Features: Scottish Clan Early Genealogy - Clan Urquhart

Motto: Trust and go forward
Historic Seat: Castle Craig, Urquhart Castle
District: Loch Ness, Inverness-shire
Associated Surnames: Cromarty, Orcutt
Associated Tartans:

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

This clan probably takes its name from the district so called in Inverness-shire. There are several charters to persons of the name in Robertson's Index. Among them, one to Adam Urquhart, under David II (1340-70), of the lands of Fohestery in Buchan, cum Fotyre; one to Ada Urquhart of Combathie, given by Hugh Ross; another to the same, and one charter under the same monarch, "confirmans concessum per Willielmum Comitum de Ross," of certain lands, dated at the castle of Lord of Urquhart, 4th July 1342, and among the witnesses was Adam de Urquhart.

In 1449 a Thomas Urquhart was Bishop of Ross. In 1463 Helen Urquhart, daughter of Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty by his wife, a daughter of Lord Forbes, was married to James Baird of the Baird family.

In some accounts of the battle of Pinkie,¹ 1547, it is stated that there fell the seven sons of Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty. If so, their names are not given in the Douglas "Baronage."

The last Dean of Ross in 1585 was Alexander Urquhart. He was deprived of his post in that year, and the rents bestowed upon Robert Monro of Foulis's son Hector.

In the Roll of Landlords in 1587, John Urquhart of Craigfintry and Culbo appears as guardian to his grand-nephew, afterwards the eccentric and learned Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty. John, called the Tutor of Cromarty, built Craigston Castle about the years 1604 and 1607. He married the heiress of Seton of Meldrum.

Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty, if he did not reside in the parish of King Edward, seems to have taken an interest in it; for the inscription on the massive silver communion cups show that they were a joint present from him and John Urquhart of Craigfintry, the former name of Craigston.

In the army of Gustavus Adolphus,² under date 1626, we find Colonel John Urquhart of Cromarty, "a valiant souldier, expert commander, and learned scholar."

In 1649 the Castle of Inverness was nearly demolished by Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty and other cavaliers. He was one of the most quaint writers of the seventeenth century, and is chiefly known as the translator of Rabelais. He was knighted by Charles I at Whitehall, and accompanied the Scottish army to Worcester³ in 1651.

In 1678 the Laird of Cromarty and Alexander Urquhart of Newhall were Commissioners in Parliament.

In 1680 there were complaints laid before the Council against his kinsman, Urquhart of Meldrum, commanding a troop of the King's Horse.

Mary, daughter and heiress of William Urquhart of Craigston, married William Pollard, and their son, Francis Pollard-Urquhart, now has Craigston Castle.

Major Beauchamp Colclough-Urquhart, of Meldrum and Byth, Aberdeenshire, was head of the family, but he was killed in action in 1898.

(End excerpt)

Footnotes:

¹ The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh (1547): The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh was fought on 10 September 1547 on the banks of the River Esk near Musselburgh, Scotland. It was the last pitched battle between Scottish and English armies, and was a defeat for Scotland. Read more about the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh at Wikipedia.

² Gustavus Adolphus: Gustav II Adolph, King of Sweden. Several Scottish brigades, who had been levied by King James VI, were under the military command of Sweden during the Thirty Years War. Read more about Scotland and the Thirty Years' War at Wikipedia.

³ The Battle of Worcester (1651): The Battle of Worcester was fought on 3 September 1651 at Worcester, England and was the final battle of the English Civil War. Cromwell's army defeated King Charles II's army, of whom the vast majority were Scottish. Read more about the Battle of Worcester at Wikipedia.