Chiefs of Clan Fraser Facts for Kids

The Clan Fraser of Lovat is a famous Scottish clan from the Scottish Highlands. The leader of a clan is called a chief. The chiefs of Clan Fraser of Lovat are often known by their special Gaelic name, MacShimidh. This means 'son of Simon', honoring an early important chief.

Here is a list of the chiefs of Clan Fraser of Lovat:

No.	Name	Died	Interesting Facts
I	Sir Simon de Fraser	1306	Known as the Patriot, he led the clan during the Wars of Scottish Independence. He fought at the Battle of Dunbar in 1296.
II	Simon Fraser of Lovat	1333	He was a cousin of the first chief. He led the clan at the Battle of Halidon Hill where he was killed. After him, all chiefs were called MacShimidh.
III	Simon Fraser of Lovat	1347	Son of the second chief. He fought at the Battle of Durham and was killed there.
IV	Hugh Fraser of Lovat	1397	Son of the third chief.
V	Alexander Fraser of Lovat	1415	Son of the third chief.
VI	Hugh Fraser of Lovat	1440	Son of the fourth chief. He was the High Sheriff of Inverness-shire in 1431.
VII	Hugh Fraser of Lovat	1450	Son of the sixth chief.
VIII	Hugh Fraser, 1st Lord Lovat	1501	Son of the seventh chief. He became a Lord of Parliament in 1458.
IX	Thomas Fraser, 2nd Lord Lovat	1524	Son of the eighth chief. He was a judge for the Highlands.
X	Hugh Fraser, 3rd Lovat Lovat	1544	Son of the ninth chief. He was killed fighting against the MacDonalds and Camerons at the Battle of the Shirts.
XI	Alexander Fraser, 4th Lord Lovat	1557	Son of the tenth chief. In 1555, he met Mary of Guise when she visited Inverness.
XII	Hugh Fraser, 5th Lord Lovat	1576	Son of the eleventh chief. Known as Red Hugh, he met Mary, Queen of Scots at Inverness in 1562 and was made Captain of Inverness Castle.
XIII	Simon Fraser, 6th Lord Lovat	1633	Son of the twelfth chief. He served at the Court of King James I.
XIV	Hugh Fraser, 7th Lord Lovat	1646	Son of the thirteenth chief.
XV	Hugh Fraser, 8th Lord Lovat	1672	Grandson of the fourteenth chief.
XVI	Hugh Fraser, 9th Lord Lovat	1696	Son of the fifteenth chief. He married Lady Amelia Murray.
XVII	Thomas Fraser, 10th Lord Lovat	1699	Son of the fourteenth chief. He supported the Royalists during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
XVIII	Simon Fraser, 11th Lord Lovat	1747	Son of the seventeenth chief. He is one of the most famous chiefs. He was involved in the 1745 Jacobite Rising.
XIX	Simon Fraser of Lovat	1782	Son of the eighteenth chief. He was a General who fought in the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.
XX	Archibald Campbell Fraser of Lovat	1815	Son of the eighteenth chief. He worked as a British Consul in Tripoli and Algiers.
XXI	Thomas Fraser, 12th Lord Lovat	1875	Cousin of the twentieth chief. He was also made the 1st Baron Lovat in the United Kingdom.
XXII	Simon Fraser, 13th Lord Lovat	1887	Son of the twenty-first chief. He was a Lieutenant-Colonel and an aide to Queen Victoria.
XXIII	Simon Joseph Fraser, 14th Lord Lovat	1933	Son of the twenty-second chief. He fought in the Second Boer War and World War I. He also started the Lovat Scouts.
XXIV	Simon Christopher Joseph Fraser, 15th Lord Lovat	1995	Son of the twenty-second chief. He famously led the Commando 4 Brigade during Operation Overlord in World War II.
XXV	Simon Christopher Joseph Fraser, 16th Lord Lovat		Grandson of the twenty-fourth chief. He married Petra Palumbo in 2016.

Who is the Chief?

Sometimes, there can be different ideas about who is the official chief of a clan. In 1984, a court called the Court of the Lord Lyon said that Lady Saltoun was the "Chief of the name and arms of the whole Clan Fraser." This caused some confusion.

The Lord Lyon's court can decide who is the chief of a family's name and coat of arms. However, the way Highland clans choose their chiefs can be different. Traditionally, a clan would choose and follow the chief they wanted.

When the Fraser family first moved to the Scottish Highlands, they adopted many local customs. This included speaking Gaelic, fighting in a Highland way, and wearing traditional clothes. Simon's son became the first chief of Clan Fraser, known as the MacShimidh.

However, some Frasers stayed in the Lowlands. They kept their own culture, spoke Scots, and dressed like Lowlanders. They were not part of the Highland clan system.

Today, Lady Saltoun is considered the chief of the Fraser name because her family line is older. But Lord Lovat is still seen as the chief of the large Highland Clan Fraser of Lovat.

Even with these different views, most Frasers respect each other. They see themselves as part of the wider Fraser family, no matter where they come from.

The Fraser of Lovat Coat of Arms

The coat of arms is like a special symbol for the Lords Lovat, who are the chiefs of Clan Fraser of Lovat.

Arms of Chiefs of Clan Fraser
	Adopted c. 1253 Crest Issuant from a ducal coronet Or, a stag's head erased; Torse Mantling gules and ermine, for a peer of the UK Helm Upon a coronet of a baron of the UK/Lord of Parliament of Scotland Proper, the helm of a nobleman argent with bars or. Escutcheon Blazon: Quarterly 1st & 4th Azure three fraises Argent 2nd & 3rd Argent three antique crowns Gules. Supporters two stags; Motto JE SUIS PREST Badge Clan member crest badge - Clan Fraser of lovat.svg Symbolism * The word "strawberry" in French is fraise, which sounds a lot like Fraser. The strawberry plant is used in the coat of arms for both the Lowland Frasers and the Highland Frasers of Lovat. The Fraser motto, "Je suis prest," uses an old way of spelling. In modern French, it would be "je suis prêt," meaning "I am ready."

Chiefs of Clan Fraser facts for kids

Who is the Chief?

The Fraser of Lovat Coat of Arms

See also