MURRAY Clan of Scotland

Motto: Furth, Fortune, and Fill the Fetters - go forth against your enemies, have good fortune, and return with hostages and booty

Badge: demi-savage holding a sword and a key

Septs of the Clan: Balneaves, Dunbar, Dunsmore, MacMurray, Moray, Neaves, Piper, Rattray, Small, Spalding

Gaelic Name: MacMhuirich

Lands: Morayshire

Origin of Name: Placename, Morayshire

Names associated with the clan: Abercairnie, Abercairny, Athol, Atholl, Balneaves, Buttar, Butter, Butters, Flamanc, Flamang, Flamench, Flamyng, Fleeman, Fleeming, Flemen, Fleming, Flemmynge, Flemyn, Flemyne, Flemyng, Flemynge, Fleymen, Fleyming, Fliming, Flymen, Flymyng, MacKinnoch, MacKmurrie, MacMurray, MacMurre, MacMurree, MacMurrie, MacMurry, MacMurrye, MacMury, Mirrey, Monchryf, Moncref, Moncrefe, Moncreife, Moncreiff, Moncreiffe, Moncrief, Moncriefe, Moncrieff, Moncrieffe, Moncrif, Moncrife, Moncriffe, Monkreff, Monkreth, Montcreffe, Montcrief, Montcrif, Moray, Morray, Mouncref, Mowray, Mulmurray, Mulmury, Muncrefe, Muncreff, Muncreif, Muncreiffe, Muncreyfe, Muncrif, Muncrife, Munkrethe, Muray, Murra, Murrai, Murraue, Murray, Murrie, Murry, Mury, Neaves, Pepper, Phylemen, Piper, Pyper, Ratray, Ratre, Ratteray, Rattray, Retrey, Rettra, Rettray, Rotray, Smail, Smaill, Smal, Smale, Small, Smalle, Smaw, Smeal, Smeall, Spaden, Spadine, Spaldene, Spaldeng, Spalding, Spaldyn, Spaldyng, Spaldynge

MURRAY Clan Crest & Badge:

History:

The origins of this family is with Freskin in 12th century. While he may have been a Pict, it is more likely that he was a Flemish Knight, employed by the Norman King to control his new realm. He was granted lands in West Lothian and the ancient Pictish kingdom of Moray. Freskin and his sons intermmarried with the existing house of Moray to consolidate their power base. The Earls of Sutherland descend from what is thought to be Freskins eldest son. In charters Freskins descendants were known 'de Moravia', which in Lowland Scots tongue became Murray.

Sir Walter Murray started construction of Bothwell Castle, which remained the seat of the Chiefs until 1360. It then passed into the hands of the Douglases.

Sir Andrew Murray was a a primary supporter of Scottish Independence. It was only when he was killed at the battle of Stirling Bridge, that Sir William Wallace assumed comand of the Scottish forces.

There were many branches of the name who disputed kinship following the death of the fifth Lord, and in the 16th century the Murrays of Tullibardine are recorded using the Murray arms. The Tullibardine claim rested upon descent from Sir Malcolm, younger brother of the First Lord Bothwell. Sir John Murray of Tullibardine was created first Earl of Tullibardine in 1606. His son and heir married the heiress to the Earls of Atholl. She brought with her vast tracts of land and in 1629 the Earldom of Atholl became a Murray Earldom. In 1703 the Murrays reached the peak of peerage, being created Dukes of Atholl.

The first Duke's youngest son was a great Jacobite and a major contributor to their early success. Lord George Murray led a charge at Culloden which broke the ranks of the Hanovarians, but which was not enough to prevent defeat. He died in exile and this battle represents the last time the Highlanders of Atholl went to war. The ceromonial guard, however, survives as the Atholl Highlanders.

Another unique honour passed to the Murrays when the second Duke inherited the sovereignty of The Isle of Man, off the English coast, and the Atholl arms still reflect this ancient connection.

The heraldry of the Dukes of Atholl include the crests of Murray, Tullibardine and Atholl as befits the history of the clan.

Created: 01-January-2006 Revised: 01-January-2008