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Clan Home (pronounced and sometimes spelt Hume) is a
Scottish clan A Scottish clan (from Scottish Gaelic , literally 'children', more broadly 'kindred') is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared heritage and descent to members, and in modern times have an official structure r ...
. It held immense power for much of the
Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...
and dominated the eastern Scottish
Border country The Anglo-Scottish border runs for 96 miles (154 km) between Marshall Meadows Bay on the east coast and the Solway Firth in the west, separating Scotland and England. The Firth of Forth was the border between the Picts, Picto-Gaels, ...
. It produced no fewer than eight Wardens of the Eastern March, more than any other family.


History


Origins of the clan

The Home family traces its male-line descent from Cospatric I (died after 1073), the Anglo-Celtic
Earl of Northumbria Earl of Northumbria or Ealdorman of Northumbria was a title in the late Anglo-Saxon England, Anglo-Saxon, Scandinavian people, Anglo-Scandinavian and early Anglo-Norman England, Anglo-Norman period in England. The ealdordom was a successor of the ...
. His descendant, William of Home (son of Sir Patrick of Greenlaw, the second son of Cospatric III, Earl of Lothian), adopted the surname following his acquisition of the lands of
Home A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or more human occupants, and sometimes various companion animals. Homes provide sheltered spaces, for instance rooms, where domestic activity can be p ...
in Berwickshire in the early 13th century, through his marriage to his second cousin Ada (the daughter of
Patrick I, Earl of Dunbar Patrick may refer to: *Patrick (given name), list of people and fictional characters with this name * Patrick (surname), list of people with this name People * Saint Patrick (c. 385–c. 461), Christian saint * Gilla Pátraic (died 1084), Patrick ...
). William's arms featured the silver lion of Dunbar but with a green field instead of a red field, in reference to his lands of Greenlaw. In the 14th century, William's descendant, Sir Thomas Home of that Ilk, married Nichola (also Nicola), heiress to the Pepdies of
Dunglass Dunglass is a hamlet in East Lothian, Scotland, lying east of the Lammermuir Hills on the North Sea coast, within the parish of Oldhamstocks. It has a 15th-century collegiate church, now in the care of Historic Scotland. Dunglass is the birt ...
. Through this marriage, the Homes acquired the lands of Dunglass, where they built
Dunglass Collegiate Church Dunglass Collegiate Church is situated in south-east East Lothian just off the old A1 highway, one mile north of Cockburnspath in Berwickshire, Scotland, UK. It is designated as a scheduled monument. History The date of building the Chapel, dedi ...
(still extant today), and began quartering their arms with those of Pepdie, being three green in a silver field. This quartering is one of the earliest examples in
Scottish heraldry Heraldry in Scotland, while broadly similar to that practised in England and elsewhere in western Europe, has its own distinctive features. Its heraldic executive is separate from that of the rest of the United Kingdom. Executive The Scottish h ...
. Sir Thomas and Nichola had two sons. The first, Alexander, succeeded to the chieftaincy of the family, while the second, David, founded the family's principle cadet branch, the Homes of
Wedderburn Wedderburn may refer to: People * Alexander Wedderburn (disambiguation) * Bill Wedderburn, Baron Wedderburn of Charlton (1927–2012), British politician and legal scholar * Charles F. Wedderburn (1892–1917), United States Navy officer * David ...
.


15th century

In 1402, Sir Alexander Home of that Ilk and of Dunglass was captured at the
Battle of Homildon Hill The Battle of Holmedon Hill or Battle of Homildon Hill was a conflict between English and Scottish armies on 14 September 1402 in Northumberland, England. The battle was recounted in William Shakespeare's ''Henry IV, Part 1''. Although Humb ...
. Later he followed the
Earl of Douglas This page is concerned with the holders of the forfeit title Earl of Douglas and the preceding Scottish feudal barony, feudal barons of Douglas, South Lanarkshire. The title was created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1358 for William Douglas, 1 ...
to
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
but was killed in the
Battle of Verneuil The Battle of Verneuil was a battle of the Hundred Years' War, fought on 17 August 1424 near Verneuil-sur-Avre in Normandy between an English army and a combined Franco-Scottish force, augmented by Milanese heavy cavalry. The battle was a si ...
in 1424. Most of the principal cadet branches of the clan are descended from his three sons. In 1473, his eldest grandson Sir Alexander was created a
Lord of Parliament A Lord of Parliament () was the holder of the lowest form of peerage, entitled as of right to take part in sessions of the pre- Union Parliament of Scotland. Since that Union in 1707, it has been the lowest rank of the Peerage of Scotland, ran ...
as Lord Home, and appointed a Warden of the Eastern March in . In 1488, his grandson
Alexander Alexander () is a male name of Greek origin. The most prominent bearer of the name is Alexander the Great, the king of the Ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia who created one of the largest empires in ancient history. Variants listed here ar ...
joined Prince James' rebellion against his father
King James III James III (10 July 1451/May 1452 – 11 June 1488) was King of Scots from 1460 until his death at the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488. He inherited the throne as a child following the death of his father, King James II, at the siege of Roxburgh C ...
, and had a commanding role in the
Battle of Sauchieburn The Battle of Sauchieburn was fought on 11 June 1488, at the side of Sauchie Burn, a stream about south of Stirling, Scotland. The battle was fought between the followers of King James III of Scotland and a large group of rebellious Scottish ...
, which resulted in the death of the king. Following the battle, he was made a privy councillor and the
Great Chamberlain Holders of the office of Lord Chamberlain of Scotland are known from about 1124. It was ranked by King Malcolm as the third great Officer of State, called ''Camerarius Domini Regis'', and had a salary of £200 per annum allotted to him. He ancien ...
. He succeeded his grandfather as 2nd Lord Home.


16th century

Alexander Home, 3rd Lord Home Alexander Home, 3rd Lord Home (died 1516) was a Scottish soldier and nobleman, Chamberlain of Scotland and Warden of the Eastern March. He fought at the Battle of Flodden where his forces defeated the English right wing before the Scottish army ...
was appointed Lord Warden General in . In 1513, he and his followers formed part of the army levied by King James IV to invade
England England is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is located on the island of Great Britain, of which it covers about 62%, and List of islands of England, more than 100 smaller adjacent islands. It ...
. Lord Home led the vanguard of Scottish knights at the
Battle of Flodden The Battle of Flodden, Flodden Field, or occasionally Branxton or Brainston Moor was fought on 9 September 1513 during the War of the League of Cambrai between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland and resulted in an English victory ...
, and while he was fortunate enough to escape the slaughter, many of his family and supporters did not. Home was later appointed as one of the counsellors to the
queen regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...
. However, the fortunes of the Homes suffered when the
regency In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...
was transferred to the
Duke of Albany Duke of Albany is a peerage title that has occasionally been bestowed on younger sons in the Scotland, Scottish and later the British royal family, particularly in the Houses of House of Stuart, Stuart and House of Hanover, Hanover. History ...
. Lord Home was arrested for treason after being accused of conspiring with the English, and he and his brother were executed in October 1516. Their heads were then displayed on Edinburgh Tolbooth. The title and estates were later restored to another brother, George Home, 4th Lord Home. On several occasions, he led Border spearmen against the English. However, he was thrown from his horse and died from his injuries on the eve of the
Battle of Pinkie Cleugh The Battle of Pinkie, also known as the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh (), took place on 10 September 1547 on the banks of the River Esk, Lothian, River Esk near Musselburgh, Scotland. The last pitched battle between Scotland and England before the U ...
in 1547. The Home lands were occupied by the English, but his son,
Alexander Home, 5th Lord Home Alexander Home, 5th Lord Home (died 1575) was a Scottish nobleman and Warden of the Eastern March. Early life Alexander Home was the son of George Home, 4th Lord Home and Mariotta Haliburton. He became Lord Home on the death of his father who ...
, retook them in 1549. He also supported the
Scottish Reformation The Scottish Reformation was the process whereby Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland broke away from the Catholic Church, and established the Protestant Church of Scotland. It forms part of the wider European 16th-century Protestant Reformation. Fr ...
and sat in the Parliament of 1560 that passed the Protestant
Confession of Faith A creed, also known as a confession of faith, a symbol, or a statement of faith, is a statement of the shared beliefs of a community (often a religious community) which summarizes its core tenets. Many Christian denominations use three creeds: ...
. During the politics of
Mary, Queen of Scots Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was List of Scottish monarchs, Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567. The only surviving legit ...
, the Homes, like many others, shifted their allegiance more than once. Lord Home had supported the marriage of the
Earl of Bothwell Earl of Bothwell was a title that was created twice in the Peerage of Scotland. It was first created for Patrick Hepburn in 1488, and was forfeited in 1567. Subsequently, the earldom was recreated for the 4th Earl's nephew and heir of line, F ...
to Mary but he later led his men at the
Battle of Langside The Battle of Langside was fought on 13 May 1568 between forces loyal to Mary, Queen of Scots, and forces acting in the name of her infant son James VI. Mary’s short period of personal rule ended in 1567 in recrimination, intrigue, and disast ...
against the queen. Then in 1573, he was arrested and convicted of treason against the young
James VI of Scotland James VI and I (James Charles Stuart; 19 June 1566 – 27 March 1625) was King of Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the Scottish and English crowns on 24 March 1603 until ...
. He was released from
Edinburgh Castle Edinburgh Castle is a historic castle in Edinburgh, Scotland. It stands on Castle Rock (Edinburgh), Castle Rock, which has been occupied by humans since at least the Iron Age. There has been a royal castle on the rock since the reign of Malcol ...
only after his health had failed, dying a few days later. His son, Alexander, the 6th Lord Home, a devoted supporter of James VI, served as ambassador to France multiple times.


17th century and civil war

When James VI travelled to England to take possession of his new kingdom in 1603 as James I of England, he stopped at
Dunglass Castle Dunglass Castle, situated in West Dunbartonshire on a rocky cliff overlooking the River Clyde, is a 14th-century ruinous castle. It was designated as a Category B listed building in 1971. It has been graded at high risk by the Buildings at Ris ...
, and Lord Home accompanied him to
London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...
. Home was raised to the title of
Earl of Home Earl of Home ( ) is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1605 for Alexander Home of that Ilk, 6th Lord Home. The Earl of Home holds, among others, the subsidiary titles of Lord Home (created 1473) and Lord Dunglass (1605) in t ...
in March 1605.
James Home, 3rd Earl of Home James Home, 3rd Earl of Home (died 1666) was a Scottish courtier and landowner. He was the son of Sir James Home of Whitriggs and Anne Home, daughter of George Home, 1st Earl of Dunbar and Elizabeth Gordon, daughter of Alexander Gordon of Gight a ...
was a staunch supporter of King Charles I. In 1648, he was colonel of the Berwickshire Regiment of Foot. In 1650, when
Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell (25 April 15993 September 1658) was an English statesman, politician and soldier, widely regarded as one of the most important figures in British history. He came to prominence during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, initially ...
invaded Scotland, he made a point of seizing Home's castle, which was then garrisoned by parliament's troops.


18th century and Jacobite risings

The Homes also changed sides during the Jacobite risings of the 18th century. During the
Jacobite rising of 1715 The Jacobite rising of 1715 ( ; or 'the Fifteen') was the attempt by James Francis Edward Stuart, James Edward Stuart (the Old Pretender) to regain the thrones of Kingdom of England, England, Kingdom of Ireland, Ireland and Kingdom of Scotland ...
, the 7th Earl of Home was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle. His brother, James Home of Ayton, had his estates confiscated for his part in the rebellion. During the
Jacobite rising of 1745 The Jacobite rising of 1745 was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the Monarchy of Great Britain, British throne for his father, James Francis Edward Stuart. It took place during the War of the Austrian Succession, when the bulk of t ...
,
William Home, 8th Earl of Home Lieutenant General William Home, 8th Earl of Home (1681 – 28 April 1761) was a Scottish peer and the British Governor of Gibraltar between 1757 and 1761. Lord Home was a well-known spendthrift. Military career He inherited the title Earl of ...
joined British government forces under Sir John Cope at
Dunbar Dunbar () is a town on the North Sea coast in East Lothian in the south-east of Scotland, approximately east of Edinburgh and from the Anglo–Scottish border, English border north of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Dunbar is a former royal burgh, and ...
. He later fought at the
Battle of Prestonpans The Battle of Prestonpans, also known as the Battle of Gladsmuir, was fought on 21 September 1745, near Prestonpans, in East Lothian, the first significant engagement of the Jacobite rising of 1745. Jacobitism, Jacobite forces, led by the Stua ...
. The earl rose to the rank of lieutenant general and was appointed
governor of Gibraltar The governor of Gibraltar is the representative of the British monarch in the British overseas territories, British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The governor is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the British government. The role of ...
, where he died in 1761.
Henry Home, Lord Kames Henry Home, Lord Kames (1696–27 December 1782) was a Scottish writer, philosopher and judge who played a major role in Scottish Agricultural Revolution, Scotland's Agricultural Revolution. A central figure of the Scottish Enlightenment, ...
, a prominent 18th-century Scottish lawyer, published influential works on
Scots law Scots law () is the List of country legal systems, legal system of Scotland. It is a hybrid or mixed legal system containing Civil law (legal system), civil law and common law elements, that traces its roots to a number of different histori ...
, such as ''Principles of Equity'', which remain highly regarded.
David Hume David Hume (; born David Home; – 25 August 1776) was a Scottish philosopher, historian, economist, and essayist who was best known for his highly influential system of empiricism, philosophical scepticism and metaphysical naturalism. Beg ...
, a preeminent Scottish philosopher of the 18th century, is renowned for works like ''
A Treatise of Human Nature '' A Treatise of Human Nature: Being an Attempt to Introduce the Experimental Method of Reasoning into Moral Subjects'' (1739–40) is a book by Scottish philosopher David Hume, considered by many to be Hume's most important work and one of the ...
''.


20th century

The Home family achieved political prominence in the 20th century when the 14th Earl,
Alec Douglas-Home Alexander Frederick Douglas-Home, Baron Home of the Hirsel ( ; 2 July 1903 – 9 October 1995), known as Lord Dunglass from 1918 to 1951 and the Earl of Home from 1951 to 1963, was a British statesman and Conservative Party (UK), Conservative ...
, disclaimed his Earldom of Home to serve as
prime minister of the United Kingdom The prime minister of the United Kingdom is the head of government of the United Kingdom. The prime minister Advice (constitutional law), advises the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, sovereign on the exercise of much of the Royal prerogative ...
(1963–1964). Upon his death in 1995, the title passed to his son, David Douglas-Home, 15th Earl of Home. His brother,
William Douglas-Home William Douglas Home (3 June 1912 – 28 September 1992) was a British dramatist and politician. Early life Douglas-Home (he later dropped the hyphen from his surname) was the third son of Charles Douglas-Home, 13th Earl of Home, and Lady Li ...
, was a distinguished author and playwright.


Chief

The current chief is The Right Honourable Michael Douglas-Home, 16th Earl of Home.


Castles and houses

*
Hume Castle Hume Castle is the heavily modified remnants of a late 12th- or early 13th-century castle of enceinte held by the powerful Hume or Home family, Wardens of the Eastern March who became successively the Lords Home and the Earls of Home. The vi ...
was the original seat of the chief of Clan Home, the
Earl of Home Earl of Home ( ) is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. It was created in 1605 for Alexander Home of that Ilk, 6th Lord Home. The Earl of Home holds, among others, the subsidiary titles of Lord Home (created 1473) and Lord Dunglass (1605) in t ...
. *
The Hirsel The Hirsel is a Category A Listed stately home near Coldstream, Berwickshire in the Scottish Borders council area. It has been a seat of the Earls of Home since 1611, and the principal seat following the destruction of Hume Castle during the mi ...
is the current seat of the Earls of Home. * Marchmont House, Berwickshire *
Fast Castle Fast Castle is the ruined remains of a coastal fortress in Berwickshire, south-east Scotland, in the Scottish Borders. It lies north west of the village of Coldingham, and just outside the St Abb's Head National Nature Reserve, run by the Na ...
, Berwickshire *
Wedderburn Castle Wedderburn Castle, near Duns, Berwickshire, in the Scottish Borders, is an 18th-century country house that is now used as a wedding and events venue. The house is a Category A listed building and the grounds are included in the Inventory of ...
, Berwickshire, is the seat of the senior cadet branch, Home of Wedderburn *
Paxton House Paxton House may refer to: ;in Scotland *Paxton House, Berwickshire Paxton House is a historic house at Paxton, Berwickshire, in the Scottish Borders, a few miles south-west of Berwick-upon-Tweed, overlooking the River Tweed. It is a country ...
, Berwickshire *
Hutton Castle Hutton Castle is located in the Scottish Borders, overlooking the Whiteadder Water. It stands southeast of Chirnside and west of Berwick-on-Tweed. It has also been known as Hatton Hall and Hutton Hall. History Originally a property of the ...
, Berwickshire * Ayton Castle, Berwickshire *
Moray House The Moray House School of Education and Sport ('Moray House') is a school within the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science at the University of Edinburgh. It is based in historic buildings on the Holyrood, Edinburgh, Holyrood Campus, ...
, Edinburgh, was built by the Countess of Home in the 1620s. *
Dunglass Castle Dunglass Castle, situated in West Dunbartonshire on a rocky cliff overlooking the River Clyde, is a 14th-century ruinous castle. It was designated as a Category B listed building in 1971. It has been graded at high risk by the Buildings at Ris ...
, East Lothian *
Manderston Manderston House is a British stately home in Duns, Scottish Borders, Duns, Berwickshire. It is the seat of the Baron Palmer, Palmer family. It was completely rebuilt between 1901 and 1903 and has sumptuous interiors with a silver-plated stai ...
, Berwickshire * Blackadder Castle, Berwickshire *
Kimmerghame House Kimmerghame House is a 19th-century mansion in the Scottish Borders, located south-east of Duns by the Blackadder Water. It is the seat of the Swintons of Kimmerghame, a branch of the Lowland Clan Swinton. The house was designed in the Scottis ...
, Berwickshire * Redbraes Castle, Berwickshire *
Bassendean House Bassendean is a village in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, south of Westruther and north-west of Gordon. It is by the Eden Water in the former Berwickshire, immediately south of the hamlet of Houndslow. The medieval village of Bassend ...
, Berwickshire *
Thornton Castle Thornton Castle was a Scottish fortress belonging to the Montgomery family and subsequently Lord Home near Innerwick in East Lothian. Thornton Castle was on the opposite side of Thornton Glen to Innerwick Castle, which is a mile east of Innerwic ...
, East Lothian


Military association

The
40th Regiment Royal Artillery 40th Regiment Royal Artillery – The Lowland Gunners – was a regiment of the Royal Artillery in the British Army. It supported 19 Light Brigade in the field artillery role. It was structured into Fire Support Teams equipped with MSTAR, and th ...
(40 Regt RA), known as The Lowland Gunners, maintained a longstanding association with Clan Home, incorporating the Home tartan into its dress until entering inactive status during the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR). All personnel wore Home tartan rank slides, while officers donned tartan
trews Trews (or truis, ) are men's clothing for the legs and lower abdomen, a traditional form of tartan trousers from Scottish Highland dress. Trews could be trimmed with leather, usually buckskin, especially on the inner leg to prevent wear from ...
with dinner jackets—unofficially termed "Lowland Order"—and the regimental pipes and drums wore tartan kilts, trews, and accoutrements. In 2009, after relocating from
Topcliffe, North Yorkshire Topcliffe is a village and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. The village is situated on the River Swale, on the A167 road and close to the A168 road, A168. It is about south-west of Thirsk and south of the county town of Northallert ...
, to
Thiepval Barracks Thiepval Barracks is a British Army barracks and headquarters in Lisburn, County Antrim. It is also the site of the stone frigate HMS ''Hibernia'', Headquarters of the Royal Naval Reserve in Northern Ireland. History The barracks were built in 19 ...
, Lisburn, Northern Ireland, as part of an Army-wide rebasing plan, the regiment named its technical accommodation "Home Lines", opened by General Sir
Timothy Granville-Chapman Sir Timothy John Granville-Chapman (born 5 January 1947) is a former British Army officer, who served as Vice-Chief of the Defence Staff of the British Armed Forces (2005–2009). Early life Granville-Chapman was born on 5 January 1947. He wa ...
in 2010 with Clan Home representatives present. The commanding officer’s residence, "Home House", later caused confusion among those unfamiliar with the clan's pronunciation and its regimental connection. Following the disbandment of 40 Regt RA in 2012, some traditions were adopted by the
19th Regiment Royal Artillery 19th Regiment Royal Artillery – The Scottish Gunners (sometimes referred to as the “Highland Gunners”) – is a Scottish regiment of the Royal Artillery in the British Army. It currently supports 12 Mechanised Brigade in the armoured fiel ...
.


See also

*
Home baronets There have been five baronetcies created for persons with the surname Home (pronounced "Hume"), four in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia and one in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom. Only one creation is extant as of 2008. The Home Baronetcy, of ...
* Hume baronets


Citations


References


External links


Official Clan Home Association website
{{Scottish clans
Home A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for one or more human occupants, and sometimes various companion animals. Homes provide sheltered spaces, for instance rooms, where domestic activity can be p ...