Clan Barclay facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clan Barclay |
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Crest: (On a chapeau doubled Ermine) a hand holding a dagger Proper.proper.
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| Motto | Aut agere aut mori (Latin): ("Either action or death") | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Lowlands | ||
| District | Aberdeenshire | ||
| Chief | |||
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| Peter Barclay of Towie Barclay and of that Ilk | |||
| Chief of the Name and Arms of Barclay. | |||
| Seat | Towie Barclay Castle, Aberdeenshire | ||
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The Clan Barclay tartan in Ancient Hunting colors.
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| Tartan registries | |
| Scottish Tartans Authority | #705 |
| Scottish Tartans World Register | #705 |
| Scottish Register of Tartans entry | Clan Barclay |
The Clan Barclay tartan in Dress Tartan colors.
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| Sett | |
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| Tartan registries | |
| Scottish Tartans Authority | #1879 |
| Scottish Tartans World Register | #1879 |
| Scottish Register of Tartans entry | Clan Barclay |
Clan Barclay is a historic Scottish clan. It comes from the Scottish Lowlands area. A clan is like a large family group, often with a shared history and a chief.
Contents
History of Clan Barclay
Where Did the Clan Come From?
For a long time, people thought the Scottish Barclay family came from the English Berkeley family. This English family lived in Gloucestershire, England. They even built Berkeley Castle in 1153.
Some historians believe the Barclays came from France. They moved to England during the Norman conquest. Later, some of them moved north to Scotland. They settled in places like Aberdeenshire and Fife.
One old story says the Scottish family started with John de Berkeley. He supposedly came to Scotland in 1069. Another idea is that the clan came from a different John de Berkeley. He might have moved north in 1124.
More recently, historians have new ideas. They think there were two groups of Barclays who came to Scotland. The first group arrived in the early 1100s. The second group came around 1220.
These early Scottish Barclays became quite powerful. They gained land and important jobs. By 1171, Sir Walter de Berkeley was the Chamberlain of Scotland. This was a very important role in the king's household.
Sir David Barclay was a close friend of King Robert the Bruce. He fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence. He was even captured at the Battle of Methven. Later Barclays became famous as soldiers, bankers, and even Quakers.
The Clan in the 1600s
In the 1600s, one part of the Clan Barclay settled at Urie. This was near Stonehaven in Kincardineshire. Colonel David Barclay was the first Laird (landowner) of Urie. He was a soldier who fought for Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden.
David Barclay became a major in the army. He returned to Scotland when the civil war started. He led a group of horse soldiers for the king. He stopped fighting in 1647.
After the king returned to power in 1660, David was put in Edinburgh Castle. He was accused of being against the government. While in prison, he became a Quaker. Quakers are a religious group known for their peaceful beliefs.
His son, Robert Barclay, also became a Quaker. He wrote an important book about their beliefs in 1675. Robert Barclay's second son, David Barclay, later started Barclays Bank. This bank is still very well known today.
Another part of the clan, the Barons of Towie, were involved in shipping. They traded between Scotland and Scandinavia in the 1600s. They also traded with lands around the Baltic Sea.
Fighting in the Napoleonic Wars
Many years later, a descendant of the Towie Barclays became famous. This was Michael Andreas Barclay de Tolly. He was born in 1761. He became a Field Marshal in the Russian army.
In 1810, he was made Minister of War. Two years later, he led the Russian armies. They were fighting against Napoleon's invasion in 1812. He also fought in the War of the Sixth Coalition.
Some Russian nobles did not like having a Scottish commander. But everyone respected his skills as a leader. The Tsar (Russian emperor) made him a prince. Today, his portrait hangs in the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg. He passed away in 1818.
Clan Castles
- Towie Barclay Castle was once owned by the Barclays.
- Balvaird Castle was also owned by the Barclays.
Clan Chief
The current chief of Clan Barclay is Peter Charles Barclay of Towie Barclay and of that Ilk. He is the main leader of the Barclay family.
