The Clan Grierson originates from the Scottish lowlands. The ancient seat of the Clan Grierson is in Lag, where Lag Tower was built in 1460 A.D. by Vedast Grierson. There was a Baronetcy, in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia, held by the Clan Chiefs from 1685 A.D. until 2008 A.D. with the death of Sir Michael John Bewes Grierson, 12th Baronet of Lag and Clan Chief of the Clan Grierson.
The surname Grierson is a modern spelling of the medieval (circa 1408) surname Grerson[3]. Ancestry.com states that it is a patronymic form of the medieval Scottish personal name Grier which is a form of the personal name Gregory, but provides no source for this.[4] The principal seat of the Grierson family was Lag, which was obtained in about 1408.[5] George Dunbar, Earl of March resigned the lands of Dalgarnock in Dumfriesshire to Gilbert Grierson of Lag sometime before 1418.[6] In the earliest known family tree (the "Gracie Tree" held in the Ewart Library, Dumfries), the family of Lag claim descent from Malcolm II of Scotland.
The current Chief of the Name and Arms of the Grierson family, and a member of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs[7] is Madame Sarah Grierson of Lag,[8][9] the first female to hold this role.
The crest badge of the Griersons contains the Latin motto: Hoc Securior[5] which may be translated as "Safer by This".
It is widely believed by many of the Clan Grierson that they are descended from the Clan MacGregor. However, there is no trace of MacGregor YDNA in any Grierson descendants tested. Some oral history has been passed down throughout the Clan, but no written evidence of this claim exists due to the extent of the persecution. However, Clan MacGregor considers them a Sept of their Clan[10] and any member of the Clan Grierson can obtain membership in the Clan Gregor Society.
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