On the morning of 13 February 1692, soldiers who had spent 12 days eating and sleeping in the homes of the MacDonalds of Glencoe turned on their hosts and killed them in their beds. Thirty-eight people died. Others fled into the winter hills and did not survive the cold. The Scottish Parliament later named it […]
If your family name is Kerr, Ker, or Carr, your ancestors likely walked the hills of the Scottish Borders. The Scottish surnames of Clan Kerr trace back to one of the most powerful families in southern Scotland. For centuries, the Kerrs ruled Roxburghshire with force and cunning. Their castles still stand. Their story still calls […]
If your family tree shows the Scottish surnames of Clan Lindsay — Crawford, Deuchar, or Lindsay itself — you carry a proud heritage. The Lindsays were once one of Scotland’s most powerful noble families. For centuries, they held the earldom of Crawford in Angus. They built elegant castles, wrote poetry, and fought in Scotland’s defining […]
The Scottish surnames of Clan Robertson carry a story of fierce loyalty, royal service, and a deep bond with the Perthshire Highlands. If Robertson, Duncan, or Reid appears in your family tree, you likely have roots in one of Scotland’s oldest and proudest clans. This guide covers the origins, sept names, tartans, and ancestral lands […]
The Scottish surnames of Clan Sinclair stretch from the rocky cliffs of Caithness to the carved stones of . This clan has one of the most dramatic stories in Scotland. Viking blood. Norman roots. A castle perched on the edge of the sea. And sept names still carried by thousands of people across the world. […]
No Scottish clan has a story quite like Clan MacGregor. They were outlawed for 171 years. Their name was banned on pain of death. Their chief was hanged without trial. Yet the MacGregors survived. They hid in the Highland mist, changed their names, and passed their stories down through generations. They called themselves the Children […]
If the name Wallace runs in your family, you carry one of the most famous names in Scottish history. William Wallace fought for Scotland’s freedom in the 13th century. He became a symbol of Scottish identity that still resonates around the world. This guide covers the Scottish surnames of Clan Wallace, their origins, the clan […]
Most visitors driving the Fife coast from Edinburgh stop at Culross for the cobbled streets and the yellow palace. Fewer continue the extra seven miles east to Dunfermline. That is a mistake. Dunfermline Abbey has been standing since 1072 and holds more Scottish history within its walls than almost anywhere else in the country. Dunfermline […]
Few names carry more weight in Scottish history than Bruce. If your family tree includes the Scottish surnames of Clan Bruce, you are connected to one of Scotland’s greatest stories. This is the clan that gave Scotland Robert the Bruce — the king who won independence at Bannockburn in 1314. Whether your surname is Bruce, […]
The Scottish surnames of Clan Hamilton have spread across the globe. From South Lanarkshire to the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, this powerful Lowland clan left a deep mark on history. If Hamilton, Bannatyne, or Cadzow appears in your family tree, you carry the blood of Scotland’s most ambitious noble house. Photo: Shutterstock […]
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