Clan Napier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clan Napier |
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Crest: A dexter cubit arm, the hand grasping a crescent argent
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| Motto | Sans tache (Without stain) |
| Profile | |
| District | Central Belt |
| Plant badge | Heather |
| Chief | |
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| The Rt. Hon. Francis David Charles Napier | |
| The 15th Lord Napier & 6th Baron Ettrick | |
| Historic seat | Merchiston Tower Kilmahew Castle |
Clan Napier is a famous Scottish clan from the Lowlands of Scotland. A clan is like a large family group, often with a shared history and a chief. The Napier family has a long and interesting past, with many important people.
Contents
History of Clan Napier
Where Did the Napier Name Come From?
Old Stories About the Name
There are some cool old stories about how the Napier name began. One idea is that the name came from a job called "naperer." This person was in charge of table linens in a king's or noble's house. But there isn't much proof that this job title was used in Scotland.
Another story is more exciting! It says that a brave knight, possibly a son of the Earl of Lennox, fought very well in a battle. This was to help William the Lion, a Scottish king. After they won, the king praised the knight. He said the knight had "nae peer," meaning "no equal" or "no one like him." So, the knight's name became Napier.
In 1625, Sir Archibald Napier, the first Lord Napier, wrote down this story. He said King Alexander II gave the name Napier to a brave warrior named Donald Lennox. This was because Donald fought so bravely and helped win a big battle.
This battle was tough for the Scots. The enemy pushed them back, making them run away. Donald saw this and bravely grabbed his father's flag. He led the Earl of Lennox's men and pushed the enemy back. This changed the battle, and they won a great victory. After the battle, everyone was talking about their brave acts. The King then said, "You have all done well, but there is one among you who has no equal." He called Donald forward. The King told him to change his name from Lennox to Napier. This was to honor his brave service. The King also gave him lands and made him his own servant. This story is supported by old family papers.
First Records of the Name
The first time we see the name Napier in official papers was before 1290. Malcolm, Earl of Lennox, gave lands to John de Naper. These lands were in Kilmahew and Dunbartonshire. The Napier family owned the Kilmahew lands for 18 generations, until 1820.
The Napier Family in the 1400s
The first Lord of Merchiston was Alexander Napier. He was a successful merchant in Edinburgh. He became very rich and was even the Provost of Edinburgh. This is like being the mayor of the city. He got the lands of Merchiston in 1436.
His son, Sir Alexander Napier, also became Provost of Edinburgh. He was very important to the king. He was hurt while saving the wife of James I of Scotland from rebels. In 1440, James II of Scotland made him Comptroller of the Royal Household. This was a big job in the king's government. Later, he became Vice Admiral of Scotland in 1461.
Sir Alexander's son was John Napier. He was married to the daughter of the Earl of Lennox. John was killed in the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488.
Napier Family in the 1500s
The Napier family continued to be involved in important events. John Napier's son, Alexander, and his grandson both died in 1513. This happened at the Battle of Flodden, a major battle between Scotland and England. Another Napier family member was killed at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547.
The 1600s and Civil War Times
The most famous person from the Napier family was John Napier. He was the 17th Laird of Merchiston. He was a brilliant mathematician who invented Logarithms. Logarithms are a way to make difficult calculations easier.
In 1617, his son, Archibald Napier, 1st Lord Napier, took over. He traveled with James VI and I to England when James became king there. Archibald Napier married the daughter of the Earl of Montrose. Because of this family connection, the Napiers supported the king during the Scottish Civil War. Lord Napier died in 1645. His only son, Archibald Napier, 2nd Lord Napier, had to leave Scotland. He died in the Netherlands in 1660.
Later, Archibald Napier, 3rd Lord Napier, asked the Crown to allow female family members to inherit the title. This meant the title could pass to his eldest sister's only child, Thomas Nicolson, 4th Lord Napier. Then, the title went to his aunt, Margaret Napier. She was married to John Brisbane, who worked for the navy under King Charles II of England. Her grandson, Francis Napier, 6th Lord Napier, inherited the title next. He was originally named Francis Scott but took the Napier name and family symbols.
Napier Heroes in the Napoleonic Wars
Three grandsons of the sixth Lord Napier were brave soldiers. They fought in the Napoleonic Wars. General Sir Charles Napier was a famous general. He conquered a region called Sindh in India, which is now part of Pakistan. You can still see his statue in Trafalgar Square, London.
Historic Castles of the Napiers
- Kilmahew Castle, in Cardross, Dunbartonshire, was the very first home of the Napiers of Kilmahew. It is now a ruin.
- Merchiston Tower, in Edinburgh, was the main home of the Napiers of Merchiston. Today, it is the center of the Merchiston Campus of Edinburgh Napier University.
- Other castles that the Napier family owned include Culcreuch Castle in Fintry, Stirlingshire, and Lauriston Castle in Edinburgh.
Who is the Clan Chief Today?
The current chief of Clan Napier is the Right Honourable Francis David Charles Napier. He is the 15th Lord Napier, 6th Baron Ettrick, and 12th Baronet of Nova Scotia. The clan chief is the official head of the family.
Clan Symbols and Heraldry
Clans in Scotland often have special symbols called "arms" or "heraldry." These are like unique family badges. The Clan Napier itself doesn't have one coat of arms for everyone. Instead, the chief of the clan has his own special coat of arms. This is the only person allowed to use these specific symbols.
The chief's arms show a shield divided into four parts. Two parts have a silver background with a red cross and four red roses. The other two parts have a gold background with a blue stripe. On the blue stripe, there's a star and two crescent moons.
The original Napier arms looked a bit different. They had a silver background with a red cross and four red roses. These old arms look very similar to the arms of the Clan Lennox. This supports the story that the Napiers came from the Lennox family. The current chief's arms also include symbols from the Scott family. This happened when the Napier family joined with the Scott Baronetcy of Thirlestane.
Fun Facts About Clan Napier
- The Western Australia Police Pipe Band, a music group in Perth, Australia, has worn the Napier tartan since 1966. A tartan is a special patterned fabric that represents a Scottish clan.
- The University of Queensland Pipe Band in Brisbane, Australia, has also worn the Napier tartan since 1998.
- The Napier Boys' High School Pipe Band, in the city of Napier, New Zealand, has been wearing the Napier tartan since 1976.
See also
- Lord Napier
- Napier Baronets
- Napier (surname)
