involved in the Jacobite Uprisings of 1715 and 1745 although the Grants of Glenmoriston and others in the clan supported the Stewarts. In 1766 Sir James Grant established Grantown-on-Spey, building mills and factories there. In the 19th century the 27th chief of Clan Grant had a serious dispute with his brothers and the estates were split up, the Seafield Earldom was lost to the chief of the clan but the line continued with the title Lord Strathspey of Strathspey.

The Grant motto is "Craig Elachie" - "The rock of alarm".

The Gilroy , MacGilroy, Pratt and Suttie families are regarded as septs (sub-branches) of Grant.

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GRAY -

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GRAY / (GREY) : Authorities differ on the origins of this name, for some derive it from the town of Gray in Haute Saone in France, while others aver that it originates as a 'by-name' for a person of sallow complexion.

Whatever origin, the name enjoys widespread use throughout Britain, and Scottish ancestry should not be presumed without evidence of such genealogical of geographical links.

In support of the former proposal, a 'de Gray' of Norman descent, is recorded in Roxburghshire during the 13th century whose descendants, by adherence to King Robert Bruce, gained lands in the Carse of Gowrie. Although other lands were possessed by the family it was here that they held most influence. Their continued support of the Crown enhanced their wealth and, in 1437, Gray of Fowlis was created a peer of Parliament as Lord Gray. The Master of Gray, eldest son of the 6th Lord, and a favourite of James VI, was the go-between acting for King James and Queen Elizabeth during Queen Mary's imprisonment in England.

This family were Hereditary Sheriffs of Forfarshire and built substantial properties including Broughty Castle (14th cent.), Castle Huntly (15th cent.) and Kinfauns, near Perth, in 1822. Castle Huntly, sold to the Lyons in 1615, returned to the Grays in 1777.

Grays also held the lands of Carntyne, Glasgow, and others had lands in Ayrshire. North of Inverness, the Grays of Skibo, Sordell and Ardinsh, are said to descend from a son of a Laird of Fowlis who fled thence after murdering the Constable of Dundee and, by these holdings, some Grays are considered 'septs' of the Clan Sutherland.

The Highlands names of Glas(s) and MacGlashan are equated with Gray, - the latter being common in Atholl, where it is linked with the Stewarts of Ballechin, of whom a younger son on renouncing his name after a family feud, took the name MacGlashan. Despite family ties to the Stewarts of Atholl his descendants appear to have allied with the Clan Donnachaidh (Robertsons). Many MacGlashans, on migration to the Lowlands, changed their name to Gray.

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GUNN -

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GUNN - The name Gunn is thought to be Norse in origin, the clan claiming descent from Gunni, grandson of Sweyn Asleifsson, "the Ultimate Viking" and second son of Olaf the Black, Norse King of Man and the Isles who died in 1237.

Noted for their war-like and ferocious character, they were sworn enemies of the Keiths and in 1426 at Harpsdale, south of Thurso, a particularly bloody but indecisive battle took place, after which the Gunns settled mainly in Sutherland. George Gunn held the office of Coroner of Caithness, known as "Crowner Gunn", he was one of the greatest men in the country at that time and lived in magnificent style in his castle at Clyth. He was killed through treachery in 1464 while trying to arrange a reconciliation with Clan Keith. His death was later avenged by his grandson who killed Keith of Ackergill, his son and twelve followers at Drummoy.

Feuds continued between the Gunns and the Mackays and the Earls of Caithness amd Sutherland. In 1585 the Earls attacked the Gunns who although fewer in number held their ground and slew 140 of their enemies. Only darkness prevented greater slaughter. However, the Gunns were later defeated at Lochbroom by the Earl of Sutherland. At the time of the Highland clearances in Sutherland, many of the Gunn clan were forced to emigrate to New Zealand and Canada.

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GUTHRIE -

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GUTHRIE - The name almost certainly derives from the barony of the same name near Forfar, but it has also been suggested that it is a corruption of Guthram, the name of a Scandanavian prince.

The first of the name on record in Scotland, one Squire Guthrie, appears in 1299. He had been sent to France to request the return of William Wallace, who had retired there having resigned the guardianship of Scotland. Squire Guthrie was evidently successful as Wallace did indeed return.

The Guthries of Guthrie received their estates by charter from David II (1329-71). In 1457 Sir David Guthrie of Guthrie was Armour- Bearer to King James III 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.

Although the Guthries of Guthrie were the main line of the family many off-shoots 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.

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HAMILTON -

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HAMILTON - 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.

The Hamiltons were considered the most important of the Lowland families aspiring at one time even to the Scottish throne. Their chief is still the Premier Duke of Scotland, heir male of the house of Douglas and hereditary keeper of the Palace of Holyrood. The name is generally believed to be English in origin as there are several places named Hameltun and Hambledone etc.

The first reliable record of the name in Scotland was in 1296 when Walter Fitzgilbert de Hameldone was one of these Scottish nobles to pledge allegiance to Edward I of England. After this initial support of the English, the Hamiltons lent their allegiances to Bruce during the Wars of Independence and were granted the lands of Cadzow. Later in 1474, Hamilton of Cadzow married Princess Mary, daughter of James II and their son became Earl of Arran in 1503. His grandson was made Marquis of Hamilton in 1599.
At one period during the mid 1500's, a Hamilton was heir apparent to the throne, the second Earl of Arran was Regent during the minority of Mary, later Queen of Scots.

Though sometimes credited with Jacobite sentiments, neither of the succeeding Dukes rose for the Stuarts and hence continued throughout the 18th century in their roles as great noblemen and statesmen. There are several branches of the Hamilton family, the most noteable being the Hamiltons of Abercorn, Dalzell and Innerwick.

The Hamilton clan motto is "Through". Hamilton was the 29th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995. Many Hamiltons, of course, derive their name from the town of Hamilton.

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HANNA / (HANNAY) -

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The original owners of Sorbie Tower, the seat of the Hannays of Kingsmuir, were the Lords of Westmoreland, the powerful Vipont family who received the lands and manor in 1185. Records from around this date are rare but there is a strong possibility that the change of ownership from Vipont to Hannay could have come about through marriage. The earliest record ing of the name on Scottish records is that of Gilbert de Hannethe of the county of Wigton. In 1296 he signed the Ragman Rolls thereby pledging allegiance to Edward I. However they had earlier supported John Balliol, John King of Scots, who through his mother, Devorguilla, represented the old Celtic Lords of Galloway. In 1308 they were forced to submit to Edward Bruce, younger brother of Robert I, when he conquered Galloway.

The Hannays rose for the Battles of Sauchieburn and Flodden, and joined James IV on his pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Ninian at Whitehorn.

Around 1600, as a result of prolonged hostilities between the Hannays and their neighbours the Kennedys, Dunbars and Murrays, the Hannays of Sorbie were outlawed because of their behaviour towards the Murrays.

Possibly the best remembered Hannay was the Rev. James Hannay who in 1637 attempted to read the Episcopal liturgy in St. Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh. This sparked off a riot reportedly started by Jenny Geddes who threw a stool at Hannay; he was eventually deposed by the Glasgow Assembly. Sorbie Tower has been restored by the Hannay Society; Kingsmuir Estate near Crail in Fife is the seat of the Hannays of Kingsmuir.

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HARDIE -

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HARDIE - Created for anyone with the name by Paul Hardie.

Famous Hardie's include building supply company founder James Hardie, who emigrated from Scotland to Australia in 1888.

This tartan included to recognize the friendship of Garth and Monna Hardy of Colorado.

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HAY / (HAYES) -

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HAY / ( HAYES) - This important Scottish line originated from the Norman princes de La Haye who were part of William the Conqueror's army that swept into England in 1066. Members of the family were in Scotland in the 12th century - William de La Haye were cup bearers to King Malcolm IV who reigned between 1153 and 1165 and William de Haya was given the charter to lands around Errol a few years later.

As a close supporter of Robert the Bruce during the earlier years when success was by no means assured, led to Sir Gilbert Hay being rewarded with land at Slains in Aberdeenshire and the appointment of Lord High Constable of Scotland in 1309. The title was made hereditary a few years later. The family still hold that title, giving them precedence in Scotland immediately after the royal family. Sir Robert Hay, the 7th Baron of Erroll, married Elizabeth, daughter of King Robert II and marriages to the daughters of the Earl of Strathearn and Earl of Buchan by other Hays increased the stature of the family still further. In the 15th century, Sir Gilbert Hay fought in support of Joan of Arc and was at the coronation of King Charles VII of France. His descendants became the Hays of Delgatie and his castle near Turriff in Aberdeenshire is now the Hay Clan Centre. Sir Gilbert was killed along with King James IV and many other Scottish nobles and soldiers at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.

The Hays supported Mary Queen of Scots and rejected the Reformation. The Hays , Gordons and Red Douglases were involved in negotiations with Philip II of Spain and campaigned against Protestant nobles. The forces of King James VI attacked Delgatie and Slains Castle - the latter castle was blown up and has been a ruin ever since.

The Hays supported the Stewart monarchs in the 17th century and Sir William Hay joined the forces of the Marquis of Montrose in Scotland and was his standard bearer. He was executed with Montrose in Edinburgh in 1650 and was buried in St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh with a state funeral after the Restoration. The Hays supported the Jacobite Uprisings of both 1715 and 1745 and the 13th Earl was awarded the Order of the Thistle by "James VIII" - the Old Pretender. The 18th earl was Lord High Constable of Scotland during the lavish state visit by King George IV to Scotland in 1822 which was orchestrated by Sir Walter Scott. The cost of the entertainment nearly bankrupted the Hays. The 19th Earl was concerned for the well being of the fishing communities in Aberdeenshire and founded the village of Port Erroll, providing housing at low rents.

Another branch of the family was the Hays of Yester who rose to become Marqesses of Tweeddale in the Scottish Borders. The Hay mansion near Gifford in East Lothian was designed by Robert Adam.

The Hay clan motto is "Serva jugum" which means "Keep the yoke". Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Hay clan include Arrol , Constable and Gifford .

Hay was the 100th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.

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HENDERSON -

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HENDERSON - The name Henderson or MacKendrick (Henry's son) is the same as Henryson or in Gaelic MacEanruig. The legendry ancestor of the Hendersons is Eanruig Mor Mac Righ Neachtan "Big Henry, son of King Nectan", said to be a Pictish King who reigned from A.D. 700 to 720.

Unfortunately, it is impossible to substantiate this claim and it is more probable that the clan is descended from one Dughald MacEanruig who flourished in the 1300's. The principal family came from Glencoe, and were hereditary pipers to Clan Abrach. However, the male line came to an end when the heiress of Clan MacEanruig married into the MacDonalds of Glencoe through Iain Abrach of the MacIains of Glencoe. This clan of MacIain is long remembered as being the clan who was massacred at Glencoe in 1692.

Another branch of the Hendersons in the north was a sept of Clan Gunn descending from Henry, a son of the chief George Gunn who was coroner of Caithness. There were also Hendersons of Fordell who resided at Fordell Castle near Inverkeithing in Fife. The castle was built in the 16th Century after the lands were acquired by James Henderson in 1511.

The most distinguished of this branch was Alexander Henderson, leader of the Reformation who, with Archibald Johnstone, drew up the historic National Covenant of protest in 1638.

The Henderson clan motto is "Sola virtus nobilitat" which means "Virtue alone enobles". Hendrie, Hendry, MacHendrie and MacHendry surnames are regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the MacNaughton clan.

Henderson itself is a member of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs. Henderson was the 27th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.

Famous Henderson's: Gordon Henderson

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HUGHES -

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HUGHES - Mac Hugh (MacAodha) means son of or descendant of Hugh. The original gaelic name has become Mackee, MacKay , MacCoy and Hughes in cases.

Hughes, a well known settler name, is more popular than McHugh. This is not suprising since Hughes is among the 20 most common names in Wales and England.

In Keatings History Mac Aodha, Aodha or MacHugh are principal chiefs of Teffia, (Muintir Tiamain). "O'Haodha, O'Hugh or O'Hea" is cited as a chief of Ui Degadh by O'Heerin, in Co. Kildare. Futher locations for the family are found in Keatings History. "O'Haedha, or O'Hugh, chief of Esruadh, now Ballyshannon, in the barony of Tir Hugh in Donegal (Tir Connaill). "O'Haedha, or O'Hugh", chief of Fernmoy, Co. Down, on the borders of Antrim and in the barony of Lower Iveagh. Mac Hugh is given among the clans who settled in Cavan and was also found as "Mac Aedha, or Mac Hugh, also called Hughes", chief of Clan Cosgraigh, a district on the eastern side of Lough Corrib in Galway, where they were chiefs of the barony of Clare.

O'Hughes was numerous in Mayo and Sligo, and "O'Haodha, Hughes or O'Hea" served as chief near the barony of Skrine, near Tara.

Hughes is one of the top 40 names in Ireland. In 1659 O'Hugh was in Armagh, Monaghan, Carlow, and Longford. McHugh was in Fermanagh and Hughes was in Louth then. By 1890 McHugh was mainly in Mayo, Donegal, Fermanagh and Galway. Hughes was in Armagh, Antrim and Dublin. The Hughes family of Ballycross, of Co. Wexford, came to Ireland from Wales.

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HUNTER -

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HUNTER - Believed to be worn by the Hunters of Peebleshire. Hunting was important in the Middle Ages so the occupational name Hunter arose across most of Scotland, sometimes in a Latinised version of "Venator".

Three Hunter landowners from Paisley were signatories to the infamous "Ragman Roll" in 1296 when King Edward I of England held a parliament at Berwick to which he summoned all Scottish landholders to swear allegiance to him. But a major strand of the name was a Norman family of Hunters who settled in Ayrshire in the 13th century, giving their name to the village of Hunter's Toune - now Hunterston. A parchment, signed by King Robert II in 1374 confirming ownership to William Hunter (the 10th owner), still survives there. The rent was a silver penny and to this day the Laird of Hunterston keeps silver pennies from the reign of Robert II - just in case the monarch drops by looking for the rent!

Yone Venatore witnessed a charter in Beauly in 1231 and Adam Hunter was granted a hereditary office in the lands of Newbattle Abbey in 1259. In 1327 Maurice Hunter was provost of Stirling and Aymon Hunter was burgess of Cullen on the Moray Firth. In the 15th century the Ayrshire family were hereditary keepers of the royal forests in Arran and Little Cumbrae in the Clyde estuary. John Hunter, the 14th Laird, died at the Battle of Flodden in 1523 and John's grandson was killed at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547. The 20th Laird graduated from Glasgow University in 1643.

Robert Hunter, a grandson of the 20th Laird became Governor of Virginia and then New York. Hunterston House, an elegant manor, was built in the late 18th century. The present chief of the family, recognised by the Lord Lyon, is the 30th. At one stage the Hunters of Polmood challenged the precedence of the Hunterston line but this was rejected as they had never been styled "of that ilk."

Brothers William and John Hunter were born in East Kilbride in the 18th century. William became an eminent anatomist, improving the teaching of the subject and advancing the science of gynecology. William left a medical and scholarly collection to Glasgow University and they are to be found in the Hunterian Museum. John was a prominent surgeon in London and in the army in Portugal. He started a collection of anatomical specimens and by his death he had 13,000 of these.

The Hunter clan motto is "Cursum perficio" which means "I accomplish the hunt".

Hunter was the 37th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.

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JAMIESON / JAMISON -

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JAMIESON - A sept of Clan Gunn and Clan Stewart The name originated from a Norse personal name "Gunni" (which means "war"). The first Gunni came to Caithness at the end of the 12th century when his wife inherited land there from her brother who was Jarl (Earl) of Orkney. Gunni's wife was descended from St Ragnvald who founded the St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. Gunni's Viking grandfather had been killed in 1171 on a raid on Dublin. Orkney, Shetland and Shetland were still part of Norway at this time. Although Ottar, a descendant of Gunni, is known to have lived around 1280 and is the assumed progenitor of the Gunn chiefs, the first chief of the clan to be recorded with certainty was George Gunn who was the coroner of Caithness in the 15th century. He was known as "Am Braisdeach Mor" or "the great brooch-wearer" from his insignia as coroner. He had a castle at Clyth on the east coast of Caithness.

A number of separate lines of Gunns became established in Braemore (known as the Robson Gunns), Killearnan, Kildonan and also the Caithness Hendersons and Williamsons. There is evidence that at the end of the 14th century Sir James Gunn accompanied Sir Henry Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, to North America, nearly one hundred years before Christopher Columbus.

The Gunns became established in the highland areas of Caithness and they were frequently in conflict with the clan Keith. The source (excuse?) for the feud was said to have been when Dugald Keith, who had been spurned by a daughter of Gunn of Braemor, surrounded her home, killed a number of the inhabitants and carried her back to Ackergill Castle. She then threw herself from the tower there rather than submit. There were frequent battles over the years with considerable loss of life. Towards the end of the 15th century a "battle of champions" was agreed with twelve horsemen on each side. But the Keiths turned up with two men on each horse and slaughtered the Gunns. Among the dead were the chief and his four sons who were killed despite taking refuge in the chapel of St Tyr. The grandson of the murdered chief was the first to hold the title "MacSheumais Chataich" (son of James of Caithness, his father). The feud was finally settled in a formal Treaty of Friendship - in 1978.

In 1586 the Sinclair Earls of Caithness and the Gordon earls of Sutherland agreed a pact to destroy the clan Gunn and in order to strengthen their position Gunn of Killearnan married the sister of the chief of the clan Mackay. However, the lands of Killearnan were not lost through battle but by debt. They later obtained land at Badenloch and tried to establish themselves with all the accoutrements of a Highland chief. In the 17th century, Sir William Gunn who was a brother of the Robson chief, rose to be a battalion commander in the service of the king of Sweden and then fought for King Charles I who gave him a knighthood in 1639. He later married a German baroness and became an imperial general in the Holy Roman Empire. The Gunns did not become involved in the 1715 Jacobite Uprising and when Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard in 1745 the Gunns fought on the side of the Hanoverian government. The Gunns suffered greatly as a result of the Highland Clearances in the 19th century and many emigrated or were forced to move to other areas of Scotland. The direct line of the chief ceased in 1821 but there are moves to prove the genealogical credentials and to have a new chief declared by the Court of the Lord Lyon. In modern times the novelist Neil M Gunn wrote many books based on his childhood on the coast of Caithness. The Gunn clan motto is "Aut Pax Aut Bellum" which means "Either peace or war". Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Gunn clan include Enrick, Gallie, Gaunson, Georgeson, Jameson, Jamieson, Kean, Keene, MacComas, MacCorkill, MacCorkle, MacIan, MacKames, MacKeamish, MacKean, MacManus, MacRob, MacWilliam, Mann, Manson, Nelson, Robinson, Robison, Robson, Ronald, Ronaldson, Sandison, Swan, Swanson, Will, Williamson, Wilson, Wylie. .
(In honor of Alison - a good friend, and Anaheim Kingsmen 1978 - also known as "Ali" or "A.J.")

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JOHNSTON / JOHNSTONE -

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JOHNSTON / (JOHNSTONE) - There were a number of "John's towns" in Scotland but the earliest record of the surname is a John Johnstone at the end of the 12th century Later, Sir John Johnston of Dumfries signed the Ragman Roll in 1296, along with most of the other Scottish landowners, swearing allegiance to King Edward I.

The family grew in stature and Sir John's descendants were appointed as a warden of the western marches in 1381. Adam Johnstone was named Laird of Johnstone near the beginning of the 15th century and took part in the Battle of Sark in 1448. Adam's son assisted King James II in his struggle with the Douglas family and was rewarded with land near Threave Castle which had previously belonged to the Douglases. Adam's eldest son (another John) was the ancestor of the Annandale branch of the family while another son Mathew is said to have married a daughter of the Earl of Angus (chief of the Red Douglases) and his descendants formed the Westerhall branch.

The Johnstones were one of the many Border families who frequently raided the north of England over the centuries. They also became involved in one of the many Border feuds with the Maxwells, which was only resolved by the intervention of King James VI in 1623. James Johnstone, the chief of the clan, was made Lord Johnstone of Lochwood in 1633 by King Charles I and Earl of Hartfell in 1643. King Charles II elevated him to Earl of Annandale, and Lord Johnstone of Lochwood, Lochmaben, Moffatdale and Evandal. In 1701, a descendant was raised to the rank of Marquess of Annandale.

In early times, the city of Perth was called St John's Toun (the local football team is still called St Johnstone) and when surnames became more frequent, many of the people from there took the name Johnstone. When the MacGregor name was proscribed (banned) a number of that clan took the name Johnstone. Other Johnstones are to be found in Strathspey, unconnected with those in the Borders. This family supported the Jacobite cause in 1715 and 1745. The head of this branch now lives in America.

In more modern times, Tom Johnston, a Labour politician, was a successful Secretary of State for Scotland during the Second World War.

The Johnston clan motto is "Nunquam non paratus" which means "Never unprepared". Johnston/Johnstone combined was the 10th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.
(In honor of Jim - a good friend also known as "J.J." or "Jimbo" - currently working for ValleyCrest Companies.)

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JONES -

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JONES - A Welsh tartan. Related to Johnston and Johnstone - In Wales almost every other person appears to be named Jones, Williams, Evans, Thomas, or Davis.

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KEITH -

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The 3rd Lord Keith was given the title Earl Marischal and the 4th Earl founded Marischal College in Aberdeen.

As leaders of the Scots cavalry, the Keiths were involved in most of the major battles over the centuries. Lord Keith survived the slaughter of the Battle of Flodden in 1513 and his standard from that battle has survived to this day.

While the Keiths were associated with north-east Scotland, (they built Dunnottar Castle on its cliff-top, south of Stonehaven) a marriage to the heiress of Ackergill resulted in a move to Caithness, where they became involved in a long and bloody feud with the clan Gunn .

Support for King Charles II in the Civil War led to the 7th Earl being imprisoned in the Tower of London. But on the Restoration, he was made Lord Privy Seal and his brother was created Earl of Kintore for his role in hiding the Scottish crown jewels from Cromwell - they had been smuggled out of Dunnottar Castle and hidden in a nearby church.

The 9th Earl led the Jacobite cavalry at the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715 and his younger brother fought on the continent in Spain and Russia . He died fighting for Frederick the Great in Prussia during the Seven Years War. The Keiths also supported the 1745 Jacobite Uprising - and forfeited lands, castles and titles as a result.

The Earls of Kintore still live at Keith Hall in Aberdeenshire.

The Keith clan motto is "Veritas Vincit" which means "Truth conquers".

Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Keith clan include Austin, Dickson, Dixon, Harvey, MacKeith and Marshall.

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KENNEDY -

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KENNEDY - A sept of Clan Cameron. The Kennedy family became associated with the south-west of Scotland when 'Cunedda', (which means 'grim-headed'), a chieftain of the Votadini (located in what is now Lothian) was sent to establish settlements there at a time when Gaelic was the main language there. The name is particularly associated with Carrick in Ayrshire. In early times it was a forename and therefore is found initially as 'MacKenedi' and the name is found as early as the reign of William the Lion (1165-1214).

The Kennedy's claimed to be related to the Earls of Carrick and supported Robert the Bruce who came from that line. In 1372, King Robert II confirmed John Kennedy of Dunure as chief of the clan and in 1457 John's direct descendant, Gilbert, was created Lord Kennedy. He was one of the regents of the infant King James III. The 3rd Lord Kennedy was created Earl of Cassillis but died four years later at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. The 10th Earl of Cassillis engaged Robert Adam to build the magnificent Culzean Castle at the end of the 18th century. The 11th Earl had settled in America and although he tried to be impartial in the War of Independence, many of his New York properties were confiscated, including Number 1, Broadway which was taken over by George Washington.

In the Napoleonic Wars, Sir Clark Kennedy personally captured the eagle and colours of the 105th Regiment of French Infantry at the Battle of Waterloo. Kennedys spread to other parts of Scotland, in particular to Morayshire and Perthshire. Another branch settled in Lochaber and Skye where they became known as Clan Ulric and became a sept of Clan Cameron. The Kennedy name also arose in Ireland (notably the ancestors of President John F Kennedy) and many Irish Kennedys emigrated to Scotland. The clan motto is "Avise la fin" (Consider the end). The Carrick and Cassels families are regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Kennedys.

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KERR -

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For every Kerr tartan sold, a portion will be donated to "Birdies For Breast Cancer" a charity supported by LPGA star Cristie Kerr.

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KERR - : Although tradition says that the Kerrs were of Norman descent, from two brothers who settled in Roxburgh in the Scottish Borders in the 14th century, the name existed as early as the 12th century. It is also suggested that the name came from a Celtic word meaning strength.

Whatever the origins, the families of Kers at Cessford and Ferniehurst became a powerful Border family, having been granted land in Roxburgh by James IV. Sir Robert Cessford became Lord Roxburghe in 1600 and in 1616 was elevated to Earl of Roxburghe. When Sir William Drummond, from another powerful Scottish family, married the Earl's daughter, he became the 2nd Earl and assumed the name of Ker. After supporting the Act of Union in 1707, the 5th Earl became Duke of Roxburghe. The direct line failed and, after a long dispute over who was next in line, Sir James Innes succeeded and became the 5th Duke. Another Kerr family was established in Lothian and the first Earl of Lothian was created in 1606.

There is a legend that the Kerrs were frequently left-handed and even constructed the spiral staircases in their castles so that they could take advantage over right-handed swordsmen. The term "Corrie-fisted" or left-handed is said to derive from this. But there is little in history to support the legend - the story is likely to have derived from the Gaelic "caerr" meaning "left".

Kerr was the 31st most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.

The motto of the Kerrs is "Sero sed serio" ("Late but in earnest").

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KERRY -

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KERRY - Derived from an Irish District Tartan

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KING -

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KING - A sept of MacGregor. The surname `King' was found frequently in Aberdeenshire during the 15th century. It is thought to have originated as a nickname, denoting someone who had a kingly manner ... or perhaps, in some regions of Scotland, descendants of one who was regarded as the local king. Some sources say that it came from a part played in a pageant, or one of the celtic festivals of the time.

During the troubles of the Clan MacGregor, several of that clan are said to have adopted the surname of `King'. `King' appears in 90th place on a list of the most common Scottish surnames, but is also frequently found in England and in Ireland.

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KIRBY -

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KIRBY - The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought much change to the island nation, including many immigrants with new names.

Among these immigrants were the ancestors of the Kirby family, who lived at Kirkby in Furness. The name Kirkby means village with a church. Spelling variations include: Kirkby, Kirby, Kerribly, Kerwick, O'Kerwick and many more.

First found in Lancashire where they were seated from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Some of the first settlers of this name or some of its variants were: Thomas Kirby settled in the Barbados in 1663; along with Rebecca and Henry; James Kirby settled in Virginia in 1651 along with Humphrey and Alice his wife.

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LESLIE -

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LESLIE - The name is derived from a place name Lesslyn in Aberdeenshire. It is claimed that it was adopted by a descendant of Bartolf the Fleming, a nobleman who was in the retinue of Edgar the Aetheling when he came to Scotland in 1067 (after the Norman invasion in 1066). King Malcolm III made him governor of Edinburgh castle and granted him estates in Fife, Angus, the Mearns and Aberdeenshire. Bartolf's son was appointed constable of the royal castle at Inverury and his great-grandson obtained lands at Fythkill (later renamed Lesley) in Fife in 1282. The Fife line clearly prospered and in 1445 George Lesley was appointed Lord Lesley of Leven and the title of Earl of Rothes in 1457.

Later Leslies took up the career of professional soldier, fighting in Germany, France, Sweden and the Baltic. During the religious upheavals of the Reformation, Norman Leslie was one of the chief participants in the murder of Cardinal Beaton in 1641.

Alexander Leslie returned from the continent to take command of the Army of the Covenant. David Lesley, who had served King Gustav Adolph of Sweden, was a later Covenant commander but he was defeated by Cromwell at the Battle of Dunbar in 1650. After the restoration of the monarchy he was created Lord Newark. The 7th Earl of Rothes became Lord Chancellor of Scotland was created a duke by Charles II in 1680. The 9th Earl of Rothes was Vice Admiral of Scotland and governor of Stirling Castle. He supported the Hanoverians and commanded a regiment of cavalry against the Jacobites at the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715.

Leslie House remained the seat of the Earls of Rothes until 1926. The ruined castle of the Leslies in Aberdeenshire, together with the title of baron, were purchased in 1979 by David C Leslie, an architect from Aberdeen, who restored the building and ran it as a private hotel.

The use of the name as a forename (Leslie and Lesley) is of fairly recent origin.

The Leslie clan motto is " Grip fast ".

Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Leslie clan include Bartholomew and Lang .

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LITTLE -

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LITTLE /( LYTLE / LITAL) - Design incorporates traditional black and white of Shepherd Check (black and white "Little" livery colours), and the Wallace tartan with red (maroon).

Edward Lital 1296 was a nephew of Wallace and fought alongside him. A tartan solely for members of Clan Little Society (Scotland and Worldwide), or by written permission from the Dr J.C. Little of Morton Rig, the designer(1991). This is not a clan but a family Association Tartan.

n the Anglo-Scottish Border Wars of 1296-1603, the Little's were one of the fighting clans of the West March, living close up to the border on the Scottish side. Constantly raiding and reiving, the borderers on both sides held in contempt all who went on foot.

By the close of the 16th Century they had earned a reputation as the finest light cavalry in Europe. The Littles for over three centuries shared, with Armstrongs and Beatties, the steep-sided dales immediately to the north and west of the present town of Langholm at the extreme east end of Dumfriesshire.

Their successive chiefs, Little of that Ilk, Lairds of Meikledale, resided at the foot of the side of Meikledale Valley halfway up Ewesdale (beside the present A7 road from Langholm to Hawick).

* The ancestry of Edward Little "of Meikle-dale", founder of the clan, can be traced back through Normandy and Norway to Ingiald Ill (ruler in 7th Century Gamla Upsulla). Edward was active in 1296-1297 as a guerrilla fighter with William Wallace, the great Scottish patriot hero.

* Wallace led the first phase of the Wars of Independence against the oppressive occupation of Scotland by Edward I of England. Many of those who supported Wallace most closely were kinsmen, not the least of whom was "Eduuard Litill, his sister sone so der" (his sister's son so dear)

* In 1426, two years after his return from excile, James I, King of Scots, granted to "our beloved Simon Littill", chief of the clan, tenure of the lands of Meikledale, Kirkton, and Sorbie in Ewesdale. Simon thus became the first Laird of Meikledale.

* The Clan Little of the Scottish West March supported the Stuart Kings of Scots through five reigns. On 26 July 1530, James V, fearful of the mounted strength of the Armstrongs and their supporters, came into Eskdale with a massive "hunting party". Tricking the leader of the Armstrongs and thirty-two "personis of the greitest of thaim namit Armstrangis, Ellotis, Littillis, Irvinis, with utheris" into a parley, he hanged them out of hand. The Eskdale clans, thrown into a conflict of loyalties, from then on until the end of the wars foresook patriotism for their imperative of survival and sided with the likely winner.

* At the union of the crowns in 1603, King James VI of Scots left Scotland for London as King James I and VI of a United Kingdom. He was determined to put down the continuing lawlessness on both sides of the border. His wishes were carried through with sword, noose and torch until hardly a building stood in the whole of Eskdale and Liddesdale. Chiefs were hanged those who survived were later ordered to sell out.

* Simon Little of that Ilk was chief of Clan Little at the end of the Border Wars. His son Thomas' succesor, David Little, was the last Laird of Meikledale. In 1672, David was the last chief to be officially recognized. Since David's time, the Littles have been one Scotland's many heidless (headless) clans.

(This tartan in honor of Jim Little, CEO of Employers Direct Insurance Company - a California workers' compensation specialist.)

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LIVINGSTON / LIVINGSTONE -

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From the Callander branch descended the Livingstones of Dunipace, Kinnaird, Bonton and Westquarter. Sir James Livingstone of Callander was created Lord Livingston in 1458 and it was his descendant, William who was guardian of the young Mary Queen of Scots until she was conveyed to Inchmahome after the Battle of Pinkie. The 7th Lord Alexander was made 1st Earl of Linlithgow in 1600, a title that was forfeited when James, 5th Earl "came out" in the Rising of 1715. Likewise, Sir James Livingstone of Barncloich was stripped of his title of Viscount Kilsyth for the same crime.

The Highland Livingstones from the Isle of Lismore and the districts of Lorn and Appin in Argyll claim a quite different origin. Their original Gaelic name was MacLeay from "Mac an Leigh" (son of the physician) or MacDhunnshleibhe (son of Dunsleve). In 1641 James Livingston of Stirling, Baron of Biel was the Keeper of the Privy Purse to King Charles I and was granted the lease of the lands and the rights of the bishopric of Argyll and the Isles and in this capacity he resided for a while at Achandu castle at Lismore. It was probably at this time that the MacLeays adopted the name Livingstone. The Argyll Livingstons became the hereditary Keepers of the crozier or baculum of the Bishops of Lismore (from St. Moluag who died in 592) and as such received grants of the land in Lismore and the title of Barons of Bachyll.

Another branch of the MacLeays or Livingstones became followers of the Stewarts of Appin descending from one of the Beatons, the physicians to the Lord of the Isles. They were out with the Appin Stewarts in the '45 and at the Battle of Culloden Donald Livingstone saved the "White Banner of the Stewarts" and carried it safely to Appin. It is supposed Ardshiel, before he escaped to France, left it for safe keeping with Alexander Stewart of Ballachulish in whose family it has since remained.

Famous Livingstone's: Dr. Linda Livingtone, Pepperdine University

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LOCKERBIE -

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LOCKERBIE - A sept of Clan Douglas.

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LOCKHART -

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LOCKHART - The history of the Lockhart's dates back to 1066, being among those disposed by William the Conqueror and seeking refuge in Scotland. The family, originally spelling their name "Locard," settled mainly in Ayrshire and Lanarkshire. They can be traced back to Stephanus or Stephen Lockard and his son Symon by the towns they founded: Stevenston and Symington.

The exact date when the lands of Lee came into the family is not known, but 1272 is traditionally accepted. Symon (Second of Lee) won fame for himself and his family in the wars against the English when he fought alongside King Robert the Bruce and was knighted for his loyal service. Sir Symon accompanied Lord James Douglas and Sir William St. Clair when they took the heart of Bruce on crusade in Spain in 1329. Sir Symon was entrusted with the key to its casket and returned it home safely when Douglas was killed. For this honor, Sir Symon's name was changed to Lockheart and then to Lockhart.

A heart within a fetterlock was from then on included in the family arms with the motto "Corda Serrata Pando" (I open locked hearts). The family also acquired a precious heirloom from the crusade, a mysterious charm known as the Lee Penny.

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LOGAN -

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The original seat of the Logans in the north seems to have been Druimanairig in Wester Ross. Early in the fourteenth century, however, the original line of the chiefs ended in an heiress, Colan Logan, who married Eachan Beirach, a son of the Baron of Kintail, and carried the estates into his possession. Eachan took his wife's name, and, dying at Eddyrachillis about the year 1350, left a son, Eanruig, from whom descended the Sliochd Harich, who continued the race in the island of Harris.

The early Lowland Logans originated from Galloway. It is documented that two of them were killed in Spain in 1329 on their way to the Holy Land with the heart of King Robert I (the Bruce). Sir Robert Logan of Restalrig (d. 1606) had his bones exhumed and paraded in Parliament so that he could personally be convicted of treason.

The Highland Logans claim descent from the Logans of Drumderfit in Easter Ross. See also MacLennan, with whom the Highlander Logans are closely linked.

The Logan clan motto is "Hoc Marjorum Virtus" which means "This is the valour of my ancestors".

(This is in honor of my nephew, Logan Fletcher - aka 'Tuffy")

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LYNCH -

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Using works of legend and fact, researchers have compiled evidence using books by O'Hart, McLysaght, O'Brien and other Irish historians as well as transcripts from the Book of Kels, the Falaise Rolls, Battel Abbey Rolls, the Wace poem, Irish parish records, family histories and ancient land grants. Their conclusions are that the first record of the name Lynch was found in county Galway where they were granted lands by Strongbow after the English Norman invasion of Ireland in 1172.

Your name, Lynch, occurred in many references, but from time to time, the surname was also officially recorded as Lynch, Linch, O'Lynch, and these changes in spelling frequently occurred, even between father and son. It was not uncommon for a person to be born with one spelling, married with another, and to have yet another recorded at his wake. The O' prefix, or Mc prefix, was dropped or assumed depending on the fashion of the time.

The ancient Milesian Kings, the legendary history of Ireland tells of the grandson of Breoghan, King of Galicia, Andalusia, Murcia, Castile and Portugal, were the ancient progenitors of the Dalcassian race. Milesius, a great general/king was instrumental in defending Egypt from the King of Ethiopia. In gratitude, the Pharaoh of Egypt gave his daughter, Scota to Milesius for his wife. Later, Milesius sent his uncle northward from Spain with his own son Lughaidh to explore the western Isles. On finding that his son had been murdered in Ireland by the three resident Kings, (the Danans), Milesius gathered an army to take his revenge on the Irish. He died before he embarked on the trip. His remaining eight sons conquered Ireland and renamed it the land of the Scoti.

In 1172 A.D., Dermott McMurrough, in his fight for the position of Ard Righ, requested Henry II of England for assistance. Henry of England commanded the Earl of Pembroke, nick named Strongbow, to help Dermott in his fight for the crown of Ireland. Strongbow recruited 2000 trained mercenaries of Norman, Welsh or Cornish background from south Wales and sailed for Ireland. The battles against the untrained, badly clad Irish were short, swift and sure, but, in the end, it was Henry and Strongbow who held the reins of power in Ireland, not Dermott McMurrough. Strongbow doled out to his army commanders much of the confiscated Irish land in southern Ireland. Ironically, after several centuries, the invaders became as Irish as the native families. Those Anglo/Norman surnames such as Burke, Fitzpatrick, Fitzgerald, Power, Prendergast, Walsh, including the family name Lynch became the backbone of southern Irish society.

The Norman invasion was followed by Cromwell's invasion in 1640, when further loss of land befell the unfortunate Irish people, including the Anglo/Norman settlers. Ulster in the north was seeded with Protestant Scottish and English families. And, again, the sept of Lynch was amongst the great Irish families to lose their ancient territories.

The now Irish family Lynch emerged in later years as a distinguished family in Galway in Ireland. This ancient Norman family arrived with Strongbow and became one of the 'Tribes of Galway'. They were very influential in the local politics, no less than 84 Mayors of Galway were from the family Lynch, as were many of the Wardens of Galway. Gradually the religion changed from Protestant to Catholic and they became staunchly Irish patriots. Lynch Castle was built in 1320 and they formed many branches of the same name.

Notable amongst the family up to this time was Doctor John Lynch, Bishop of Toronto; Thomas Lynch, youngest of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence.

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