Clan Strachan

Clan Strachan
Strathaen
Motto	Non Timeo Sed Caveo (I fear not, but am cautious)
War cry	Clachnaben!
Profile
Region	Highlands
District	Strachan District, in present day Aberdeenshire
Clan Strachan no longer has a chief, and is an armigerous clan
Last Chief	Sir Richard Strachan
Died	3 February 1828
Commander	Charles Robert Lund (Rob) Strachan

Clan Strachan is a Scottish clan originating from Aberdeenshire. The clan does not currently have a chief, therefore it is considered by Court of the Lord Lyon and the Stand Council of Scottish Chiefs as an Armigerous clan.

Clan Strachan held a Family Convention (or Ad Hoc Derbhfine) under the supervision of the Court of the Lord Lyon on 11 April 2014 in Edinburgh. The meeting ended amicably with unanimous support for Rob Strachan, Mill of Strachan, Strachan, Aberdeenshire to be recognised as Commander.

On 29 April 2014, Lord Lyon Dr. Joseph Morrow dispatched a letter to the Sennachie of Clan Strachan, Jim Strachan, whereas Lyon wrote, "I have signed a Warrant authorizing the Lyon Clerk to prepare a Commission appointing Charles Robert Lund Strachan to be Commander of the Hounourable Clan Strachan for a period of 5 years."

In 2019, there will be another Strachan Family Convention to officially recognize Rob as Hereditary Chief of the Honourable Clan Strachan. The Clan Strachan Society (http://www.clanstrachan.org/] will be notifying its membership and those on their email lists of tentative plans was time approaches.

The Clan Strachan warcry is Clachnaben!

Highland or Lowland Clan?

The Highland Boundary Fault is a geologic fault that traverses Scotland from Arran and Helensburgh on the west coast to Stonehaven in the east. It separates two distinctly different physiographic regions: the Highlands from the Lowlands, but in most places it is only recognisable as a change in topography.

The original Strachan lands and home of all Strachans (Strachan District or Strachan, Aberdeenshire) is located in Aberdeenshire some 15 miles northeast of Stonehaven, north and adjacent to the Highland Boundary Fault. Therefore, the traditional boundaries of Strachan is within the Highland Region.

However, as will be seen herein, evidence from various charters and grants suggests that Clan Strachan should most appropriately be classified as a Lowland Family. The territory controlled by Strachan of that Ilk were not held by the Clan in the traditional highland sense, but were occupied by the first of the name, Waltheof de Strachan (c. 1200) and his heirs until about 1315.

The Strachan District was turned into a thanage (c. 1189-95), with the Crown retaining ownership of the lands, and King William appointing William Giffard as Thane (RRS. ii, no. 340, 410). Evidence also suggests that William Giffard appointed Waltheof as occupier (or Terra-Tenant) of the Strachan District sometime between 1189-1215 (St A. Lib., 276-7). Other grants and charters further suggest Waltheof (or his son Ranulph) migrated to the Strachan District from East Lothian upon his appointment (Newbottle Reg 96), or perhaps Fife from the lands of Beth Waldef near Dunfermline (RD., 202, pg 115-6). In fact, in a grant of Strachan lands to St. Andrews Priory, Waltheof de Strachan is noted to be buried in the churchyard of St. Andrews in Fife (St A. Lib., 276-7).

The aforementioned grants and charters confirm that Waltheof de Strachan was extremely loyal to the Stewart Crown. Given the cultural divide between highland and lowland peoples, in all likelihood Waltheof de Strachan would have been greatly offended had anyone considered him a "Highlander", which inferred loyalty to MacDonald Lord of the Isles. During that period, Lowlanders generally considered Highlanders outlaws and traitors to the Stewart Crown.

Today, one might accurately describe Clan Strachan as a Lowland Clan within the Highland Region. This was not uncommon as, for example, the Name of Gordon falls within this same category.

History

Map of Scotland showing the district of Kincardineshire, where the Strachans of Thornton lived

Origins

This surname of STRACHAN is local as others of the greatest antiquity and has been according to ancient custom taken from lands. (GC, ii, 265)

As the STRACHAN surname is considered a "Local" or "Territorial" name it is merely an indication of where the individual came from, and it cannot be assumed that people with the surname are necessarily ancestors.

The Village of Strachan is located some 20 miles southwest of Aberdeen, in the Royal Deeside Grampian Highlands of Scotland.

The District of Strachan is about twenty miles in length, extending from the confines of the parish of Durris, on the east; to Mount Battock, on the west ; and is twelve miles in breadth, from Cairn-o'-Mount, in the south, to the river Dee, which constitutes its northern boundary, and separates it from the parish of Banchory-Ternan. It encompasses 56,362 acres. (Topographical Dictionary of Scotland, ii, p. 504-5)

Through the District of Strachan run the Waters of the Dye, the Avon (pronounced: /on/), and Feugh. The first are tributaries to the latter, which falls into the Dee at Banchory-Teran, where the channel, wild and rocky, shaded by mountain pine, birch, and copsewood, presents a singularly romantic appearance. (Jervise p. 4)

The word STRACHAN is an anglicized derivative with origins in the Scottish Gaelic (or 'Scottis') language. Originally from the Gaelic word "strath" meaning "broad valley", and "Aven" (pronounced /on/) which is a Gaelic word for 'river', and also the name of one of the tributaries of the Dee that runs through the Strachan District (Water of the Aven, or alternatively spelt on other maps "Water of the Awen").

According to the Herald & Genealogist (vol. viii,302), STRACHAN means 'Vale of the Waters,' apparently due to the three main burns in the District (Waters of the Dye, Avon and Feugh).

Others suggest the STRACHAN surname means 'Valley of the Avon' (pronounced /on/). If this definition is accurate, it suggests the main burn in Strachan in or about the year 1200, was the Water of the Avon. Similarly suggesting the main medieval settlement of Strachan was located much farther to the west than where the main body of the current village is presently located. Perhaps just south and west of the Mill of Strachan in the area of Little Ennochie, Balblyth, Weir or Cuttieshillock, in the District of Stachan.

Charter History of Strachan of that Ilk

Dated after 1182 to before 1232, Waltheof, gift to Newbottle Abbey of right to erect a mill-pond at Milnhale, East Lothian, 1182 or later (Newbottle Reg 96) b ca 1130 d after 1182. One of the witnesses to this charge was Earl Patrick (Patrick I, Earl of Dunbar, b. 1152, d. 1232, the eldest son of Walthoef, Earl of Dunbar, who succeeded his father, Walthoef, in 1182).

In 1189-1195, King William to William Giffard; has given of Strachan (KCD) in forest in feu and heritage; in free forest; of me and my heirs, for an annual rent (eg, render) of 9 merks in a charter done at Forfar. (RRS, ii, no. 340;) Ironically, these terms define a Thanage, as Giffard has a non-ownership hereditary right to Crown lands for an annual render in cash.

Walderus de Stratheihen made a grant of lands to the church of St Andrews in 1215. The charter permitted the pastor to hunt on Strachan lands, to graze 60 pigs, 60 cows, and 20 horses on pastures between the Rivers Feugh and Dee and to obtain timber from the Wood of Goach (which to this day forms the northern part of the village of Strachan). In return for this, prayers were to be said for the souls of Waldeve and his ancestors, and he was to be buried at the priory. This grant pertains to the lands currently located on the present-day village of Strachan in Aberdeenshire, and subsequently ties the ‘de Strachan’ family directly to the territory of Strachan.

1219-1225 - Ranulf, gift to Brechin Cathedral of rights in Brectulach 1219x25 (Brechin Reg ii 1) b ca 1160 d after 1219. Randolph de Strachan, Waldeve’s son and heir, granted lands near Fettercairn (13 miles south of Strachan) to the cathedral of Brechin, possibly for spiritual reward.

John, son of Rudolph de Strachane, gave the lands to the Abbey of Dunfermline which was confirmed by a charter of King Alexander III of Scotland in 1278.

17th century and Civil War

Sir Alexander Strachan of Thornton was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia by King Charles I in 1625. The baronetcy passed into the senior line of Monboddo by a charter under the great seal in 1663.

During the Civil War, the chief, Colonel Archibald Strachan, led a body of dragoons from Clan Strachan at the Battle of Carbisdale in 1650, where he held command under General Sir David Leslie on the side of the Covenanters. They were victorious against the Royalist army of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose.

In 1654, Chief Sir James Strachan, 3rd baronet and 17th laird, married his 16-year-old cousin Elizabeth Forbes of Waterton. Their son James Strachan married Barbara Forbes of Newton. He led the clan at the Battle of Killiecrankie on the side of John Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee where he was killed. After his death to the estate passed into the successive ownership of three Forbes lairds and, in 1720, to Thomas Fullerton of Gallery, the initials of whose son, Phillip (Beau) Fullerton of the Dragoon Guards and of his wife Katharine Scott of Benholm embellish the gilded weather-vane on the keep.

Napoleonic Wars

In the 19th century, during the Napoleonic Wars, Admiral Sir Richard Strachan, 6th baronet from the direct line of the chieftainship of the Clan Strachan, commanded a squadron. On 2 November 1805, his squadron engaged four French battleships that had escaped from Lord Nelson's triumph at the Battle of Trafalgar. Sir Richard captured all four French vessels with little loss of British life. He was created a Knight of the Bath and in 1810 was granted freedom of the City of London.

Arms of the Clan Strachan Society

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Present day

The last chief of Clan Strachan was one Admiral Sir Richard John Strachan (Bart.), RN, who died in 1828. As he was without male heir, his title and the baronetcy became dormant in 1854.

The STRACHAN surname is recognized by the Court of the Lord Lyon, and the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs as an Armigerous clan.

As mentioned above Clan Strachan Society is presently holding a Family Convention (Ad Hoc Derbhfine) to recognize a new Commander for Clan Strachan. The Commander will likely become the hereditary Chief of Clan Strachan after waiting 10 years. This 'waiting period' is to determine if a more legitimate claimant to the Chiefdom comes forth with a documented blood line (found satisfactory to the Lord Lyon) that proves descent from the past Chief (or a cadet branch therein). A person with documented blood line to the past Chief (or a cadet branch) would have a priority claim for the Chiefship. As no one in 186 years has come forth to claim the Strachan Chiefship, it is expected the appointed Commander (Rob Strachan, Mill of Strachan) will eventually become the recognized and legal hereditary Chief of Clan Strachan.

The Clan Strachan Societyin July 2012 was issued a new Grant of Arms by the Lord Lyon. The Society is therefore recognized as an Armigerous Society, an 'indeterminant cadet' [Innes]. According to Innes, an Armigerous Clan Society as a corporate Armiger is responsible to act as the economic and business affairs arm of the clan, subordinate to the Chief.

Armorial description of the Society Arms:

Azure, a hart trippant Or attired and ungulled Gules in chief three annulets conjoined in fess Or.

Crest issuant from a celestial crown Purpure a demi-hart rampant Or attired and ungulled Gules charged with a saltire Argent and in its mouth a California Poppy Proper.

Clan Strachan Tartan – designed in 1987, by Tony Murray. According to Kenneth Dalgliesh (Scottish World Tartan Society) it was first seen in 1999, and was registered in 2000.

Clan Castles

The last seat of the chief of Clan Strachan was at Thornton Castle.

The original Chief of Clan Strachan were the 'de Strachan' barons, whose lands included much of what is now the Royal Deeside area of the Grampian Highlands. In 1296, the barons ‘de Strachan’ were important local nobles until this time, when they backed the Earls of Buchan and Comyn (to whom they were probably related) in support of King John Balliol against Robert the Bruce. This culminated in the Battle of Inverurie in 1308, by whom they were defeated by the Bruce and disinherited. The barony 'de Strachan' passed to Bruce’s Great Chamberlain, Sir Alexander Fraser.

After King Robert's son and successor, David II, had been defeated and captured by the English in 1341 at the Battle of Neville's Cross, six descendants of the former Baron de Strachan received grants of lands and baronetcies.

• Glenkindie House: Adam Strachan was granted lands in Aberdeenshire from William Keith (1350). William Keith had inherited the barony of Strachan through his mother, the daughter of Sir Alexander Fraser and niece of King Robert I. Adam Strachan also married the Daughter of the Earl of Mar, Margaret Mar, and gained the lands and baronetcy of Glenkindie. As a result of this marriage between the Strachan of Glenkindie and the Earldom of Mar, Strachans may wear the Tribe of Mar tartan. Additionally, as the Earldom of Mar were related to the King Robert the Bruce, descendants from this marriage would no doubt have royal blood.

• House of Thornton: In 1348, seven years before Adam Strachan obtained Glenkindie, a Sir James Strachan of Monboddo married Agnete, heiress of the Barony of Thornton, which had been granted to her father by Robert I in 1309. From thenceforth, the Strachans of Thornton and the Strachans of Glenkindie became the two principal chieftains of the Strachan family. Thornton Castle lies about 15 miles to the south of the village of Strachan and Glenkindie House lies about 30 miles to its north.

• House of Carmyllie: Alexander de Strachan granted the barony of Carmylie in Forfarshire (1347) by Sir Henry Maule of Panmure. Also received the lands of Drummayeth, Hackmangerum, Acheyclare, and Moncur.

• House of Lenturk: Sir John de Strachan was granted the barony of Lenturk in Aberdeenshire (1350 possibly by the Earl of Mar, as his lands were situated quite near to the Earl of Mar's fortress, Kildrummy Castle). In 1359, Sir John became Viscount (Sheriff) of Forfarshire. In official documents of the time, he is listed as a witness to the installation of John of Mar as Bishop of Aberdeen and, to another charter, as co-witness with William Keith, the Earl Marshall. In 1380, the granted the lands of Petgervy to his son Galfrid.

• Barony of Aberdeenshire: ~1347, King David II himself granted to Donald de Strachan and his wife Annabel very extensive lands in Forfarshire, and a barony in Aberdeenshire.

• House of Knock: Thomas de Strachan got the lands of Knock in Kincardineshire.

It is highly unlikely this is a coincidence, as all these grants occurred almost simultaneously, particularly as they involved marriages, and marriages amongst the nobility were typically political. It follows that there must have been some new motivation that made marriage with the Strachans politically desirable.

It is believed by historians (see "Notes" immediately below) that the former Baron de Strachan was one of the large numbers of pro-Balliol nobles who, after the Battle of Inverurie (1308) fled to the English court, and where they were known as "the disinherited". But in 1347, King David, honouring obligations under the Franco-Scottish alliance, invaded the north of England, were heavily defeated, and captured by the English. So, from the perspective of “the disinherited", here was the son of the man (King Robert the Bruce) who had disinherited them arriving captive in London. If one king could disinherit them, why should not another? With a little persuasion King David reinstated the Strachans, among others.

Clan Septs

The Anglicization of the Gaelic led to different spellings of the name, as transliterations were made in various censuses: Strachan (mainly Scots), Straghan (mainly Irish), or Strahan (both) and Strawn (American). Strachen, Straughan, Strawhun, Straun, Strane, Stracon, Strahin, Strain, Strong, Strongman, Stronger, Strang, Stronge, Strang, Strange, Strangeman, Straughn, and Stranahan are also recognized derivations of Strachan.

See also

• Scottish clan
• Armigerous clan
• Strachan, Aberdeenshire
• Strachan Baronets
• Strachan (disambiguation)
• Clan Strachan Book Store

References

• Story of Clan Strachan
• Strachan, Major Benjamin, CMG. Author of "A History of the Strachans."
• Strachan, James Andrew, FSA Scot. Author of "Here's Tae Us, Wha's Like Us – A History of Clan Strachan."

External links

• Official Clan Strachan Society Website