The Clan History

The Clan Rose, descended from Hugh Rose of Geddes, came over from Ireland in the early 12th century. They were, before the forfeiture of the last Lord of the Isles, vassals of the old Earls of Ross. They are quite separate in origin from Clan Ross. Mr Hugh Rose, the geologist of the Kilravock Family, believed them to be English in origin because of their coat of arms which contains three bouggets (buckets) which was similar to the English family of Roos but this similarity was also carried by other families. The family of Rose of Kilravock (pronounced Ross of Kilraik) appear to have settled in Nairn, in the North of Scotland, in the reign of David the First, around the year 1219 when Hugh Rose of Geddes was witness to the foundation of the Priory of Beauly. The name Rose of Geddes changed to Rose of Kilravock when Hugh Rose of Geddes' son, of the same name, acquired the lands of Kilravock through marriage, Kilravock becoming the chief title of the family. The Roses enjoyed the friendship of the MacKintoshes from a very early date, and by an act of council dated 28th July 1643, 'The broken men of the name of Rose were bound upon MacKintosh who each ordained to be accountable for them'. The French Connection with the Rose of Kilravock family is with J.A. Rose who was an extraordinary player in the French Revolution. He was born in Scotland in 1757 and went to Paris in his early years. He became an Usher of the National Assembly but raised himself above that position to become closely related to distinguished figures of that eventful epoch. He was able to inform the unfortunate Louis the Sixteenth of his imminent demise and did likewise for Marie Antoinette. Therefore he was thought of as playing a better role than that of the fictional Scarlet Pimpernel. Other septs associated with Clan Rose are Barron, Geddes, Baron, Ross.
Motto: Constant and true
Names associated with the clan: Geddas Geddeis Geddes Geddess Geddis Gedes Rose