Clan Grant
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Clan Grant is a Scottish clan which inhabited land in Northern Scotland since 1316, although the clan is known to have existed farther back than that. During the various times of personal financial hardship in Scotland (particularly in the aftermath of the Jacobite rebellions) many Grants moved elsewhere, mostly across the former British Empire including Canada, the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand. In the present, Grants live in a large number of nations in most parts of the world - an important faction of the Scottish diaspora.
History
Little is known about the clan from before the 13th century. The earliest known members may include:
- Thomas Grant, merchant of the King of Scotland, who retired from his post as visor of York Castle on 2nd January, 1252
- Sir Laurence le Grant, Sheriff of Inverness, who "rendered accounts to the Scottish Exchequer in 1263 and 1266
- Richard le Grant, Chancellor of the diocese of Lincoln, who was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury in 1229
- William le Graunt, said by Henry III of England to have travelled to Scotland with Alexander III of Scotland
Scottish Wars of Independence
- Clan Grant were supporters of William Wallace and fought at the Battle of Dunbar in 1296 where both Randolph and John de Grant were captured and imprisoned for a time.
- The clan later supported Robert the Bruce and it was this support that secured their landholdings in Strathspey upon Bruce's ascent to the throne.
15th and 16th centuries
The next available reference is of Duncan le Grant in 1434, and later, Sir Duncan Grant of Freuchie (Castle Grant), who inherited land in Dulnain valley in upper Speyside from his mother, Matilda of Glencarnie. Her family had partially owned it since 1180, when Richard I of England gave Kinveachy (approximately ten miles southwest of Castle Grant) to Gilbert, 3rd Earl of Strathearn.By the late 15th century, Clan Grant became an important clan in the Scottish Highlands. During this period, the clan's actions resulted in the murder of the Earl of Moray and the defeat of the Earl of Argyll at Glenlivet.
In the 16th century, Sir James Grant of Grant, 16th Chief, led the clan to fight for Charles I of England and the Royalists. Also, an alliance between Sir James and the Earl of Huntly led to the annihilation of the Clan Farquharson.
Clan Wars
- The taking of Castle Grant, 14th century; Originally a Comyn Clan stronghold, Clan traditions tell us that the castle was taken from the Comyns by a combined force of the Grants and the MacGregors. The Grants and MacGregors stormed the castle and in the process slew the Comyn Chief - and kept the Chief's skull as a trophy of this victory. The skull of the Comyn was taken as a macabre trophy and was kept in Castle Grant and became an heirloom of the Clan. (In the late Lord Strathspey's book on the Clan, he mentions that the top of the cranium was hinged, and that he saw documents kept in it.) Clan tradition predicts grave things if the skull ever leaves the hands of the family - prophecying that the Clan would lose all of its lands in Strathspey.
- Battle of Glenlivet 1594; The Chief of Clan Grant orderd his men to retreat as soon as the action began. This trecherous move led to the defeat of Clan Campbell of Argyll.
- Battle of Sheriffmuir 1715; Here Clan Grant fought as Jacobites against the British government in the initial early Jacobite uprisings but the Clan Grant would later side with the British government during the 1745-1746 Jacobite uprisings.
Jacobite Uprisings
The main part of Clan Grant supported the British government during the Jacobite uprisings. A force of over 600 Grants joined Colonel Livingstone and fought against the Jacobites at the Battle of Cromdale. However the Grants of Glenmoriston sided with the Jacobites and the two divided Grant forces fought each other at the Battle of Culloden (1746).
Origin of the name
A number of possible origins for the surname have been put forward. One is that it is derived from Le Grand (French for "the Great") and is of Norman origin. However, this theory is being challenged by members of the clan who have put forward a strong case for the name being of Gaelic or Norse origin. Grant in the Old Saxon meaning "Gravelly" or possibly "Gray haired", and may have been dervied from some connection to original holdings by a proto-Grant ancestor in East Anglia, near the River Cam (originally called the Caer Grawnt as it is still called in Wales).Gaelic Names
- Grannd (Surname)
- Granndach (Singular)
- Na Granndaich (Collective)
Motto, Slogan & Crest
- Motto: Stand Fast (It is said to come from the Norse King Haakon who was ambushed by his enemies and, having no weapon to hand, tore a tree from the earth in order to defeat his attackers. "Stand Fast" then became the motto of Haakon's family. Haakon Magnus is the "Name Father" of Clan Grant.) .
- Slogan: "Craigellachie!"
- Crest: An image of a burning hill. (The burning hill represents "Craigellachie", the rallying point for the Grants. When signal fires were lit upon the summit of Craigellachie, or "The Rock of Alarm", members of the clan would gather there in order to organize for an attack or defense.)
Pipe Music
- "Craigellachie"
Tartans
The official tartan for the Grant clan is the "1860 sett", which was declared official by Lord Strathspey, chief of the clan. The 1860 sett is used to define both the Ancient and the Modern colours, the Ancient colours being lighter and less sharp (for example, the red of the modern colours is more orange for the ancient colours). Modifications of the official tartan are recognized for Grants of specific regions: the Grants of Ballindalloch and the Grants of Rothiemurchus. There is also a Hunting tartan for the Grant clan, which is common with the Black Watch's tartan. In 1725 the government called up the Grants among three other clans to form six regiments of non-Jacobite highlanders. These regiments were given a tartan to wear. This tartan had a green and black sett was used in the military (and still is today by the Black Watch) and for hunting, as the name implies. Due to the green and black colours of the hunting tartan, one wearing a kilt with such a design would be able to blend in with his surroundings. The green and black sett was adopted by some clans as their official tartan. Others, such as the Grants, adopted it purely as a hunting tartan, opting for a brighter and more colourful official tartan.- Grant (Modern)
- Grant (Ancient)
- Grant (Hunting)
Chief
It is theorized that Aulay Grant(Olav or Alan Grant) was the earliest Chief of the Clan Grant, though Gregory Grant (1214-1249 A.D.) is the first for which there is any reference.The current Chief of Clan Grant is Sir James Patrick Trevor Grant of Grant, Bt., 33rd Hereditary Chief of the Clan Grant.
Septs of Clan Grant
A sept is a split in a Scottish clan. Due to either peaceful splits or conflicts of various types and degrees, a member of a clan would leave to form their own family or clan. The known and accepted septs of the Grant clan are:- Allan
- Allen
- Bisset or Bissett
- Bowie
- Buie
- Gilroy
- MacAllan
- MacGilroy or McGilroy
- MacIlroy or McIlroy
- MacKerran or McKerran
- MacKiaran or McKiaran
- MacKessock or McKessock
- Pratt
- Suttie
See also
- Grant family, William Grant, Siol Alpin
- Scottish clan List of Scottish Clans.
External links
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