The Clan History

The Stewart family records its traditional descent from Banquo, Thane of Lochaber, who makes an appearance as a character in William Shakespeare's MacBeth. Historically, however, the family appears to be descended from an ancient family who were senechals of Dol in Brittany.
They acquired lands in England after the Norman conquest and moved to Scotland when David I ascended to the throne of Scotland. The family were granted extensive estates in Renfrewshire and East Lothian and the office of High Steward was made hereditary in the family.
It is through marriage with the daughter of Robert the Bruce that we can begin to trace the descent of the Royal House of Stewart. The royal line of male Stewarts continued uninterrupted until the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. As a family, the Royal Stewarts held the throne of Scotland, and later that of England, in the direct line until the death of Queen Anne in 1714. In fact, the present Royal family still has Stewart blood links.
The Stewart tartan is worn by the regimental pipers of the Scots Guards and was referred to by King George V as "my personal tartan". Known as the "Royal Tartan", it is still traditionally the official tartan of the Royal House of Scotland.
The Stewarts of Appin form the West Highland branch of the great Royal family of Stewart, and have come to form a branch clan of considerable importance. Through marriage with the family of Lorne they became firstly Lords of Lorne and subsequently received a grant of lands at Appin. It was at Appin that was built the family seat of the Stewarts of Appin Castle Stalker, on the Cormorant's Rock at Loch Linnhe. It is from this location that was derived the rallying cry of the clan 'Creag an Sgairbh', or in English 'Cormorant's Rock'. Castle Stalker was built as a seat for royal hunting and fowling expeditions and is still one of Scotland's finest sights.
The Stewarts of Appin were staunchly Jacobite and in the aftermath of the 1745 rising, the famous Appin murder took place. This incident is immortalised by Robert Louis Stevenson in his novel 'Kidnapped'. The chief of clan Appin, Allan Breck Stewart was the main suspect for the killing of Colin Campbell. He escaped justice however, and his half brother was arrested and tried by jury composed entirely of Campbell men. Not surprisingly, he was convicted and was later hanged. Today a cairn marks the place of his execution.
Another famous branch are the Stewarts of Atholl are directly descended from one of the most notorious Stewarts of the fourteenth century Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan, more commonly known as 'The Wolf of Badenoch'. Alexander is most widely known for leading the raid which led to the burning of Elgin Cathedral in 1391. Later he built his stronghold the Castle of Garth and settled there. The descendants of Alexander Stewart became known as Athollmen and gave their allegiance to the new Murray Earls of Atholl.
In 1822 an estimate was recorded that there were upwards of 4,000 Stewarts living in the province of Atholl, all descended from this one individual. The Atholl Stewarts were renowned for their fighting strength, and were able to raise a fighting force of 1,500 men during the reign of William of Orange.
They were also present in force at the Battle of Killiecrankie.This prowess in battle is celebrated by the fact that the present Duke of Atholl maintains the Atholl Highlanders as the only private army in the kingdom.
Branches: see below
Motto: Nobilis est ira leonis (Latin : Noble is the wrath of a lion); (Appin) Quhidder will zie (Whither will ye); (Earls of Galloway) Virescit vulnere virtus (Latin : Courage gains strength from a wound)
Septs of the Clan: Boyd, Garrow, Menteith, Monteith, Carmichael, Hunter, MacMichael. Stewart, Appin: Carmichael, Combich, Livingston, Livingstone, MacCombich, Mackinlay, Maclae, Maclay, Maclea, Macleay, MacMichael. Stewart, Atholl: Crookshanks, Cruickshank, Duilach, Gray, Macglashan. Stewart Lennox: Howkins
Names associated with the clan: Bhoid Bod Bodha Boed Boht Boid Boyd Boyde Boyt Dennison Denniston Dennistoun Dog Doig France Garro Garroch Garrow Gerrow Glay Gley Lennox Lenox MacGaraidh Mentayth Menteath Menteith Mentheth Monteath Montecht Monteith Munteith Muntethe Mynteith Mynteth Myntethe Phinney Prince Charles Edw Sprall Spreall Spreuile Spreuill Spreul Spreule Spreull Sprewell Sprewile Sprewill Sprewl Sprewle Sprewyle Sproul Sproule Sproull Sprowl Spruell Spruill Spruyle Spruylle Steuarde Steuart Steuarte Steward Stewart Stiuard Stiubhard Stiward Stuard Stuarde Stuart Stuerd Stuward Victoria Stewart Of Appin: Appin Cachoune Cahoon Cahoun Cahoune Cahun Cahund Cahune Calhoon Calhoun Calquhoun Calquhoune Calwhone Carmechele Carmichael Carmichaill Carmichel Carmichell Carmigell Carmighell Carmitely Carmychale Carmychall Carmychel Carmychell Cayrmichel Cayrmichell Chombeich Chombich Choquoyn Clay Cohune Colchoun Colechon Colfune Colhoun Colhoune Collquhone Colqhoun Colqhuen Colquhone Colquhoun Colquhoune Colquhowne Colquhyn Colqwhone Colwhone Colwhoun Combach Combich Conlay Conley Cowquhowne Culchon Culchone Culchoun Culquhone Culquhoun Culquhoune Culqwhone Culqwon Culqwone Culwone Donleavy Donlevy Dunleavy Dunslef Fuccatour Fuckater Fugater Fugatour Fuggatour Fuktor Fuktour Futtor Kelquon Kermychell Kilwhone Kulwoon Kulwoun Kylkone Leavack Leavock Levack Levingestoune Levingstone Levingstoune Levistone Levynstoune Levystone Lewingstoune Liuistone Livingstone Mac- A-Chounich Mac-A-Chonnick Mac-A-Chounich MacAnally MacAnnally MacCannally MacChombeich MacChombich MacChomich MacClae MacClay MacCleay MacClew MacCole MacColl MacCollea MacCombich MacComiche MacComick MacConlea MacDimslea MacDonleavy MacDonnslae MacFaktur MacFuktor MacFuktur MacGillemhicheil MacGillemichael MacGillemichel MacGillemitchell MacGillemithel MacGillenan MacGillimichael MacGillmichell MacGillmitchell MacGilmichal MacGilmichel MacIlchomich MacIlmichael MacIlmichaell MacIlmichall MacIlmichell MacInally MacInnocater MacInnowcater MacInnowcatter MacInnugatour MacInocader MacInuctar MacInucter MacKeandla MacKillimichael MacKillmichaell MacKilmichael MacKilmichel MacKindlay MacKinla MacKinlay MacKinley MacKnockater MacKnocker MacKnockiter MacLae MacLay MacLea MacLeay MacLey MacMichael MacMicheil MacMichell MacMigatour MacMitchel MacMitchell MacMuckater MacMuncater MacMuncatter MacMungatour MacMychel MacMychele MacNally MacNaucater MacNowcater MacNowcatter MacNucadair MacNucater MacNucator MacNucatter MacNuctar MacNuicator MacOlmichaell MacOnlay MacRob MacRobb Makgillemichell Makgilmichel Makinnocater Makley Makmychell Nucator Steuarde Steuart Steuarte Steward Stewart Stiuard Stiubhard Stiward Stuard Stuarde Stuart Stuerd Stuward Valker Waker Walcair Walcar Walcare Walcer Walkar Walker Waulcar Stewart Of Ardshiel: Ardshiel Stewart Of Atholl: Athol Atholl Camach Camacha Conachar Conacher Concher Connachar Connacher Duilach Dulach Dullach Galashan Glas Glashan Glashen Glashin Glass Glasse Gray Grey MacClachan MacClachane MacClathan MacGilleglash MacGlashan MacGlashen MacGlashin MacGlassan MacGlassin MacGlasson MacIlleglass MacKglesson MacLglesson Steuarde Steuart Steuarte Steward Stewart Stiuard Stiubhard Stiward Stuard Stuarde Stuart Stuerd Stuward Stewart Of Galloway: Carmechele Carmichael Carmichaill Carmichel Carmichell Carmigell Carmighell Carmitely Carmychale Carmychall Carmychel Carmychell Cayrmichel Cayrmichell Cree Gallaway Gallouay Galloway Gallowaye Gallowey Galoway Galowey Kermychell MacGillemhicheil MacGillemichael MacGillemichel MacGillemitchell MacGillemithel MacGillimichael MacGillmichell MacGillmitchell MacGilmichal MacGilmichel MacIlmichael MacIlmichaell MacIlmichall MacIlmichell MacKillimichael MacKillmichaell MacKilmichael MacKilmichel MacMichael MacMicheil MacMichell MacMitchel MacMitchell MacMychel MacMychele MacOlmichaell Makgillemichell Makgilmichel Makmychell Steuarde Steuart Steuarte Steward Stewart Stiuard Stiubhard Stiward Stuard Stuarde Stuart Stuerd Stuward Stewart Of Garth - Perthshire: Crewschank Crewshank Crokeshank Crokeshanks Crookschank Crookshank Crookshanks Croukschank Cruckshank Cruckshanke Crucshank Cruickshank Cruikank Cruiksank Cruikschank Cruikshank Cruikshanks Cruischank Crukeschank Cruksank Crukschank Crukschanke Crukshaink Crukshank Crukshanke Crushank Cruxschank Stewart Of Urrard: Urrard