Clan Strachan is a clan from the Grampian Highlands of Scotland. Scotland ( Gaelic: Alba) is a Country in northwest Europethat occupies the northern third of the island of Great Britain. The clan does not currently have a chief therefore it is considered an Armigerous clan. An armigerous clan refers to a Scottish clan, family or name which is registered with the Court of the Lord Lyon and once had a chief who bore Undifferenced arms ^[1]

History

Origins

In the year 1200, Walderus de Stratheihen made a grant of lands to the church of St Andrews. St Andrews (Cill Rìmhinn is a Town and former Royal burgh on the east coast of Fife, Scotland.

John, son of Rudolph de Strachane, gave the lands to the Abbey of Dunfermline which was confirmed by a charter of King Alexander III of Scotland in 1278. Dunfermline Abbey is a large Benedictine abbey in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. Alexander III ( Medieval Gaelic: Alaxandair mac Alaxandair; Modern Gaelic Alasdair mac Alasdair) (4 September 1241 – 19 March 1286 King of Scots

The barony of Strachan and the lands of Feteresso passed to the Clan Keith family from the Strachans by marriage, in the reign of King David II of Scotland, but Sir James Strachan of Monboddo obtained the lands of Thornton in Kincardine. Clan Keith is a Scottish clan associated with lands in northeastern and northwestern Scotland. Daibhidh a Briuis ( Modern Gaelic: Dàibhidh Bruis) anglicised as David II ( 5 March 1324 &ndash 22 February He had two sons the elder, Duncan, took the lands of Monboddo, while the younger had the lands of Thornton. ^[2]

17th Century & Civil War

Sir Alexander Strachan of Thornton was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia by King Charles I in 1625. The baronetcy passed in to the senior line of Monboddo by a charter under the great seal in 1663.

During the Civil War the chief, Colonel Alexander Strachan led a body of dragoons from Clan Strachan at the Battle of Carbisdale in 1650, where he held command under General Sir David Leslie on the side of the Covenanters. The Battle of Carbisdale took place close to the Village of Culrain on 27 April 1650 and was part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. David Leslie Lord Newark (c 1600-1682 was a cavalry officer and General in the English Civil War and Scottish Civil Wars The son of the 1st Earl of Lindores They were victorious against the Royalist army of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose. James Graham 1st Marquess of Montrose (October 1612 - 21 May 1650) was a Scottish nobleman and soldier who initially joined the

In 1654, Chief Sir James Strachan, 3rd baronet and 17th laird married his 16 year old cousin Elizabeth Forbes of Waterton. Clan Forbes is a Lowland Scottish clan from Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Their son James Strachan married Barbara Forbes of Newton. He led the clan at the Battle of Killiecrankie on the side of John Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee where he was killed. The Battle of Killiecrankie ( Scottish Gaelic -) was fought between highland Scottish clans supporting James II and VII and government troops (mostly lowland John Graham of Claverhouse 1st Viscount Dundee (c 1648 - July 27, 1689) was a Scottish soldier and nobleman a Tory and an After his death to the estate passed into the successive ownership of three Forbes lairds and, in 1720, to Thomas Fullerton of Gallery, the initials of whose son, Phillip (Beau) Fullerton of the Dragoon Guards and of his wife Katharine Scott of Benholm embellish the gilded weather-vane on the keep.

Napoleonic Wars

In the 19th century, during the Napoleonic Wars, Admiral Sir Richard Strachan, 6th baronet from the direct line of the chieftenship of the Clan Strachan, commanded a squadron. The Napoleonic Wars (1803-1815 involved Napoleon's French Empire and a shifting set of European allies and opposing coalitions Sir Richard John Strachan 6th Baronet GCB ( 27 October 1760 – 3 February 1828) was a British officer of the On 2 November 1805, his squadron engaged four French battleships that had escaped from Lord Nelson's triumph at the Battle of Trafalgar. Events 1570 - A Tidal wave in the North Sea devastates the coast from Holland to Jutland, killing more than 1000 Year 1805 ( MDCCCV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson 1st Viscount Nelson 1st Duke of Bronté, KB (29 September 1758– 21 October 1805 was a British The Battle of Trafalgar ( 21 October 1805) was a historic sea battle fought between the British Royal Navy and the combined fleets of the Sir Richard captured all four French vessels with little loss of British life. He was created a Knight of the Bath and in 1810 was granted freedom of the City of London. The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (formerly The Most Honourable Military Order of the Bath) is a British Order of chivalry founded by George For London as a whole see the main article London. The City of London is a geographically

Present day

Clan Strachan Tartan - designed in 1987, by Tony Murray. According to Kenneth Dalgliesh (Scottish World Tartan Society) it was first seen in 1999, and was registered in 2000.

The chieftenship of Clan Strachan and title of the barony of Strachan became dormant in 1854, therefore it is currently an Armigerous clan. An armigerous clan refers to a Scottish clan, family or name which is registered with the Court of the Lord Lyon and once had a chief who bore Undifferenced arms The Clan Strachan Societyofficially recognizes Ben Strachanas current Patron of the Armigerous Clan Strachan. Ben is the proprietor of the Mill of Strachan, located on the west end of the village of Strachan, Kincardineshire.

Clan Castle

The last seat of the chief of Clan Strachan was at Thornton Castle.

The original Chief of Clan Strachan were the 'de Strachan' barons, whose lands included much of what is now the Royal Deeside area of the Grampian Highlands. In 1296, the barons ‘de Strachan’ were important local nobles until this time, when they backed the Earls of Buchan and Comyn (to whom they were probably related) in support of King John Balliol against Robert the Bruce. This culminated in the Battle of Inverurie in 1308, by whom they were defeated by the Bruce and disinherited. The barony 'de Strachan' passed to Bruce’s Great Chamberlain, Sir Alexander Fraser.

Fifty years later, at around 1350, shortly after King Robert’s son and successor, David II, had been defeated and captured by the English, 1341, at the battle of Neville's Cross six descendants of the former Baron de Strachan received grants of lands and baronetcies.

• House of Glenkindie: Adam Strachan was granted lands in Aberdeenshire from William Keith (1350). William Keith had inherited the barony of Strachan through his mother, the daughter of Sir Alexander Fraser and niece of King Robert I. Adam Strachan also married the Daughter of the Earl of Mar, Margaret Mar, and gained the lands and baronetcy of Glenkindie. As a result of this marriage between the Strachan of Glenkindie and the Earldom of Mar, Strachans may wear the Tribe of Mar tartan. Additionally, as the Earldom of Mar were related to the King Robert the Bruce, descendants from this marriage would no doubt have royal blood. Glenkindie House

• House of Thornton: In 1348, seven years before Adam Strachan obtained Glenkindie, a Sir James Strachan of Monboddo married Agnete, heiress of the Barony of Thornton, which had been granted to her father by Robert I in 1309. From thenceforth, the Strachans of Thornton and the Strachans of Glenkindie became the two principal chieftains of the Strachan family. Thornton Castle lies about 15 miles to the south of the village of Strachan and Glenkindie House lies about 30 miles to its north. Thornton Castle

• House of Carmyllie: Alexander de Strachan granted the barony of Carmylie in Forfarshire (1347) by Sir Henry Maule (or Mauld) of Panmure. Carmyllie ( Gaelic: Càrn Mhoillidh) is a rural parish in Angus, Scotland. Also received the lands of Drummayeth, Hackmangerum, Acheyclare, and Moncur. Carmyllie Castle

• House of Lenturk: Sir John de Strachan was granted the barony of Lenturk in Aberdeenshire (1350 possibly by the Earl of Mar, as his lands were situated quite near to the Earl of Mar's fortress, Kildrummy Castle). In 1359, Sir John became Viscount (Sheriff) of Forfarshire. In official documents of the time, we find him listed as a witness to the installation of John of Mar as Bishop of Aberdeen and, to another charter, as co-witness with William Keith, the Earl Marshall. In 1380, the granted the lands of Petgervy to his son Galfrid. Lenturk Castle

• ~ 1347, King David II himself granted to Donald de Strachan and his wife Annabel very extensive lands in Forfarshire, and a barony in Aberdeenshire.

• Thomas de Strachan got the lands of Knock in Kincardineshire.

It is highly unlikely this is a coincidence, as all these grants occurred almost simultaneously, particularly as they involved marriages, and marriages amongst the nobility were almost invariably political. It follows that there must have been some new motivation that made marriage with the Strachans politically desirable.

It is believed that the former Baron de Strachan was one of the large numbers of pro-Balliol nobles who, after the Battle of Inverurie (1308) fled to the English court, and where they were known as “the disinherited. ” But in 1347, King David, honoring obligations under the Franco-Scottish alliance, invaded the north of England, were heavily defeated, and captured by the English. So, from the perspective of “the disinherited,” here was the son of the man (King Robert the Bruce) who had disinherited them arriving captive in London. If one King could disinherit them, why should not another? With a little persuasion King David reinstated the Strachans, among others.

Clan Septs

The Anglicization of the Gaelic led to different spellings of the name, as transliterations were made in various censuses: Strachan (mainly Scots), Straghan (mainly Irish), or Strahan (both).

See also

• Scottish clan
• Armigerous clan
• Strachan
• Clan Strachan Book Store

References

External links

• Official Clan Strachan Society Website
• http://www.strachan-clan.net/
• http://www.strachan-clan.co.uk/
• http://www.myclan.com/clans/Strachan_318/
• http://electricscotland.com/webclans/stoz/strachan2.html
• http://www.potts.net.au/tree/origin/strachan_name.html
• The Strachan, Straughn, Straughan, Strawn, Strawhen Family Website