Scottish Heritage

From the warmth of the gentle tartan home page to its massive list of over 400

Scottish Clans and Septs this site from Nova Scotia is full of traditional Highland Hospitality. You have to be a clan society operating in Nova Scotia to be featured (or have Nova Scotia connections) but that provides plenty of scope for people who are more Scottish than the Scots themselves. There is a mixture of bite size pages about New and Old Scotland - including the reliable information that Gaelic was the official language in the original Garden of Eden (the serpent, of course, was speaking English!).

Scottish Clans

An extensive A to Z of Scottish Clans and Families. Clan information provides tartans (often) and links to clan Web sites (when available). There is also a search engine and an Alphabetical list of Scottish names associated as septs of specific clans and families.

Clan Map of Scotland

Many clans were asociated with particular areas of Scotland. Here is a map of Scotland showing where they belonged. Click on the small map to reach the full sized map which you can download, store or print.

The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs

Details of the the current Clan Chiefs who are members of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, including contact addresses, are shown on this site. Not all clans are represented on the Standing Council, bust most of the major (and many of the minor) ones are listed. There are also specific clan sections where you can learn more about the history of the clan and view its various tartan and location in Scotland.

Celtic Net Scottish Clan Reference

Another extensive list of clan information with illustrations of the tartan and crest of a long list of clans plus a History of the Scottish Kilt

Swyrich Corporation

Supplies coats of arms, surname histories, and heraldic clipart and researches and produces name histories and coats of arms. There is an online search for finding the origins of large numbers of surnames and the company supplies surname history scrolls and full colour representation of the coat of arms.

Dunedin Multimedia

This publisher of history and culture software, sells a history of the highland clans on CD-Rom

During the Cromwell protectorate, Sir William Drummond was Governor of Smolensk in Muscovy. After his exile he had the dubious honor of bringing thumb screws back with him to Scotland. In 1689, as the Highlands rose behind the Stuart flag, the Drummonds followed Bonnie Dundee into battle. At the battle of Killiecrankie the clan army attacked the English as it marched into the pass. Of the 3,000 English who went into the pass only 500 made it out alive. When the rising was surprised, the Earl of Perth was captured and imprisoned at Kircaldy till 1693.

After that, he and his brother followed James VII into exile. For their service to James, they were elevated to Dukes. The Duke of Perth was then made a Knight of the Golden Fleece, the highest order of knighthood in Spain. By the end of the 17th century, the Drummonds were the most powerful Clan in Scotland. The Earl of Perth was Lord Chancellor; his brother, the Earl of Melfort, was Secretary of State. Their cousin, General Sir William Drummond, created Viscount Strathallan, was commander-in-chief of the army in Scotland.

The first Duke of Perth was also awarded the Knight of the Garter for his service to James VII. The Drummonds supported the Stuarts until the end. They helped in the uprising of 1715 and again in 1745. In 1746, the Highland Clans followed Bonnie Prince Charlie to Culloden, to fight for the Stuarts for the last time. The Drummonds were at the fore, with the Duke of Perth and his brother, the Duke of Melfort, commanding the left wing and the center of the battle line. However, within two hours, the clan army had been destroyed by the Hanoverian army. The Duke of Perth followed the Prince into exile. John also went with them but died during the voyage due to his wounds. The Viscount of Strathallan was mortally wounded while rallying the cavalry.

Even the Duchess of Perth was imprisoned for having sheltered Prince Charlie at Drummond Castle. She stayed there until her death in 1773. Loyalty had cost them everything. It wasn't until 1784 that the Drummonds were restored to their lands. It wasn't until the 1830's that they received back their old titles.

In 1491 Drummond Castle was built 25 miles from Stobhall, and 3 1/2 miles from Crieff. It is now the residence of Lady Willoughby de Eresby, a descendent of Sir John Drummond through the female line. Its castle gardens are sometimes called the pride and jewel of the highlands. In 1498, the first Lord Drummond of Drummond received the Barony of Drummond which remained in the family until 1605, when the estates were sold. In 1589 John Drummond was appointed Royal Forester of Glenartney. It was in this post that he had the ears of some MacGregor (one account says MacDonalds) poachers cropped. Clan MacGregor swore revenge and attacked Drummond and chopped off his head. They then proceeded to John's sisters residence, burst in, and demanded bread and cheese. The MacGregors then unwrapped John's head and crammed its mouth full. The feud between the two clans lasted for over a century. Near the end of the 1500's, another Drummond, Margaret the fair, enraptured King James IV. She was, to him, "The diamond of Delight." Because of his love for her, James originally declined the marriage to Mary Tudor, daughter of the King of England, Henry VII. It is rumored that James had indeed married Margaret and was to have her crowned Queen of Scotland. The nobles, mostly lowlanders and border Lords, feared that the Drummonds were becoming too powerful. They decided that Margaret must die, thus forcing James to marry the Tudor Princess. Margaret, and her two sisters, were poisoned. Shortly after, James married Mary Tudor, which made way for the union of the Scottish and English Crowns a century later. In 1605, after James had been crowned King of Both England and Scotland, he elevated the Drummond Chief to that of the Earl of Perth. Around 1650, the Drummonds were removed from Drummond Castle to Stobhall for their loyalty to Charles I. After leaving, Drummond Castle was garrisoned by Cromwell's troops.

Sir Malcolm, in the wars with England, was their bane. In 1296, at the Battle of Dunbar, the English captured Malcolm and sent him to London. Sir Malcolm was released only after swearing allegiance to the King and promising to fight with the English in France. It wasn't long before Malcolm was once again in Scotland and causing trouble for the English. In 1301 he was captured again to the great joy of King Edward I.

Sir Malcolm II, son of Malcolm, was the hero of Bannockburn in 1314. It was he, after realizing that the Scots would not be able to withstand the charge of the cavalry, who took matters into his own hands by having the ground between his men and the English heavy cavalry strewn with caltrops. These are small iron devices with four sharp points, not unlike the jacks kids play with today. The English horses were brought down by these, and as the mounted soldiers lay helpless, they were killed by the waiting Clans. It was this ingenuity that gave the Drummond Chiefs the right to display caltrops on a field of green beneath the Chief's shield. King Robert the Bruce also rewarded Malcolm with extensive lands near Perth for this service.

In 1345, Sir John Drummond married the Maid of Monfichets. With the marriage came the estates of Stobhall on the river Tay, which have remained in the family since and is the residence of the present Chief. It has also been the home of two Scottish Queens and a royal mistress.

Margaret, sister of John Drummond, won the heart of King David II, who was the son of Robert the Bruce. They were married in 1363, and she was crowned queen.

In 1366 Annabella the beautiful, daughter of Sir John Drummond, became the wife of John Stewart of Kyle. John was crowned Robert III, the second Stewart King. She was also the mother of James I. The royal families of Scotland and England claim their heritage from Robert and Annabella.

The Drummonds were loyal to Scotland and her Kings. They served the House of Bruce and then later the House of Stuart. For over 500 years they served, and no better was an ally than a Drummond. The Drummond Chiefs held some of the highest offices in both the government and the military. The Drummond ladies were of such beauty that two were crowned Queen of Scotland. It is even rumored that there may have been a third. Drummonds have also been known for their temper. In Perth in the 17th century, there was a prayer, "From the ire of the Drummonds, Good Lord deliver us!" According to legend, the Drummonds are descendent from Yorik de Marot. Yorik was the Royal Admiral to Hungary and a grandson of King Andrew of Hungary.

It was he who took the perilous journey, in winter, to reach the Scottish shore at Stirling. It was he who delivered unto Malcolm Canmore, St. Margaret, the future queen of Scotland. This was in the early 11th century. The king was grateful and granted lands which were to become the ancestral homeland of the Drummonds. One source states that a Donald of Drymen fought in Malcolm Canmore's army against MacBeth in 1056, and that this was the reason for the grant of lands. It may be that Yorik married into the highlands clan and became its chief. The earliest ancestor, of unbroken decent, is that of Malcolm Begg, or "Little Malcolm" of Drymen, who in 1225 was the Thane of Lennox. Malcolm received his name due to his stature. He was the Earl of Lennox's Seneschal. It was from this time, and the lands if Drymen, that the Clan Chiefs of Drummond are known as "An Drumanach Mor" - "The Great man of Drymen." It was Malcolm's son, Sir Malcolm, that took the name Drummond.

Red,

Thanks for sharing. Now wouldn't that be a treat - being left a castle! We researched my husbands family and found out that he had a castle in his family. A few years ago we went to visit it. Drove for around 4 hours trying to find it.  I felt so sorry for him when we got there to find one wall and a pile of rocks. . Me, still dreaming about having my own one day!

Heya, i'm Doig - Drummond Clan, highlander, reknown for our temper (In Perth in the 17th century, there was a prayer, "From the ire of the Drummonds, Good Lord deliver us!" ), loyalty ( the Drummond Chiefs have held alot of high offices in government and the military), and beauty (many of the women were queens and princesses, two were queens of Scotland and many more married into english and european royalty). Our motto is gang warily which means go carefully which many clan members consider to have been a threat rather than advice.

 I'm hoping one day someone will contact me and say a long lost relative has left me their castle, lol

Thanks, Annie.  I located the Brodie clan up near where the clan's castle is located near Inverness.  However, my most immediate family immigrated from around the Glasgow area.  Over the years I suppose clans got scattered here and yon.  Since my family wasn't very far at that time from the
Farguarsons, they probably married at some point into the McCartney clan and it expanded from there.  I'll try to find the connection 

Here is a link to a clan map . You can enlarge it and you will see us in the area I descibed. We are in medium sized letters, spread horizontally on the map and inland and up just  a  little from a small coastal town called  Barclay.
http://www.scottishradiance.com/clanmap.htm

nice to meet a fellow clansperson.  of course, like most of us, i have ties to other clans as well.  we will get to the MacLarens as well. (i've been trying not to favour my own clans - this group isn't my own personal forum.)  gotta finish the Elliotts and Sutherlands (research still buried with stuff from the den.)

My mom did research on my grandma's clan, MacLaren, and was able to trace our roots back 500 years, appears we were sheep herders.

we have a ton of families here to research and discuss.  if any of you want to start a thread for your families - or post links to a family tree on ancestry.com - please - do so!!  i'm thrilled to do everything i can, but with the amount of ground we have to cover - any and all help will be most appreciated!

Annie - My dad's full name was Samuel McCartney Brodie, and I've been unable to find out where the McCartney came from in our clan.

My great grandmother was a Patterson and my great grandfather a Pearson (on me mum's side). I have Scottish on both sides and hail from three known clans, MacLaren, MacPherson, and MacGregor

In case any o' ye is related, other septs (surnames) in Clan Farquhaarson are

• Barrie
• Bowman
• Brebner
• Christie
• Christison
• Christy
• Coates
• Coats
• Coutts
• Cromar
• Farquhar
• Ferries
• Findlay
• Findlayson
• Findlaison
• Finlay
• Finlayson
• Gracie
• Grassick
• Greusach
• Hardie
• Hardy
• Kellas
• Kerracher
• Leys
• Lion(s)
• Lyon(s)
• MacArtney
• MacGaig
• MacCartney
• MacCuaig
• MacEaracher
• MacErcher
• MacErracher
• MacFarquhar
• MacFerchar
• MacHardie
• MacHardy
• MacKerchar
• MacKerracher
• MacKindlay
• MacKinlay
• MacKinley
• MacWade
• Paterson
• Patterson
• Reiach
• Reoch
• Riach
• Tawse
• Wade

Now me Scottish Grandda Christie, an all his family, was from the Clan Farquharson, from up Aberdeenshire, Invercauld way. (In the Highlands).

An our motto is Fide et Fortitudine ("By Fidelity and Fortitude") and (On compartment) I force nae freen, (I fear nae foe.)

MY CLAN IS BRODIE.  MY GREAT GRANDDAD MARRIED A SINCLAIR AND THERE ARE WALLACES AND STEWARTS MINGLED IN PRIOR GENERATIONS.  WOULD LOVE TO VISIT SCOTLAND (AND MAYBE JUST STAY THERE).  MY ANCESTORS WERE FROM GLASGOW, BUT OUR CASTLE (BRODIE) IS IN MORAYSHIRE NEAR INVERNESS.

My maternal grandmother was a Dean. Her family came to Nova Scotia first, then some trickled down to N.J. I found out that the Deans are part of the Davidson Clan.

I don't know much else, and I was unaware of the clan until I went to one of the research sites. Anybody have any info on Deans or the Davidson clan? I would love to know! Thanks!

Mairead

Feasgar math, Ceud mile failte!

My father Prentice Melvin Robins, who is deceased, was from Clan Gunn. His mother was a Wilson. I also have Wilson’s on my mother’s side. My ggg-grandmother was a Wilson.

The Clan I follow is the Clan McDonald of the Isles. This is from my mother’s side. She has thirteen surnames by blood out of the McDonald Clan and eight by marriage. She is also by blood into Clan Logan. Though I follow the Clan Donald USA, I still maintain very close ties with Clan Gunn; we meet at all highland games, etc.

I belong to the United Scottish Clans of Oklahoma [USCO], of which I hold the position of Chief of the Red Lion Scottish Highlanders [honor guard]. I am also a member of the Board of Directors of USCO.

I also hold the positions of: Member of Clan Donald USA. With-in Clan Donald I hold the offices of: Oklahoma State Commissioner, Clan Donald USA, am also the Oklahoma State Chaplin [Bard] & Convener, Clan Donald USA.

I am searching for additional information on my g-g-grandmother, Elizabeth McDonald.

My 4th maternal gg-grandmother

Elizabeth MCDONALD, born 17 Feb, 1820 in East TN., died 4 Dec, 1869 in Kansas, Walker County., Alabama.. married to James HOGAN, abt. 1838 in Kansas, Walker County., Alabama. Records show she was kin to the other MCDONALD's of Kansas, Walker County, Alabama and that her father was William Randolph MCDONALD [pending verification], and that they immigrated abt. 1745-50.

Children of James HOGAN and Elizabeth MCDONALD

Mary HOGAN, born abt. 1838 in Kansas, Walker Cty., AL., died aft. 1870

James J. HOGAN, born 25 Jul, 1841 in Kansas, Walker Cty., AL., died aft. 1910 in Justice Grayson Cty., TX.

Martha J. HOGAN, born abt. 1844 in Kansas, Walker Cty., AL??

William "Bill" P. HOGAN, born abt. 1845 in Kansas, Walker Cty., AL??

Lucinda HOGAN, born abt. 1854 in Kansas, Walker Cty., AL??

Emily Elizabeth Hogan, born 1860 in Kansas, Walker Cty., AL?? died 1916 at Old Kemp, Bryan Cty., OK.[my great-grandmother; Rev. Jimmie Lee Robins, MS]

we'll find time to research all of them!  and for those of you who have been doing family tree research, i encourage you to start a thread - the reference will put your information into search engines, encourage others to joing the group, and we'll get more info!

On my father's side, I am a Campbell. After viewing some geneaology work done by a cousin in Ohio, on my mother's side, I found that I am  a descendent of the Farquharson(Farquhar sept) clan. We also have some Wallace in our blood somewhere because someone from one clan married into the other. I'll have to locate the geneaology paperwork to find out exact names. 

I just looked up throught a round about route that the name, Ballantine is actually a Sept of Campbell. So, my Clan is Campbell. LOL I am a Highlander...woohoo...LOL

I am sorry I had too...

I went to the website...

http://www.houseofnames.com

...to find it. Perhaps all of those who have and unusual surename to find,  like I do, they maybe able to find it here aswell.

Just a thought...

Although - LOL - at this point my list is so long I will have to MOVE there to see them all!

Anyone else from Clan Gunn among our members?  Or Murray for that matter?  I haven't gotten as far into the Cummingses as I had planned, but I think it's important that we give the most space to the clans our members belong to - or their affiliated clans.  Of course, we all share a common bond in our love for this land.

As an aside - to all of you who are tracing your roots - persist!  My father's family was shrouded in the mists of time, but more parish records are becoming available all the time, and a month or two ago I was able to obtain records of my father's parents' marriage.  This cleared up a great deal, since I didn't know which branch of Larnachs to be researching.  This happened after nearly three years of digging, so don't give up! (the marriage certificates at the time required hometowns and parents' names and occupations; this was an enormouse help.)

my favorite place for quick answers:  wikipedia!  there's a pretty good article on the clan system, followed by a pretty comprehensive list of clan names.  click on them, and they'll take you to that clan's history page.

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

Try www.scotclans.com ; i don't think it's entirely complete, but it might be a good starting place, especially if your relatives were from one of the better-known septs. from their pages:

These were large and powerful families within a Clan. They did not share the native surname but in some cases their heads could be as powerful as the Chief himself.

another site to try is www.electricscotland.com, although, again, the list is incomplete (i say this because of looking up known associations and not finding them.)  it's always a good starting point!

Well all, my grandmothers maiden name was Balantine, I think I am spelling it right. There is also the spelling of Balintine and Balantyne...etc.

It is just crazy to try and find our clan we have been trying for years.

Some say Stewart, some say Farquar..it is just nuts.

Maybe you all can help.

So, I'll start off.  MacLaren and Stewart of Atholl from my dad's side, and Sutherland (among the Orangemen at Culloden :={ ) on my mum's.

There's usually a discussion of one clan or another in my primary sources for this group; maybe we should pick a clan and delve more deeply into it?  We seem to have a fair number of Clan Donald and Clan MacLeod here.