The Scottish Clans

Motto: Virescit Vulnere Virtus (Courage Flourishes at a Wound)
Tartan: Burnett, Burnett of Leys
Plant Badge: A sprig of holly leaves

Associated Names and Septs (with spelling variations):
Blackhall Burnaitt Burnat Burnate Burnet Burnett

History

Although it is suggested that the family have Norman ancestry it is more probable that the name Burnett is a variant of Burnard from the Old English personal name Beornheard who occupied England before 1066. ‘beornheard’ translates from the Saxon as ‘bear hand’ but is sometimes also translated as ‘brave warrior’.

The family, called themselves de Bernard came to Scotland in the train of David I in the 12th century and first settled in the south, where some remained to become the Burnett’s of Barns. The chiefly branch traveled to Kincardineshire, where they became the Burnett’s of Leys.

Alexander Burnett supported Robert the Bruce, and was awarded land in the royal Forest of Drum, together with the title of forester. In the main hall of Crathes Castle there hangs an ivory horn called the ‘Horn of Leys’ which is alleged to have been presented by Bruce as a symbol of this. His great-grandson, Robert was the first designated “of Leys” in 1446.

The Burnett’s have had a mixed relationship with the church; during the fifteenth century they were recorded granting lands and endowments. Later in a land dispute between Burnett and the nearby Laird of Drum the local priest Father Ambrose, was asked by Burnett to assist in negotiations but he refused. Burnett was incensed and denied the local monks fishing rights in the Loch of Leys. This caused bad blood between Burnett and the monks who cursed him. He in turn attempted to drain the loch but his son was killed during the attempt and after the tragedy the two sided were reconciled.

The Clan seat is at Crathes Castle on the north of the Dee in Kincardineshire which was founded in 1533. The castle took 40 years to build and retains the traditional L-shaped form. There is also legend of a ghost at Crathes Castle. The ghost is believed to be Bertha de Bernard a relative of the Burnett’s who was allegedly poisoned (some say by Lady Agnes Burnett) after falling for one of her betrothed cousins. Bertha’s father is said to have cursed the family and up to the 17th century a ‘Green Lady’ was seen in the castle as a portent to ill tidings in the household.

Sir Thomas Burnett was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1626 by Charles I. He supported the Covenant but was also a friend and relative of the Marquis of Montrose. His son served in the last Scottish parliament and was one of the few Scottish politicians who opposed the 1707 Act of Union.

The title passed to Thomas Burnett of Criggie when Sir Robert Burnett of Leys died with no heir the title still took seven years to pass over though as it was bitterly contested. The seventh Baronet served in the Royal Scots Fusiliers during the American Wars, he was taken prisoner at Saratoga in 1777. Major General Sir James Burnett of Leys, thirteenth Baronet commanded a brigade of Gordon Highlanders in the First World War. He was frequently mentioned in dispatches and decorated with the DSO twice as well as the French Legion of Honour. His grandson is the present chief, and still lives on the family lands.

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Gaelic Name: Cononach
Motto: Clarior hinc honos (Hence the brighter honour)
Badge: Bilberry
Lands: Loch Lomond-shire
Origin of Name: from Both-Charain (Canon’s Seat)

Associated Names and Septs (with spelling variations):
Aslan Auslan Bochnannane Boqhannan Boquhennane Boquhennnan Buchanan Buchquannan Buchquhannan Buchquhannane Bucqhannane Bucquannane Buhannane Buquhannan Buquhannane Calman Clay Coleman Colman Conlay Conley Cormac Cormack Cormag Cormick Cosland Cousland Cowsland Dewar Deware Dewere Donleavy Donlevy Dove Dow Dowe Dunleavy Dunslef Gebbieson Geib Gib Gibb Gibbeson Gibbie Gibbieson Gibbinson Gibbisone Gibbon Gibbons Gibbs Gibson Gibsone Gibsoun Gibsoune Gilbert Gilbertson Gilbertsone Gipson Gipsone Gipsoun Gracey Gracie Gracy Graisich Grasich Grass Grasse Grasseich Grassiche Grassichsone Grassick Grassie Grasycht Graysich Greasaighe Greasich Grecie Greishich Greoschich Greoshich Greshach Gresich Gressiche Greusach Greusaich Grevsach Griasaich Griesck Gybbesone Gybson Gybsone Gybsoun Gypsone Harper Harperson Harpeur Harpur Jore Lanie Lanye Lenay Lenna Lennie Lenny Leny MacAbin MacAbsolon MacAldonich MacAlman MacAlmant MacAlmont MacAmhaoir MacAnally MacAndeoir MacAnnally MacArmick MacAslan MacAsland MacAslen MacAslin MacAuselan MacAuslan MacAusland MacAuslane MacAuslin MacCallman MacCalmain MacCalman MacCalmin MacCalmon MacCalmont MacCamant MacCannally MacCarmick MacCarmike MacCaslan MacCasland MacCaslane MacCaslen MacCaslin MacCasline MacCausland MacChananaich MacChormaig MacChritter MacChruitar MacChruiter MacChruter MacChruytor MacChrytor MacChurteer MacClae MacClay MacCleay MacClew MacColeman MacCollea MacColmain MacColman MacComok MacConlea MacCormack MacCormaic MacCormaig MacCormick MacCormock MacCormok MacCornack MacCornick MacCornock MacCornok MacCowatt MacCowbyn MacCuabain MacCubben MacCubbin MacCubbine MacCubbing MacCubbon MacCubein MacCubeine MacCuben MacCubene MacCubine MacCubyn MacCubyne MacCurchie MacDimslea MacDonleavy MacDonnslae MacGibbon MacGibbone MacGibboney MacGibon MacGibonesoun MacGiboun MacGibson MacGilbert MacGormick MacGormock MacGrasaych MacGrassych MacGrassycht MacGrasycht MacGrayych MacGreische MacGreish MacGresche MacGresich MacGressich MacGressiche MacGreusach MacGreusaich MacGreusich MacGubb MacGubbin MacGybbon MacHouat MacHrurter MacHruter MacHuat MacIldonich MacInair MacInally MacInayr MacInchruter MacIndeoir MacIndeor MacIndoe MacIndoer MacInnuer MacInnuier MacInnyeir MacInuair MacInuar MacInuire MacInuyer MacJore MacKeandla MacKermick MacKernock MacKibbin MacKibbon MacKindew MacKindlay MacKinla MacKinlay MacKinley MacKmaster MacKnaer MacKnair MacKnaire MacKornock MacKornok MacKwatt MacKynnair MacKynnayr MacLae MacLay MacLea MacLeay MacLey MacMagister MacMaster MacMaurice MacMhurchaidh MacMorice MacMories MacMoris MacMoroquhy MacMurachy MacMurchaidh MacMurchie MacMurchou MacMurchy MacMurd MacMurdo MacMurdoch MacMurdy MacMuredig MacMurphy MacMurquhe MacMurquhie MacMurtchie MacNair MacNally MacNar MacNare MacNayair MacNayer MacNayr MacNayre MacNear MacNeer MacNeir MacNeur MacNewer MacNoyar MacNoyare MacNoyiar MacNuer MacNuir MacNuire MacNure MacNuyer MacNvyr MacObyn MacOldonich MacOnlay MacOrmack MacOuat MacOwat MacQharter MacQherter MacQuaben MacQuarter MacQuat MacQuattie MacQuatty MacQueeban MacQuhartoune MacQuhat MacQuhatti MacQuhattie MacQuhirtir MacQuhirtour MacQuhirtoure MacQuhorter MacQuhriter MacQuibben MacQuibbon MacQuiben MacQuirter MacRob MacRobb MacRobe MacRuter MacUbein MacUbin MacUbine MacUrchie MacUrchy MacVannan MacVat MacVorchie MacVurchie MacWat MacWatt MacWatte MacWattie MacWatty MacWete MacWhirter MacWhirtour MacWhorter MacWhrurter MacWhyrter MacWirter MacWorthie MacWurchie Maistersone Maistertoun Maistertoune Maistertown Makarmik Makaslane Makcormok Makcubeyn Makcubyn Makcubyng Makgeboun Makgibboun Makley Makmoris Makmuldonych Makmurche Makmurquhy Maknair Maknare Maknayr Maknewar Maknoyar Makrutour Makrutur Makwat Makwatty Makwete Makynnair Masterson Masterton Mastertone Maurice Meldonich Mewhirter Mhurchaidh Mildonich Morice Morrice Morris Muldonich Muldonycht Murchad Murchadh Murchaidh Murcheson Murchesoun Murchie Murchieson Murchison Murchosone Murchosoun Murchy Murquhason Murquhasson Murquhessoun Murquhosoun Murtchie Reisk Risk Risken Rusken Ruskin Spetal Spetall Spetalle Spettale Spettall Spital Spitale Spitel Spittal Spittale Spittel Spittele Spittell Spytale Vair Vatsone Vatsoun Vatt Vcmurrochie Veir Vere Veyre Wair Ware Wason Wasson Wat Wateson Watson Watsone Watsoun Watsoune Watt Wattie Watts Wattsone Watty Wayre Wear Weare Weer Weir Weire Were Werr Weyir Weyr Whier Wier Wir Wire Yell Yoile Yool Yoole Youle Youll Yuel Yuill Yuille Yule Yull Yulle Zuill

History

The Buchanan name has been grounded in the lands surrounding the shores of Loch Lomond since 1225, when a grant by the Earls of Lennox to Sir Absalon of Buchanan, referred to in contemporaneous sources as ‘clericus meus’ i.e. he was a clergyman.

The derivation of the name in Gaelic lends validity to such a claim: ‘Buth chanain’ is Gaelic for the ‘House of the Canon’, an indication that the first Buchanan’s may have been a family that was dedicated to the service of the ancient Celtic church, or may have had a pre-charter, hereditary clerical tenure. Furthermore, the clan can trace its origins back to Anselan O Kyan, son of a King of Ulster who landed in Argyll circa 1016. For his services against the Danes he received the lands of Buchanan, lying to the east of Loch Lomond.

Equally, it has been argued that the benefactor was Gilbert, seneschal to the Earl of Lennox, and that the lands were in Stirlingshire. 1282 was when these lands were confirmed with baronial rights through a charter to Morris of Buchanan, who also held a small island called Clarinch, that subsequently became the clan battle cry.

The Buchanans supported the Bruce in the war of independence, thus assuring the predominance of the family in the post-Banockburn era. The Buchanan shield is virtually indistinguishable from the Royal Arms of Scotland, with a significant difference. The Buchanan version of the arms changes the lion and the double treasure of fleur de lis from red to black, thought to be an allusion to the marriage of Sir Walter Buchanan to the only daughter of Murdoch, Duke of Albany and Regent of Scotland.

The regent was to be beheaded by his cousin, James I in 1425, his lands confiscated and the line of the Regent’s family terminated when his son died heirless. It is reputed that the colouring of the Buchanan arms also reflects a mourning for loss of status as nearest relatives to this branch of the disinherited family.

Other descendants of this chiefly family were the Buchanan’s of Arnprior who held lands in Kippen, Perthshire, where they were known as ‘Kings of Kippen’. This popular nickname relates to a Walter Scott story in which James V arrived at Arnprior, unrecognised due to his penchant for travelling his lands in disguise. He was met with a degree of hospitality that was hardly sufficient given his status – the Laird was eating, and could not be disturbed, he was told.

The disguised James V asked the Laird’s doorman to tell the ‘King of Kippen’ that:

“the Goodman of Ballengreich is come to feast”.

Buchanan knew that these words signalled he was in the presence of true royalty, and begged forgiveness.

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Badge: Sunflower
Origin of Tartan: Family tartan derived from Cumming, Relatives of Buchan

Associated Names and Septs (with spelling variations):
Bochane Boghan Buccan Bucchaine Bucchan Buchan Buchane Bughan Buquhan

History

The Buchan region, in the northeastern part of Aberdeenshire, verging on Banffshire, is the origin of the name of this clan. The Earldom of Buchan passed through the hands of the Comyns, though it fell from their grasp following their defeat at the hands of Robert the Bruce. Subsequently, the earldom was conferred upon Alexander Stewart, natural son of Robert II, and the notorious ‘Wolf of Badenoch’.

It is important to distinguish, however, that the name would also have been used by local nobility, even though they may have no direct affiliation with their Earls.

Auchmacoy came under the family’s influence from the beginning of the 14th century, though it was not until 1503 that Andrew, the second chief, received a charter to the lands from James IV. The Barons of Auchmacoy were strident Royalists and supported the Stewart claim throughout the 17th century. Thomas Buchan, 3rd Son of James Buchan of Auchmacoy, was appointed commander-in-chief of all Jacobite forces in Scotland following the death of Dundee at Killiecrankie in 1689. He received his commission from the King in Ireland, who returned to Scotland in April 1690 where he met at Keppoch with chiefs sympathetic to the Jacobite cause.

Buchan led the Jacobite forces throughout a protracted strategic struggle with government forces under General Mackay. Following his eventual defeat, he was allowed to seek exile in France, but he fought again at the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715, and continued his royal allegiance right up to his death in 1721.

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Gaelic Name: Brus
Motto: Fuimus (We have been)
Badge: Rosemary
Lands: Annandale, Clackmannan and Elgin
Origin of Name: Placename, Bruis – France

Associated Names and Septs (with spelling variations):
Airth Broce Brois Broise Broiss Brose Brouss Bruc Bruce Bruce Brues Bruice Bruis Brus Bruse Bruss Bruwes Bruys Bruze Carruthers Crosbie

History

It is possible to trace the descendancy of this famous clan to Normandy, France in the 11th century. Robert de Brus followed William the Conqueror, Duke of Normandy to England in 1066.. One of his relatives, Robert de Brus, became a companion-in-arms to Prince David in his visit to the court of Henry I of England, afterwards David I of Scotland, following him north as he went to reclaim his kingdom in 1124.

At an important battle in the English Civil War, the Battle of the Standards in 1138, Scottish forces were defeated. de Brus captured his own second son, Robert, who did not share his father’s allegiance to the English forces resisting the invading Scottish forces led by David. Robert ultimately returned to the lands of Annandale, and as a symbol of his defiance, abandoned his father’s arms of a red lion on a silver field, to adopt the famous red saltire.

The foundation of the royal house of Bruce was laid when Robert, 4th Lord of Annandale, married Isobel, niece of William of Lion. Not only did this confirm the regal gesture of the grant of the lands of Annandale, but it was the foundation upon which all future Bruce claims to the crown would be made. Furthermore, Robert de Bruce was in 1255 nominated one of the Regents of the Kingdom of Scotland, and the guardian of Alexander III.

The race for the succession to the Scottish crown was opened up by the death of Alexander III in 1286. The main competitor to the Bruce was the Balliol family. The death of the child heir to the throne, Margaret, the Maid of Norway, in 1290 intensified the competition. In 1290 he claimed the Crown as the nearest heir to Alexander III.

It could be argued the actions of Edward were duplicitous:

On the one hand, to avoid a potential civil war, it is said the rival families asked Edward I to act as arbiter. On the other, he ignored the claims made by the Bruce in 1290, in preference to the Balliols, through a strict interpretation of the laws of succession attributed to King Malcolm MacKenneth.

Not content with his judgement of 1292 that favoured John Balliol, Edward I took the opportunity to assert a right of overlordship over Scottish affairs. The response by Balliol was armed resistance though this met with failure at the Battle of Dunbar in 1296. As a consequence of Dunbar, the struggle for succession to the Scottish throne intensified, though taking a new form as a contest between the Comyns and Bruces.

The 8th Robert the Bruce (1274 – 1329), of historical repute, showed Machiavellian qualities in winning this contest. On his invitation John Comyn met with him on February 1306 in the church of Minorite Friars at Dumfries. The incident that followed has acquired notoriety: Robert stabbed his rival in the heart, thus emphatically staking his claim to the Crown.

Robert was crowned King at Scone palace on 27th March 1306. Though he was excommunicated for this act of sacrilege, he continued to show the resolve that had won him the crown in dissuading the sceptics who doubted the validity of his claim and the substance of his leadership. This struggle for Scottish independence culminated in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 which heralded a period of reconstruction and the successful process of unifying a war-torn nation.

The treaty of Northampton in 1328 ratified the Scottish independence for which Robert the Bruce, 7th Lord of Annandale, 2nd Earl of Carrick, and Scottish regent had fought so hard. The extent to which he was revered can be seen in the actions of Sir James Douglas who, on Robert the Bruce’s death in 1329, sought to preserve the sanctity of the dead King’s soul by transporting his heart to the Holy Land. It found its way to Spain, but no further as Douglas died, though it found eventual rest in Scotland in Melrose.

One of the less famous Bruce descendants was the seventh Earl of Elgin, the famous diplomat who devoted his own private fortune to reclaiming the ‘Elgin Marbles’, or the marbles of the Pantheon, that were rapidly decaying beyond repair.

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Gaelic Name: Brothaigh
Motto: Unite
Badge: Periwincle
Lands: Morayshire
Origin of Name: Placename, Morayshire

Associated Names and Septs (with spelling variations):
Brady Breaddie Breadie Briddie Bridie Bridy Bridye Broadie Broddie Broddy Brodie Brodye Brothie Bryde Brydie

History

The geographical origin of this ancient clan is the lands of Brodie near Forres, in Morayshire. The exact details of the clan’s origin were denied to history through a malicious attack on Brodie Castle by Lord Lewis Gordon, 3rd Marquis of Huntly, in 1645. All archive material such as charters were burnt and, as a consequence, the origins are mysterious. The gaelic origin of the Brodie name is clearer, though – it derives from the Gaelic word ‘brothaig’ meaning ‘ditch’.

The charter of confirmation for the Brodie lands came from Robert the Bruce and declared that Michael Brodie of Brodie held the rights of thanage over Brodie by right of succession from his paternal ancestors, including his father Malcolm of Brodie.

There is also the suggestion that the family has Pictish origins through descent from the royal family who carries the Pictish name ‘Brude’.

This is reinforced by the extensive archaeological evidence of Pictish settlements around Brodie . For instance, there is a finely carved Pictish symbol stone that stands close to the castle. This is a remnant of an old aristocratic order whose pinnacle was MacBeth: close to Brodie castle lies ‘the blasted heath’ on which MacBeth is reputed to have met the three witches.

Alexander Brodie of Brodie (b.1617) was a vigorous Presbyterian, the reformed religion, and these convictions led him to attack Elgin cathedral in 1640, destroying as he did the carvings and paintings of the Crucifixion and Last Judgement that he considered idolatrous to his religion. His position among local nobility was assured: he represented Elgin in parliament, and further afield, in 1649 he was one of the commissioners sent to negotiate the return of exiled Charles II to Scotland.

His diplomatic career also included a summons by Cromwell to London in 1651 to consider a Scottish union with England. He resisted attempts to appoint him to judicial office, though Cromwell’s death in 1658 forced the issue for him, and he relented. The consequence was royal disfavour following the Restoration, Charles II finding it hard to forgive men who had tried to force their Calvinist beliefs upon him as the price of their allegiance.

Through the centuries the family avoided any role in public affairs commensurate with social status, preferring the security of title and home. In 1972 Mrs Helena Brodie of Brodie discovered a vellum pontifical beneath a set of Bleau atlases in her loft. It was dated to the year 1000 and shows evidence of associations with Durham. Older than the reign of Saint Margaret, the advent of the Turgot of Durham, older than Elgin cathedral itself the Brodie Pontifical now resides in the British Museum.

In short, it is testimony to the family’s antiquity and a historical document of unquantifiable value.

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