Clan Schaw facts for kids
Clan Schaw is a Scottish clan from the Lowlands. A "clan" is like a big family group. This clan doesn't have a leader, called a "chief," who is officially recognized by the Lord Lyon King of Arms. This means they don't have a special legal standing in Scotland right now. Clan Schaw is known as an "armigerous clan." This means they once had a chief who had a special family symbol, called a "coat of arms," but no one has that symbol today.
It's important not to confuse Clan Schaw with Clan Shaw of Tordarroch. Clan Shaw is a different group from the Highlands, part of the Clan Chattan Confederation.
Contents
Where Did Clan Schaw Come From?
It's a bit of a mystery exactly where Clan Schaw started! In the 1700s, a writer named George Crawfurd said that the clan might have come from "Shiach," a son of MacDuff, who was an Earl of Fife. Some also said the clan came from another son of Duncan, Earl of Fife. This son was a "cup bearer" to the king of Scots. A cup bearer was an important person who served drinks to the king.
Later, another expert named Alexander Nisbet thought the clan might have been cup bearers for King Alexander II or King Alexander III. However, there isn't strong proof for any of these stories.
The Clan's Symbols
Even without clear proof, the symbols on the Schaw of Sauchie family's coat of arms hint at the cup bearer story. Their coat of arms shows three covered cups. This is similar to the Butler family's arms in England.
Today, people who are part of Clan Schaw can wear a special Scottish crest badge. This badge has a symbol called a "demi savage" and the clan's motto, which is I MEAN WELL. The "demi savage" symbol comes from the Sauchie family's coat of arms.
Clan Schaw's History
The name Schaw likely comes from where people lived. It could mean someone who lived near a small wood or thicket. This comes from old English words like sceaga. Or, it could be from a place that had a similar name.
Early Records
The first time we see the name Schaw in lowland Scotland records is in 1284. A person named John de Schau was a witness to a legal paper about the Abbey of Paisley. Another early record is from 1291, when William Schaw witnessed a paper for the Monastery of Paisley.
In 1296, three people named Symon de Schawe, Fergus de Shawe, and William de Schawe from Lanark all showed their loyalty to King Edward I of England. This was called rendering "homage."
Land and Influence
Before 1309, the clan gained control of lands called Hayley, Wardlaw, and Drumchaber in Ayr. They got these lands from James, who was the Great Steward of Scotland.
In 1407, an agreement between John Schaw, who was the lord of Hayley, and Alan Cathcart was made official. John Schaw of Hayley was also part of a group that helped arrange the marriage between King James III and Margaret, the daughter of King Christian I of Denmark.
In 1477, a younger son of John Schaw of Hayley received lands called Sornbeg and Polkemmet. The most important family in the clan was said to be the Schaws of Sauchie. Their old home, Sauchie Tower, can still be seen in Clackmannanshire. John Schaw of Sauchie was an important person who managed the royal household for King James III. Other parts of the clan lived in places like Kirkcudbrightshire and Ayrshire, and near the towns of Greenock and Stirling.
See also
- Schaw, a page with other meanings of the name
