Clan Scott
Encyclopedia
Clan Scott is a Scottish clan
. Clan Scott is not a Highland clan but Lowland
, from the Borders
region of Scotland
. Families and clans from this area prefer to be known as Borderers instead of Lowlanders.
. However in the Borders, an area that was never fully Gaelic speaking, it may have meant a Scottish Gaelic speaker.
The first record of the name Scott is when Uchtred filius Scot witnessed the foundation charter of Selkirk in 1120. Henricus le Scotte witnessed a charter by David Earl of Strathearn
around 1195.
Michael Scott "the wizard" was a real-life scholar and philosopher, whom Walter Scott described in The Lay of the Last Minstrel
as "addicted to the abstruse studies of judicial astrology
, alchemy
, physiognomy
, and chiromancy
. Hence he passed among his contemporaries for a skilful magician".
In the last quarter of the 13th century the Scotts appear in Fife when Michael Lescot agreed to serve King Edward I of England overseas. (In the 17th century author Sir John Scott would rebuild Scotstarvit Tower
near Cupar in Fife, a prominent landmark.)
In the Ragman Rolls
(all nobles and landed gentry were required to sign by Edward I
in 1296) there are six Scott lairds. One of these, Sir Richard le Scot of Murthoxton (now Murdostoun) in Lanarkshire may have acquired those lands by marriage – he also had estates in Selkirkshire
. It is his line which became established and spread out between Ettrickdale and Liddesdale
.
and distinguished himself at the Battle of Halidon Hill
, fighting against the English in 1333 during the Wars of Scottish Independence
.
. The clans would gather for battle at a place called Bellendean. The feud caused the deaths of both chiefs and was only resolved by marriage during the chieftainship of the 10th Laird. The 13th Baron was created Lord Scott of Buccleuch by James VI and in 1619 Lord Scott was created an Earl. The male line failed and Anne, Countess of Buccleuch married the illegitimate son of King Charles II
, the Duke of Monmouth. Charles created the couple Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch but the Duke supported the Protestant cause and at one stage led an unsuccessful rebellion against his uncle King James II.
and the Clan Scott continued to raid each other's lands. The Chief Kerr of Cessford, who had worked as warden for peace and co-operation with England, was killed by a follower of Clan Scott of Buccleuch in the attempt to rescue King James V of Scotland
from the Clan Douglas
. In 1552 the Chief of Clan Scott of Buccleuch
was killed by the Clan Kerr
of Cessford in Edinburgh
. Fighting between the clans continued until a peace agreement was signed in 1602.
The third Duke of Buccleuch married the heiress of the Duke of Queensberry (Clan Douglas
) and became one of the richest men in Britain.
s at the Battle of Tippermuir
in 1644 but the Covenanters were defeated by the Royalist forces under James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
.
Government. Captain Scott was taken prisoner by the Jacobites
during their first hostile action which later became known as the Highbridge Skirmish
in August 1745. Later Captain Scott was released and is remembered for the successful defense during the Siege of Fort William
in March 1746 where he held command and the Jacobites were defeated.
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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...
. Clan Scott is not a Highland clan but Lowland
Scottish Lowlands
The Scottish Lowlands is a name given to the Southern half of Scotland.The area is called a' Ghalldachd in Scottish Gaelic, and the Lawlands ....
, from the Borders
Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is one of 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It is bordered by Dumfries and Galloway in the west, South Lanarkshire and West Lothian in the north west, City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian to the north; and the non-metropolitan counties of Northumberland...
region of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. Families and clans from this area prefer to be known as Borderers instead of Lowlanders.
Origins
One of the most powerful of the Border families, the name was derived from the Scots who invaded Dalriada (Argyll) from Ireland and the surname is found in all parts of ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. However in the Borders, an area that was never fully Gaelic speaking, it may have meant a Scottish Gaelic speaker.
The first record of the name Scott is when Uchtred filius Scot witnessed the foundation charter of Selkirk in 1120. Henricus le Scotte witnessed a charter by David Earl of Strathearn
Earl of Strathearn
The Mormaer of Strathearn or Earl of Strathearn was a provincial ruler in medieval Scotland. Of unknown origin, the mormaers are attested for the first time in a document perhaps dating to 1115. The first known mormaer, Maol Íosa I is mentioned by Ailred of Rievaulx as leading native Scots in the...
around 1195.
Michael Scott "the wizard" was a real-life scholar and philosopher, whom Walter Scott described in The Lay of the Last Minstrel
The Lay of the Last Minstrel
"The Lay of the Last Minstrel" is a long narrative poem by Walter Scott. -Overview:...
as "addicted to the abstruse studies of judicial astrology
Astrology
Astrology consists of a number of belief systems which hold that there is a relationship between astronomical phenomena and events in the human world...
, alchemy
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
, physiognomy
Physiognomy
Physiognomy is the assessment of a person's character or personality from their outer appearance, especially the face...
, and chiromancy
Chiromancy
Palmistry or chiromancy , is the art of characterization and foretelling the future through the study of the palm, also known as palm reading, or chirology. The practice is found all over the world, with numerous cultural variations...
. Hence he passed among his contemporaries for a skilful magician".
In the last quarter of the 13th century the Scotts appear in Fife when Michael Lescot agreed to serve King Edward I of England overseas. (In the 17th century author Sir John Scott would rebuild Scotstarvit Tower
Scotstarvit Tower
Scotstarvit Tower is a tower house in Fife, Scotland. It is situated south of Cupar, between Tarvit Hill and Walton Hill, south of the River Eden, near the A916 road....
near Cupar in Fife, a prominent landmark.)
In the Ragman Rolls
Ragman Rolls
Ragman Rolls refers to the collection of instruments by which the nobility and gentry of Scotland subscribed allegiance to King Edward I of England, during the time between the Conference of Norham in May 1291 and the final award in favor of Baliol in November 1292; and again in 1296...
(all nobles and landed gentry were required to sign by Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
in 1296) there are six Scott lairds. One of these, Sir Richard le Scot of Murthoxton (now Murdostoun) in Lanarkshire may have acquired those lands by marriage – he also had estates in Selkirkshire
Selkirkshire
Selkirkshire or the County of Selkirk is a registration county of Scotland. It borders Peeblesshire to the west, Midlothian to the north, Berwickshire to the north-east, Roxburghshire to the east, and Dumfriesshire to the south...
. It is his line which became established and spread out between Ettrickdale and Liddesdale
Liddesdale
Liddesdale, the valley of the Liddel Water, in the County of Roxburgh, southern Scotland, extends in a south-westerly direction from the vicinity of Peel Fell to the River Esk, a distance of...
.
Wars of Scottish Independence
Sir Michael Scott, 2nd Laird of Buccleuch was a staunch supporter of King Robert the BruceRobert I of Scotland
Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and...
and distinguished himself at the Battle of Halidon Hill
Battle of Halidon Hill
The Battle of Halidon Hill was fought during the Second War of Scottish Independence. Scottish forces under Sir Archibald Douglas were heavily defeated on unfavourable terrain while trying to relieve Berwick-upon-Tweed.-The Disinherited:...
, fighting against the English in 1333 during the Wars of Scottish Independence
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the independent Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and early 14th centuries....
.
15th century
The Lanarkshire estate was exchanged for Branxholm in Selkirkshire as the family became more and more established in the Borders. In the 15th century, as was common in the Borders, the Scotts quarrel led frequently with their neighbours, particularly the Clan KerrClan Kerr
Clan Kerr is a Scottish clan that played an important role in the history of the Border country of Scotland.-Origins:The origins of the name Kerr are disputed as being either:*Caer *Ciar...
. The clans would gather for battle at a place called Bellendean. The feud caused the deaths of both chiefs and was only resolved by marriage during the chieftainship of the 10th Laird. The 13th Baron was created Lord Scott of Buccleuch by James VI and in 1619 Lord Scott was created an Earl. The male line failed and Anne, Countess of Buccleuch married the illegitimate son of King Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, the Duke of Monmouth. Charles created the couple Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch but the Duke supported the Protestant cause and at one stage led an unsuccessful rebellion against his uncle King James II.
16th century
During the 16th century the Clan KerrClan Kerr
Clan Kerr is a Scottish clan that played an important role in the history of the Border country of Scotland.-Origins:The origins of the name Kerr are disputed as being either:*Caer *Ciar...
and the Clan Scott continued to raid each other's lands. The Chief Kerr of Cessford, who had worked as warden for peace and co-operation with England, was killed by a follower of Clan Scott of Buccleuch in the attempt to rescue King James V of Scotland
James V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
from the Clan Douglas
Clan Douglas
Clan Douglas is an ancient Scottish kindred from the Scottish Lowlands taking its name from Douglas, South Lanarkshire, and thence spreading through the Scottish Borderland, Angus, Lothian and beyond. The clan does not currently have a chief, therefore it is considered an armigerous clan.The...
. In 1552 the Chief of Clan Scott of Buccleuch
Walter Scott of Branxholme and Buccleuch
Sir Walter Scott, 1st of Branxholme, 3rd of Buccleuch , known as "Wicked Wat", was a nobleman of the Scottish Borders and the chief of Clan Scott who briefly served as Warden of the Middle March. He was an "inveterate English hater" active in the wars known as The Rough Wooing and a noted Border...
was killed by the Clan Kerr
Clan Kerr
Clan Kerr is a Scottish clan that played an important role in the history of the Border country of Scotland.-Origins:The origins of the name Kerr are disputed as being either:*Caer *Ciar...
of Cessford in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. Fighting between the clans continued until a peace agreement was signed in 1602.
The third Duke of Buccleuch married the heiress of the Duke of Queensberry (Clan Douglas
Clan Douglas
Clan Douglas is an ancient Scottish kindred from the Scottish Lowlands taking its name from Douglas, South Lanarkshire, and thence spreading through the Scottish Borderland, Angus, Lothian and beyond. The clan does not currently have a chief, therefore it is considered an armigerous clan.The...
) and became one of the richest men in Britain.
17th century
During the Civil War, Sir James Scott led his forces in support of the CovenanterCovenanter
The Covenanters were a Scottish Presbyterian movement that played an important part in the history of Scotland, and to a lesser extent in that of England and Ireland, during the 17th century...
s at the Battle of Tippermuir
Battle of Tippermuir
The Battle of Tippermuir was the first battle James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose fought for the king during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms....
in 1644 but the Covenanters were defeated by the Royalist forces under James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed...
.
18th century and Jacobite uprisings
During the Jacobite Uprisings the Clan Scott supported the British HanoverianHouse of Hanover
The House of Hanover is a deposed German royal dynasty which has ruled the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg , the Kingdom of Hanover, the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
Government. Captain Scott was taken prisoner by the Jacobites
Jacobitism
Jacobitism was the political movement in Britain dedicated to the restoration of the Stuart kings to the thrones of England, Scotland, later the Kingdom of Great Britain, and the Kingdom of Ireland...
during their first hostile action which later became known as the Highbridge Skirmish
Highbridge Skirmish
The Highbridge Skirmish was the first engagement of the Jacobite Rising of 1745 between British Government troops and Jacobites loyal to Prince Charles Edward Stuart...
in August 1745. Later Captain Scott was released and is remembered for the successful defense during the Siege of Fort William
Siege of Fort William
The siege of Fort William, Scotland took place between 20 March and 3 April 1746. Prior to the siege the Jacobites had forced the surrender of Fort Augustus after a siege of just two days, from where they proceeded to Fort William with cannons they had taken from Fort Augustus...
in March 1746 where he held command and the Jacobites were defeated.
19th century
In the 19th century, Sir Walter Scott (from a junior branch, the Scotts of Harden) changed Scotland's image forever. The Duke of Buccleuch today is the largest private landowner in the United Kingdom and the art collections at the family's great houses of Drumlanrig, Bowhill and Boughton are internationally famous.Chief
- Clan Chief: His Grace Richard Walter John Montagu Douglas Scott, The 10th Duke of BuccleuchDuke of BuccleuchThe title Duke of Buccleuch , formerly also spelt Duke of Buccleugh, was created in the Peerage of Scotland on 20 April 1663 for the Duke of Monmouth, who was the eldest illegitimate son of Charles II of Scotland, England, and Ireland and who had married Anne Scott, 4th Countess of Buccleuch.Anne...
, Duke of QueensberryDuke of QueensberryThe title Duke of Queensberry was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1684 along with the subsidiary title Marquess of Dumfriesshire for the 1st Marquess of Queensberry...
, Marquess of Dumfriesshire, Earl of Buccleuch, Earl of Doncaster, Earl of Dalkeith, Earl of Drumlanrig and Sanquhar, Viscount of Nith, Torthorwald and Ross, Lord Scott of Buccleuch, Lord Scott of Whitchester and Eskdaill, Baron Scott of Tindale, Lord Douglas of Kilmount, MiddlebieMiddlebieMiddlebie is a hamlet and parish in Dumfries & Galloway, south-west Scotland. It is approximately east of Ecclefechan, and north-east of Annan, on the banks of the Middlebie Burn....
and DornockDornockDornock is a small Scottish village in Dumfries and Galloway, situated about one mile west of Eastriggs and two miles east of Annan. Dornock is built on land which is 10 to 20 metres above sea level. Dornock Burn runs east of the village and the railway between Annan and Gretna is north of the...
.
Castles
- Branxholme CastleBranxholme CastleBranxholme Castle is a five-storey tower at Branxholme, about 3 miles south-west of Hawick in the Borders region of Scotland.- History :The present castle is land owned by the Clan Scott since 1420. The Earl of Northumberland burned the first castle in 1532. The next held out against the English...
has been owned by the Clan Scott since 1420. - Dalkeith PalaceDalkeith PalaceDalkeith Palace in Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland, is the former seat of the Duke of Buccleuch.Dalkeith Castle was located to the north east of Dalkeith, and was originally in the hands of the Clan Graham in the 12th century and given to the Douglas family in the early 14th century. James Douglas...
in Dalkeith, Midlothian, Scotland, is the former seat of the Duke of BuccleuchDuke of BuccleuchThe title Duke of Buccleuch , formerly also spelt Duke of Buccleugh, was created in the Peerage of Scotland on 20 April 1663 for the Duke of Monmouth, who was the eldest illegitimate son of Charles II of Scotland, England, and Ireland and who had married Anne Scott, 4th Countess of Buccleuch.Anne...
.