The Foreign Origins of Scottish Clans

Kwanza are synonymous with Scotland as Tartan whiskey yet many Scottish Clans have foreign Origins the origins of this clan speaks to the migrations and invasions into Scotland over the centuries Clan Fraser is the first climb we want to look at today a climb with numerous branches across Scotland the first reference to Clan Fraser in the historical record came in 1160 A.D and the motto of Clan Fraser itself is just repressed meaning I am ready this Mortal speaks to the origins of Clan Fraser in general they are thought to be the descendants of Norman Knights who came from the Anjou region of France and settled in Scotland one theory is that their name comes from the French friso family who themselves originated from a first tribe in Roman gold called the friselli this word itself comes from the French word phrase meaning strawberry as there was an abundance of strawberries in the area they lived one notable Fraser in Scottish history was Simon Fraser a man who fought alongside both William Wallace and Robert the Bruce during the first Scottish War of Independence he was captured in 1306 and given the same fate as William Wallace hung drawn and quartered and his head was displayed on a spike on London Bridge alongside Wallace's another climb we will look at today is climber Cloud a clan that is associated with the area around the Iowa Sky the Kawana said to have a North or Viking origin and be the descendants of Leon the son of Olaf the black the king of the Isles Leo themselves was a powerful Chieftain during the 13th century Clan Stewart is perhaps the most famous Clan given its association with royalty for centuries it was initially established as Clan Stewart and later evolved into a different spelling known as the house of Stuart the first Stewart that became a monarch in Scotland was Robert II during the 14th century with Stewarts going on terrain on the Thrones of Scotland Britain and Ireland until the death of Queen Anne in 1714. the clan shirt itself can be traced back to Walter Fitz Allen an English Baron Walter moved to Scotland under the reign of David the first and the name Stewart is said to come from Walter's title as the high Shield of Scotland Walter himself was a descendant of an arrow of Brittany who came over to England alongside William the conquerors forces during the Norman invasion of 1066 there other Clans with far less clear Origins albeit so interesting there are various Tales of where Clan Gordon gets his name some say it comes from a barrackshire place name Gordon meaning how fought while other accounts suggest that the name comes from Gordon in France around the time of the Norman Conquest yet another more Cosmopolitan account suggest it goes back to the Macedonian city of gordonia Clan itself means family of children in Gaelic and Clan chiefs were as purple or at least almost as purple as kings at various points down through history Quan feuds were common and some of the main sources of conflict was over cattle or border disputes the client system itself is something I'm going to explore and more videos in the future and I just wanted to touch on a few elements today if there is any Clan origin stories you want to share please get in the comments below there are so many Scottish Clans that have not had a chance to research them all so like I say please get in the comments below if there's any really interesting origin stories or facts about Clans that you want me to include in future videos I do always try and read all comments thanks for watching please remember to subscribe and hit the bell and I'll speak to you next time

Channel: Celtic History Decoded

Views: 44,303

Keywords: Celtic History, Celtic History Documentary, History, Celtic, Documentary, Clans, Scottish clans, Clan Gordon, Clan Stewart, House of Stuart, Clan Fraser, Clan Mac, Origins Scottish Clans, Scotland, Scottish history, Scottish Clans History, Clan Tartans

Id: Poey2e7NPtI

Length: 4min 24sec (264 seconds)

Published: Mon Nov 14 2022