Clan Fenton
Encyclopedia
Clan Fenton is a Scottish clan
. It does not have a clan chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms
therefore the clan has no standing under Scots Law
. Clan Fenton is considered an armigerous clan
, meaning that it is considered to have had at one time a chief who possessed the chiefly arms
, however no one at present is in possession of such arms. the arms
of Fenton of that Ilk are blazoned as: Gules
, a bend engrailed Argent
.
The clan held the lands of Fenton at Dirleton
in East Lothian
. Sir William Fenton, who was styled "Lord of Beaufort" was one of the auditors that gathered at Berwick
debating the competing claims between Robert the Bruce and John de Balliol
. According to the heraldist Alexander Nisbet
, William or perhaps his son married Cecilia Bisset the co-heiress of William Bisset, Lord of Lovat. The principal line of the Lowland Fentons ended in the marriage between an heiress and Whitelaw of that Ilk.
The family originated at Fenton near Dirleton but by the mid 13th century had made their demesne at the castle of Baikie on an island between two small lochs in the parish of Airlie in Angus. Their arms are displayed (unfortunately upside down) in an aumbry in the parish church of Airlie. Through marriage about 1275 they gained lands near Inverness at Beaufort, which title they used in contracts in that area.
Scottish clan
Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs recognised by the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which acts as an authority concerning matters of heraldry and Coat of Arms...
. It does not have a clan chief recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms
Lord Lyon King of Arms
The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the oldest...
therefore the clan has no standing under Scots Law
Scots law
Scots law is the legal system of Scotland. It is considered a hybrid or mixed legal system as it traces its roots to a number of different historical sources. With English law and Northern Irish law it forms the legal system of the United Kingdom; it shares with the two other systems some...
. Clan Fenton is considered an armigerous clan
Armigerous clan
An armigerous clan is a Scottish clan, family or name which is registered with the Court of the Lord Lyon and once had a chief who bore undifferenced arms, but does not have a chief currently recognized as such by Lyon Court...
, meaning that it is considered to have had at one time a chief who possessed the chiefly arms
Undifferenced arms
Undifferenced arms are coats of arms which have no marks distinguishing the bearer by birth order or family position. In the Scottish and English heraldic traditions, these plain coats of arms are legal property transmitted from father to eldest male heir, and are used only by one person at any...
, however no one at present is in possession of such arms. the arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of Fenton of that Ilk are blazoned as: Gules
Gules
In heraldry, gules is the tincture with the colour red, and belongs to the class of dark tinctures called "colours". In engraving, it is sometimes depicted as a region of vertical lines or else marked with gu. as an abbreviation....
, a bend engrailed Argent
Argent
In heraldry, argent is the tincture of silver, and belongs to the class of light tinctures, called "metals". It is very frequently depicted as white and usually considered interchangeable with it...
.
The clan held the lands of Fenton at Dirleton
Dirleton
Dirleton is a village and parish in East Lothian, Scotland approximately east of Edinburgh on the A198. It contains . Dirleton lies between North Berwick , Gullane , Fenton Barns and the Yellowcraigs nature reserve, Archerfield Estate and the Firth of Forth...
in East Lothian
East Lothian
East Lothian is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, and a lieutenancy Area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Scottish Borders and Midlothian. Its administrative centre is Haddington, although its largest town is Musselburgh....
. Sir William Fenton, who was styled "Lord of Beaufort" was one of the auditors that gathered at Berwick
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Berwick-upon-Tweed or simply Berwick is a town in the county of Northumberland and is the northernmost town in England, on the east coast at the mouth of the River Tweed. It is situated 2.5 miles south of the Scottish border....
debating the competing claims between Robert the Bruce and John de Balliol
John of Scotland
John Balliol , known to the Scots as Toom Tabard , was King of Scots from 1292 to 1296.-Early life:Little of John's early life is known. He was born between 1248 and 1250 at an unknown location, possibilities include Galloway, Picardy and Barnard Castle, County Durham...
. According to the heraldist Alexander Nisbet
Alexander Nisbet
Alexander Nisbet is one of the most important authors on Scottish heraldry. He is still much-cited, and his publications are still in print after nearly 300 years....
, William or perhaps his son married Cecilia Bisset the co-heiress of William Bisset, Lord of Lovat. The principal line of the Lowland Fentons ended in the marriage between an heiress and Whitelaw of that Ilk.
See also
www.clan-fenton.comThe family originated at Fenton near Dirleton but by the mid 13th century had made their demesne at the castle of Baikie on an island between two small lochs in the parish of Airlie in Angus. Their arms are displayed (unfortunately upside down) in an aumbry in the parish church of Airlie. Through marriage about 1275 they gained lands near Inverness at Beaufort, which title they used in contracts in that area.