Clan Lindsay 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 ...

of the

Scottish Lowlands The Lowlands ( or , ; , ) is a cultural and historical region of Scotland. The region is characterised by its relatively flat or gently rolling terrain as opposed to the mountainous landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. This area includes ci ...

History

Origins of the clan

The Lindsays were prominent in both England and

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

from the late 11th century. The surname derives from the region of

Lindsey Lindsey may refer to : Places Canada * Lindsey Lake, Nova Scotia England * Parts of Lindsey, one of the historic Parts of Lincolnshire and an administrative county from 1889 to 1974 ** East Lindsey, an administrative district in Lincolnshire, ...

in England (the name of which comes from the Old English for "island of

Lincoln Lincoln most commonly refers to: * Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the 16th president of the United States * Lincoln, England, cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England * Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of Nebraska, U.S. * Lincoln (na ...

"), from where the family originated. In Domesday Book, Sir Baldric de Lindsey of Hemingby is recorded as holding a number of estates in

in 1086. Sir Baldric's sons, Sir Walter and William de Lindsay accompanied

David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon David of Scotland (1152 – 17 June 1219) was a Scottish prince and Earl of Huntingdon. He was the grandson of David I and the younger brother of two Scottish kings, Malcolm the Maiden and William the Lion. Life Born in 1152, David was the ...

, to claim his throne. William's son,

William de Lindsay Sir William de Lindsay (1155–1205), Lord of Crawford, Lord and Baron of Luffness, Lord of Ercildum, Justiciar of Lothian, was a 12th-century Scottish noble. Life Lindsay was a son of Sir William de Lindsay of Luffness and Ercildum, Baron ...

, sat in the Parliament of 1164 and was later a justiciar. William Lindsay held the lands of Crawford and Luffness. The chief's premier title was later

Earl of Crawford Earl of Crawford is one of the most ancient extant titles in Great Britain, having been created in the Peerage of Scotland in 1398 for David Lindsay, 1st Earl of Crawford, Sir David Lindsay. It is the premier earldom recorded on the Union Roll. ...

. His son, Sir William Lindsay, who sat in Parliament as Baron of Luffness in

East Lothian East Lothian (; ; ) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland, as well as a Counties of Scotland, historic county, registration county and Lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area. The county was called Haddingtonshire until 1921. In ...

, married Alice de Limesi, and from their younger son Sir William Lindsay, dapifer to the High Steward of Scotland, descends the

. Sir William Lindsay's elder son was Sir David Lindsay who married a member of the royal family named Margerie. David died in 1214 and was succeeded as Lord Crawford and High Justiciar of Lothian by his son who was also called David. This David also inherited the estates of Limesi and Wolveray. One of his cousins was another Sir David Lindsay who was

Chamberlain of Scotland 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 ...

in 1256.

Wars of Scottish Independence

The aforementioned David Lindsay's grandson was yet another David whose seal was appended to the letter of 1320 to the Pope, asserting the independence of Scotland, that was more often known as the

Declaration of Arbroath The Declaration of Arbroath (; ; ) is the name usually given to a letter, dated 6 April 1320 at Arbroath, written by Scottish barons and addressed to Pope John XXII. It constituted King Robert I's response to his excommunication for disobey ...

. His second son, Sir James Lindsay, married Egidia, daughter of

Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland Walter Stewart (G. W. S. Barrow, 'Stewart family (per. c.1110–c.1350)', ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004.9 April 1327) was the 6th Hereditary High Steward of Scotland and was the father of King Robert ...

, and Marjory Bruce, daughter of Robert The Bruce and Isabella de Mar, and half-sister of

David II of Scotland David II (5 March 1324 – 22 February 1371) was King of Scotland from 1329 until his death in 1371. Upon the death of his father, Robert the Bruce, David succeeded to the throne at the age of five and was crowned at Scone in November 1331, be ...

, son of Robert the Bruce and his second wife, Elizabeth de Burgh.

14th, 15th and 16th centuries

In 1390, Sir David Lindsay famously took part in a tournament at

London Bridge The name "London Bridge" refers to several historic crossings that have spanned the River Thames between the City of London and Southwark in central London since Roman Britain, Roman times. The current crossing, which opened to traffic in 197 ...

, in the presence of

Richard II of England Richard II (6 January 1367 – ), also known as Richard of Bordeaux, was King of England from 1377 until he was deposed in 1399. He was the son of Edward the Black Prince, Edward, Prince of Wales (later known as the Black Prince), and Jo ...

. At the tournament Lindsay won the day and the admiration of the English king. Lindsay was created

on 21 April 1398. In 1403, he was

Lord High Admiral of Scotland Lord High Admiral of Scotland was the name of one of the Great Officers of State of the Kingdom of Scotland before the Union with England in 1707. The office was one of considerable power, also known as ''Royal Scottish Admiralty'', including ...

and in 1406, he was sent as an ambassador to England. The Lindsays fought at the

Battle of Arbroath The Battle of Arbroath was fought on Sunday, 24 January 1446 at Arbroath in Scotland between rival claimants to the post of Baillie of the Regality. While the Auchinleck Chronicle recorded that in "The yer of God M.CCCC.XLV, the xxiii. day of Ja ...

in 1445.Arbroath
canmore.rcahms.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2013. In 1452,

Alexander Lindsay, 4th Earl of Crawford Alexander Lindsay, 4th Earl of Crawford (1423–1453) was a late medieval Scottish nobleman, and a magnate of the north-east of that country. Life Alexander Lindsay was the son of David Lindsay, 3rd Earl of Crawford and Marjory Ogilvie, the daug ...

, joined in a rebellion against

James II of Scotland James II (16 October 1430 – 3 August 1460) was King of Scots from 1437 until his death in 1460. The eldest surviving son of James I of Scotland, he succeeded to the Scottish throne at the age of six, following the assassination of his fathe ...

and fought at the

Battle of Brechin The Battle of Brechin was fought on 18 May 1452 during the reign of James II of Scotland, about two and a half miles north north east of Brechin. It has been regarded as part of the civil war during his reign between the king and an alliance of ...

where the royal forces were victorious. Alexander Lindsay was attained for treason but was later pardoned. The fifth Earl of Crawford rose high in royal favour. He was successively Lord High Admiral of Scotland, Master of the Royal Household, Lord Chamberlain and High Justiciary. In 1488 he was created Duke of Montrose by King James III, but this was annulled after the king's death. The sixth Earl of Crawford was killed 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 ...

in 1513, while on close attendance to

King James IV James IV (17 March 1473 – 9 September 1513) was King of Scotland from 11 June 1488 until his death at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. He inherited the throne at the age of fifteen on the death of his father, James III, at the Battle of Sauch ...

17th century and civil war

Ludovic Lindsay, 16th Earl of Crawford Ludovic Lindsay, 16th Earl of Crawford (1600 – 1652), was a Scottish landowner and Royalist. He was the son of Henry Lindsay, 13th Earl of Crawford and Helen Chisholm. In 1633-1634 Lindsay served the Polish king and commanded a unit compose ...

, learned his trade as a soldier on the Continent. He later fought for King Charles I during the civil war where he commanded a cavalry regiment at the

Battle of Marston Moor The Battle of Marston Moor was fought on 2 July 1644, during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms of 1639–1653. The combined forces of the English Parliamentarians under Lord Fairfax and the Earl of Manchester and the Scottish Covenanters unde ...

. He was later captured supporting James, Marquis of Montrose, at the

Battle of Philiphaugh The Battle of Philiphaugh was fought on 13 September 1645 during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms near Selkirk in the Scottish Borders. The Royalist army of the Marquis of Montrose was destroyed by the Covenanter army of Sir David Leslie, ...

in 1645. The earldom of Crawford was succeeded to by his kinsman John Lindsay, Earl of Lindsay. The Crawford title remained with this branch of the family until it passed to the

Earl of Balcarres Earl of Balcarres is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, created in 1651 for Alexander Lindsay, 2nd Lord Balcarres. Since 1848, the title has been held jointly with the Earldom of Crawford, and the holder is also the hereditary clan chief of Cl ...

in the 19th century, who were descended from a younger son of the ninth Earl of Crawford. This branch of the family had been created Earls of Balcarres in 1650 for services during the civil war.

18th century and Jacobite risings

The first Earl of Balcarres was made hereditary governor of

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 ...

. He was also made Secretary of State for Scotland and High Commissioner to the General Assembly. His younger son was

Colin Lindsay, 3rd Earl of Balcarres Colin Lindsay, 3rd Earl of Balcarres (1652–1722) was a Scottish aristocrat and politician, and one of the most important supporters of James II in Scotland. Biography Early life Colin Lindsay was baptized at Kilconquhar on 23 August 1652, th ...

, who was a staunch Jacobite and fought 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 ...

. He only escaped being attained for treason through the intervention of the

Duke of Marlborough General John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough, 1st Prince of Mindelheim, 1st Count of Nellenburg, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, (26 May 1650 – 16 June 1722 O.S.) was a British army officer and statesman. From a gentry family, he ...

who was a lifelong friend of his. In 1739,

John Lindsay, 20th Earl of Crawford Lieutenant-General John Lindsay, 20th Earl of Crawford (4 October 1702 – 25 December 1749) was a Scottish Peerage of Scotland, peer and the first colonel of the Black Watch on its formation in 1739. Biography Lindsay was the son of Lieutena ...

, was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the newly formed 43rd Regiment of Foot ("Black Watch" regiment) that supported the British Government 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 ...

and had been formed from the ten

Independent Highland Companies The Independent Highland Companies were irregular militia raised from the Scottish clans of the Scottish Highlands by order of the Scottish (later British) government between 1603 and 1760 in order to help keep the peace and enforce the law in t ...

of "Black Watch".Simpson, Peter. (1996). ''The Independent Highland Companies, 1603 – 1760''. . pp. 115 – 118.

Gallery of arms

File:Lindsay arms.svg, Traditional Lindsay arms File:Arms of Lindsay (Earl Crawford).svg, Lindsay, Earls of Crawford File:Arms of Lindsay, Duke of Montrose.svg, Lindsay, Duke of Montrose File:Arms of Lindsay of Westville.svg, Lindsay, Earls of Balcarres (1624) File:Arms of Lindsay, Earl of Balcarres.svg, Lindsay, Earls of Balcarres (1670) File:Arms of Lindsay of Balcarres.svg, Lindsay of Balcarres File:Arms of Lindsay of Balgawies.svg, Lindsay of Balgawies File:Arms of Lindsay of Barnyards.svg, Lindsay of Barnyards File:Arms of Lindsay of Blacksolme.svg, Lindsay of Blacksolme File:Arms of Lindsay of Bonhill (alternate).svg, Lindsay of Bonhill File:Arms of Lindsay of Broadland.svg, Lindsay of Broadland File:Arms of Lindsay of Byres.svg, Lindsay of the Byres File:Arms of Lindsay of Cavill.svg, Lindsay of Cavill File:Arms of Lindsay of Covington.svg, Lindsay of Covington File:Arms of Lindsay of Crossbasket.svg, Lindsay of Crossbasket File:Arms of Lindsay of Culsh.svg, Lindsay of Culsh File:Arms of Lindsay of Dowhill.svg, Lindsay of Dowhill File:Arms of Lindsay of Dunrod.svg, Lindsay of Dunrod File:Arms of Lindsay of Eaglescairnie.svg, Lindsay of Eaglescairnie File:Arms of Lindsay of Edzell.svg, Lindsay of Edzell File:Arms of Lindsay of Evelick.svg, Lindsay of Evelick File:Arms of Lindsay of Garnock.svg, Lindsay of Garnock File:Arms of Lindsay of Kilspindie.svg, Lindsay of Kilspindie File:Arms of Lindsay of Linbank.svg, Lindsay of Linbank File:Arms of Lindsay of Loughry.svg, Lindsay of Loughry File:Arms of Lindsay of Menmuir.svg, Lindsay of Menmuir File:Arms of Lindsay of Mount.svg, Lindsay of the Mount File:Arms of Lindsay of Pitscandlie.svg, Lindsay of Pitscandlie File:Arms of Lindsay of Pitscarlies and Cairn.svg, Lindsay of Pitscarlies and Cairn File:Arms of Lindsay of Pyctstone and Wormstone.svg, Lindsay of Pyotstone File:Arms of Lindsay of Rossie.svg, Lindsay of Rossie File:Arms of Lindsay of Spynie.svg, Lindsay of Spynie File:Arms of Lindsay of Cumberland.svg, Lindsay of Staplegorton File:Arms of Lindsay of Virginia.svg, Lindsay of Virginia File:Arms of Lindsay of Wauchopdale.svg, Lindsay of Wauchopedale File:Arms of Lindsay of Wormistone.svg, Lindsay of Wormestone File:Arms of Lindsay and Limésy.svg, Ancestral arms of Alice de Limési

Clan castles

Balcarres House Balcarres House lies 1km north of the village of Colinsburgh, in the East Neuk of Fife, in eastern Scotland. It is centred on a mansion built in 1595 by John Lindsay (1552–1598), second son of David, 9th Earl of Crawford. The house became t ...

is the current seat of the Chief. It was built by

John Lindsay of Balcarres John Lindsay of Balcarres (1552–1598) was Secretary of State, Scotland. On 5 July 1581 he was appointed a Lord of Session under the title Lord Menmuir. Life He was the second son of David Lindsay, 9th Earl of Crawford and Catherine Campbell, d ...

in 1595. *

Edzell Castle Edzell Castle is a ruined 16th-century castle, with an early-17th-century walled garden. It is located close to Edzell, and is around north of Brechin, in Angus, Scotland. Edzell Castle was begun around 1520 by David Lindsay, 9th Earl of Crawfo ...

was the original castle of the Chief of Clan Lindsay which they acquired in 1357 and retained ownership until 1715. *

Crawford Castle Crawford Castle, substantially in ruins, is located on the north bank of the River Clyde, around north of Crawford, South Lanarkshire, Scotland. The ruins stand on an earlier motte and bailey earthwork. The castle is also known as Lindsay Towe ...

, to the north of the village of Crawford, South Lanarkshire, was from where the Earldom of Crawford was created and it was also known as Lindsay Tower. * Luffness Castle, East Lothian. * Lamberton Castle, Scottish Borders *

Wauchope Castle Wauchope Castle was a castle located at Wauchope, in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The castle was a stronghold of the Lindsay family. It was the caput of the Barony of Wauchope. Built as a motte and bailey in the 13th century, it was reconst ...

, Dumfries and Galloway. *

Carsluith Castle Carsluith Castle is a ruined Tower houses in Britain and Ireland, tower house, dating largely to the 16th century. It is located beside Wigtown Bay in the historical county of Kirkcudbrightshire in Galloway, Scotland, around south east of Cree ...

. *

Spynie Palace Spynie Palace, also known as Spynie Castle, was the fortified seat of the Bishop of Moray, Bishops of Moray for about 500 years in Spynie, Moray, Scotland. The founding of the palace dates back to the late 12th century. It is situated about 500 ...

. *

Lordscairnie Castle Lordscairnie Castle is a ruin situated near Moonzie, north-east of Cupar, in Fife, Scotland. It is protected as a scheduled monument. History Cairnie was a property of the Lindsay family, later Earls of Crawford, from 1355. The tower was const ...

. * Byres Castle, East Lothian. * Garleton Castle, East Lothian. *

Barnweill Castle Barnweill Castle was a castle located at Barnweill, in the parish of Craigie, South Ayrshire South Ayrshire (; , ) is one of thirty-two council areas of Scotland, covering the southern part of Ayrshire. It borders onto Dumfries and Gallo ...

, South Ayrshire. *

Craigie Castle Craigie Castle, in the old Barony of Craigie, is a ruined fortification situated about southeast of Kilmarnock and southeast of Craigie Village and Parish, Craigie village, in the Civil Parish of Craigie, South Ayrshire, Scotland. The castle is ...

, South Ayrshire. * Lindsane * Dunrod Castle, Inverkip.

References

External links

clanlindsaysociety.co.ukclanlindsay.com
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lindsay, Clan Scottish clans Scottish Lowlands