Clan Blair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clan Blair |
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| Blar meaning field or plain | |||
Crest: For Blair of Blair: A stag lodged, proper. For Blair of Balthayock : A dove wings apart
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| Motto | “Amo Probos” (I love the Virtuous) and "Virtute tutus" (Protected by virtue) | ||
| Profile | |||
| District | Ayrshire and Blairgowrie | ||
| Animal | Stag and Dove | ||
| Clan Blair has no chief, and is an armigerous clan | |||
| Seat | Ayrshire and Blairgowrie | ||
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Clan Blair is a Lowland Scottish clan. A clan is a group of families who share a common ancestor and a strong sense of identity. The name "Blair" comes from a Gaelic word meaning "field" or "plain." This name is found in over 200 places across Scotland.
Contents
History of Clan Blair
Where the Blairs Came From
The Blair name first appeared in Scotland in the early 1200s. There were two main Blair families. One was the Blairs of Blair from Ayrshire. The other was the Blairs of Balthayock from Perthshire. We don't know if these two families had a common ancestor.
The Blairs of Blair in Ayrshire
The Blairs of Blair were a powerful family. Records from the Kilwinning Monastery show that King William I of Scots gave the title "Barony of Blair" to a Norman knight named Jean Francois. This was between 1165 and 1214.
It is believed that Jean Francois's grandson, William de Blair, married a daughter of King John of England. This shows how important the family was.
An early Blair, Alexander de Blare, was mentioned in 1205. He was likely from the Barony of Blair in Ayrshire. Another William de Blare was knighted by King Alexander II in 1235. He became the Steward of Fife, a very important job.
Later, Sir Bryce de Blare was knighted by King Alexander III. He bravely supported William Wallace, a famous Scottish hero. Sadly, Sir Bryce was executed by the English in 1296. His nephew, Roger de Blare, was knighted by Robert the Bruce after the great Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. This was a huge victory for Scotland.
The Balthayock Blairs in Perthshire
This branch of the Blair family started with Stephen de Blair. He owned land in a place called Blair, which is now Blairgowrie. Stephen de Blair was a witness to an important document between 1204 and 1211.
The Balthayock Blairs had many smaller family groups, called "cadet branches." These included the Blairs of Ardblair, Bendochy, Balgillo, and many others. Some Blairs even moved to France!
Who is the Clan Chief?
For a long time, the two main Blair families argued over who should be the chief of the entire Clan Blair. In 1658, King James VI made a decision. He said that the oldest male from either family would be the chief. This suggests that the two families often met and felt like they were related.
Places Connected to Clan Blair
Many castles and estates are linked to the Blair families. These places show their long history in Scotland.
- Ardblair Castle, near Blairgowrie, Perthshire.
- Balthayock Castle, near Perth.
- Blair Castle, Dalry, Ayrshire. Look above the drawbridge! You can see the stag from the Blair crest carved into the stone.
- Blairquhan, Straiton, Maybole, Ayrshire.
- Carberry Tower, near Musselburgh, East Lothian.
- Cathcart Castle, Rutherglen, Lanarkshire.
- Cowden Hall, near Neilston, Renfrewshire.
- Dunimarle Castle, Culross, Fife.
- Glasclune Castle, near Blairgowrie, Perthshire.
- Nether Auchendrane, or Blairstoun, near Ayrshire.
- Rossie Ochil House, Forgandenny, Perthshire.
- Rusco Castle, or Rusko Castle, Gatehouse of Fleet, Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire.
Images for kids
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The crest badge of Clan Blair.
