Features: Scottish Clan Early Genealogy - Clan Dundas

Motto: Essayez (Try)
Historic Seat: Dundas Castle
District: Lothian
Associated Surnames: Elias, Ellet
Associated Tartans:

Early Dundas Genealogy and History:
(Excerpt from "The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans", James Grant, 1906)

Serle de Dundas was living in the time of King William the Lion. His direct descendant in the fifteenth century was James Dundas, who was twice married. By his first marriage he had Sir Archibald, and Duncan, ancestor of the Dundases of Newliston. By his second marriage he had Alexander of Fingask. The above-named Sir Archibald died about 1494, leaving a son, Sir William, who was father of Sir James, and also of William, ancestor of the Dundases of Duddinston and Manour. This Sir James Dundas of Dundas was twice married. By his first marriage he had Sir Walter, and by his second marriage, he had Sir James, ancestor of the Dundases of Arniston. The eldest son, Sir Walter, had three sons (1) George, who direct descendant is Adam Duncan Dundas of Inchgarvie House, the present head of the family; (2) William, ancestor of the Dundases of Blair; and (3) Walter, ancestor of the Dundases of Magdalens.

We will not give an account of the Arniston branch of the family. The above-named Sir James was the father of another Sir James, who was twice married. By his second marriage he had a son, James, whose great-grandson was created a Baronet, 1821, and is now represented by Sir Sydney Dundas of Dunira, third Baronet. By his first marriage he had Robert, father of another Robert, Lord President of the Court of Session, who was twice married. By his second marriage he had Henry, created Viscount Melville, 1802, whose present representative is Henry, fifth Viscount. By his first marriage the Lord President had a son, Robert, who also became Lord President, and who was father of Robert, who became Lord Chief Baron of the Court of Exchequer. His grandson is the present Sir Robert Dundas of Arniston, created a baronet 1898.

We now return to the Dundases of Fingask. Alexander, first of Fingask, was father of another Alexander who fell at Flodden¹, 1513, whose direct descendant in the sixth degree was Thomas Dundas, who had two sons, Thomas and Lawrence of Kerse. The last-named Thomas had also two sons (1) Thomas, who great-grandson is the present Thomas George Dundas of Carron Hall and Fingask, and (2) Charles, created Lord Amesbury, 1832. The above-named Lawrence of Kerse was created a Baronet, 1762, and was father of Sir Thomas, created Baron Dundas of Aske, 1794. His son Lawrence, second Baron, was created Earl of Zetland, 1838, and his grandson is Lawrence, third Earl, who was created Marquis of Zetland in 1892.

(End excerpt)

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Footnotes:

¹ The Battle of Flodden (1513): The Battle of Flodden Field was fought on 9 September 1513, in Northumberland England between an army of Scots under King James IV and an English army commanded by the Earl of Surrey. Read more about the Battle of Flodden at Wikipedia.