The Clan History

The name Galbraith probably originates from the Britons of the Kingdom of Strathclyde which did not become part of Scotland until 1124. The first recorded chief of the Galbraiths appears in the 12th century, he married a daughter of Alwyn Og, son of Muireadhach, 1st Earl of Lennox. The fourth chief Sir William Galbraith married a daughter of the Black Comyn, he was one of the Co-Regents of Scotland in 1255. His son Sir Arthur married a daughter of Sir James Douglas and fought with Bruce. The chiefship passed out of the main line to the Galbraiths Strathendrick, a cadet branch at the end of the 14th century. The Galbraiths were always closely linked to the Earls of Lennox and lent their support at the time when James I returned to Scotland from England and murdered his own kinsmen. The chief at the time is said to have aided in the raid of Dunbarton in 1425 and afterwards fled to Kintyre and Gigha escaping from the King. The 12th Chief, Thomas again took up arms with Lennox after the murder of James III in 1488, however after the defeat of Talla Moss, Thomas was captured and hanged in 1489. Andrew, the 14th Chief also partook with the Lennoxes when they attempted to rescue the young King James V from the Douglases in 1426. During the 16th century the 17th Chief of the Galbraiths, Robert, was renowned for his misdeeds, including the attempted murder of his brother-in-law to whom he owed money and the abuse of his power to pursue the Clan Gregor to attack the chief of MacAulay who had married his widowed mother against his will. Finally he was denounced a rebel and fled to Ireland sometime before 1642. His heir James, 18th chief was the last traceable member of the line. The Galbraiths who moved to Gigha held the island for the MacDonalds of the Isles till after 1590 but later took their protection.

Motto: Ab obice suavior (Latin : Sweeter for there having been difficulties)
Names associated with the clan: COBREATH CAUBRAITH GALBRATH GALLBRAITHE GALLEBRAD GALBRAYTHT GALLBRAITH GALBRAT GALBRAITH GALBREATH GALBRAYT GALBRATHE GALBRAD GALBRACH GALBRACHT GAWBRATH GILBREATH MACBARTNY MACBERKNY MACBERTNY MAKBRETNE MAKBRETNY MACVRETNY MACVRETTNY MAKBRECHNE MALBRATNIE BALGAIR COUBRUCH COUBROUGH COUBREACH COUBREATH COUBURGH COULBROUGH MACBRETNACH MACBRETNEY MACBRATNIE MACBRATNEY MACBRETNY MACBRETNIE MACBRATEN MACBIRTNY COWBREATH COWBROCH COWBROUGH COWBRATHT CALBREATH CALBRATHT CALBRAITH CALBRATHE CABRETH CUBRUGH CULBRETH CUBRUGHE BEGG