Scottish Lowland and Border Clans
Unlike Scottish Highland clans, Lowland and Border families didn’t identify themselves by tartar and kilts until the 19th century. They also used the words family and clan interchangeably although those from the higher social classes preferred to be called families.
Some of the most prominent Lowland and Border clans include:
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Clan Armstrong. The legend has it that the progenitor of this Border clan saved the king of Scots during a battle by lifting him with one arm onto his horse. The story also inspired the clan’s crest which depicts an arm from the shoulder. Clan Armstrong is armigerous but it is represented worldwide by the Clan Armstrong Trust.
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Clan Brodie. The origins of this clan aren’t exactly clear. But since Brodies are mentioned by the first written records, they are thought to be an ancient clan. According to some historians, the clan may also be of Pict origin. The clan is also known to be one of the few who didn’t support the Jacobite upheavals.
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Clan Bruce. One of the most famous Scottish clans produced two Scottish kings including Robert the Bruce. The surname is derived from the French word de Bruis or de Bruis which in turn is thought to refer to the lands in Normandy. The first Bruce – Robert de Brus, 1st Lord of Annandale came to England in early 12th century.
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Clan Carnegie. The name of the clan is taken after Carmyllie in Angus but the family was originally known under the name Balinhard which is also a place in Angus. The first records of the family Balinhard date from the 13th century.
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Clan Cochrane. This Lowland clan claims to descend from a Viking who settled in today’s Renfrewshire. The surname of the clan is taken after the lands in the Barony of Cochrane. The first records of the clan date from the 1260s.
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Clan Cumming. This clan is both Highland and Lowland, and is best known for playing an important role in medieval Scottish history, most notably in the Wars of Scottish Independence. The clan that rose to prominence under King David I was the most powerful Scottish family until being defeated by Robert the Bruce.
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Clan Douglas. The clan took its name after the village of Douglas in South Lanarkshire. But from this village, the family soon spread through vast territories and emerged as one of the most powerful Scottish families. Douglases reached the height of power in the Late Middle Ages as it was Clan Douglas that de facto held power in Scotland.
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Clan Forbes. The clan is thought to take the name after the lands of Forbes in Aberdeenshire which are known to be in its possession since the 12th century. Like the origin of many other Scottish clans, the origin of Forbes family is surrounded by legends. The first Forbes – Duncan Forbes is mentioned in 1270s.
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Clan Forsyth. One of the most influential Scottish clans to this day has its members worldwide, mostly in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. The clan is thought to descend from a Scandinavian royal family but unfortunately, most of the early records were destroyed in the Civil War which makes early history of this clan uncertain.
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Clan Macdowall. The clan is thought to descend from the male line of Fergus of Galloway who ruled over much south west Scotland in the 12th century. The family later split into several branches including the MacDoualls of Freugh, MacDoualls of Logan, MacDowalls of Machrimore and Makdougals of Makerston.
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Clan Montgomery. This Lowland clan originates from Wales and came to Scotland in the 12th century. The surname is thought to be taken after the land in Wales. The family is first recorded in the 13th century and rose to prominence one century later when a dynastic marriage with the Eglinton family brought it the latter’s estates.
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Clan Stewart. Today an armigerous clan traces its descent to Banquo who also appears in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. But most historians think that the family descended from a noble family in Brittany. The clan rose to prominence after the Wars of Scottish Independence; through marriage of its chief Stewart Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland and Marjorie, daughter of Robert the Bruce. The male line of the Stewart family ruled Scotland until 1542 when Mary, Queen of Scots ascended to the throne. But Mary’s son and successor, James VI was son of Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley who was a member of a branch of Clan Stewart which held the throne of both Scotland and England until 1714.