Features: Scottish Clan Early Genealogy - Clan Scott

Motto: Amo (I love)
Historic Seat: Dalkeith Palace
District: Melrose
Associated Surnames: Bucchleuch, Geddes, Laidlaw, Langland
Associated Tartans:

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

Uchtredus filius Scoti lived in 1130. He was father of Richard, who is said to have had two sons - Richard, ancestor of the Scotts of Buccleuch, and Sir Michael ancestor of the Scotts of Balweary. From Richard, the eldest son, descended Sir Richard, who married the heiress of Murthuckstone, and died 1320, leaving a son Michael, father of two sons, Robert and Walter of Synton. Robert's great-grandson was Sir Walter, who had two sons, Sir David of Branxholm, and Alexander of Howpaisley. Sir David had two sons (1) David, whose great-great-grandson, Sir Walter, was created Baron Scott of Buccleuch, 1606; and (2) Robert, ancestor of the Scotts of Scotstarvit.

The first Lord Scott died in 1611, and was succeeded by his son Walter, who was created Earl of Buccleuch, 1619. The Earl was succeeded by his son Francis, second Earl, who died 1651, leaving two daughter (1) Mary, Countess of Buccleuch, who married Walter Scott of Highchester, created Earl of Tarvas for life. On her death, without issue, the title went to her sister (2) Anne, Countess of Buccleuch, who married James, Duke of Monmouth, natural son of King Charles II. On their marriage they were created Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch, 1673.

The Duke of Monmouth was beheaded 1685, when his English titles were forfeited. He left two sons, James, styled Earl of Dalkeith, and Henry, created Earl of Deloraine, 1706, whose line ended with the death of the fourth Earl, 1807. James, Earl of Dalkeith, dying in his father's lifetime, his son Francis became second Duke of Buccleuch, who was succeeded by his grandson Henry, third Duke, who also succeeded to the Dukedom of Queensberry. The third Duke left two sons; the younger, Henry, succeeded to the Barony of Montagu; the elder, Charles, became fourth Duke. His grandson is William, sixth and present Duke of Buccluech and Queensbury, whose brother, Henry John, was created Baron Montagu of Beaulieu, 1885. We now return to Alexander of Howpaisley. His descendant in the eighth degree was Francis of Thirlestane, who was created a Baronet, 1666.

He was succeeded by his son, Sir William second Baronet, who assumed the name of Napier on his marriage with Elizabeth, Mistress of Napier. His present representative is William eleventh Lord Napier and Ettrick. Walter Scott of Synton, mentioned at the beginning of this article was ancestor of Walter of Harden, whose grandson, Walter, third of Harden, had two sons; the younger Hugh, was ancestor of the Scotts of Gala; the elder, Walter, was the father of Sir William fifth of Harden, who had a number of sons. The eldest, William died without issue; the second, Sir Gideon, was father of Walter, Earl of Tarvas, above named, whose great-grandson by his second marriage, Hugh, succeeded to the Barony of Polwarth, and is now represented by Walter Hugh, eighth Baron Polwarth. The third son of Sir William fifth of Harden, was Walter of Raeburn; the younger son, Walter, was great-grandfather of Sir Walter Scott, the author of "Waverley" (see Maxwell).

There now remains to be described the family of Balweary. Sir Michael Scott was great-grandfather of another Sir Michael, who was known as the wizard. His descendant, Sir William was taken prisoner at Flodden,¹ 1513, and was succeeded by his son, Sir William of Balweary, who died, leaving two sons. From the elder, another Sir William, descended David Scott, who succeeded to the Baronetcy of his aunt's husband, James Sibbald, and his grandson is the present Sir Francis David Sibbald Scott, Bart.,² of Dunninald. The younger son Andrew was great-grandfather of John Scott of Kirkstyle, created a Baronet, 1761, whose descendant is the present Sir William Monteath Scott, Bart., of Ancrum.

(End excerpt)

Next page: Clan Sinclair

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.

² Bart.: Baronet