Clan Sinclair

It is believed that the Clan Sinclair originated in Saint-Clair Normandy and came to Great Britain with William the conqueror during the invasion of England.    The Earliest record of the presence of the Sinclair clan in Scotland comes from a charter dated to 1160, granting lands to Henry Sinclair in Haddingtonshire.  The line of Sinclair chiefs can be traced back to William St. Clare who in 1280 was granted the title of Barony of Roslin.

The moto of clan Sinclair is, Commit thy work to good.  the clan crest features a cock proper.

Clan Sinclair is a Highland clan with it’s historic seat located at Castle Sinclair Grinigoe in Wick, Caithness, Scotland.  They also hold lands in the Lothians and the Orkney Islands

According to a legend, Henry Sinclair, who inherited the title Barron of Roslin at the age of 13 in 1358,  went on to discover the new world almost 100 years before Christopher Columbus made his trip.  Many believe that Henry Sinclair traveled from Scotland to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia and possibly as far south as Rhode Island.  On the Eastern Shore of Nova Scotia, Canada, there is a monument dedicated to Henry Sinclair’s journey to the new world.

In 1455 the chief of Clan Sinclair was granted an earldom by then King James III.  The earldom was awarded to the chief in exchange for his previous title Earl of Orkney and the lands associated with this title. From 1455 on the chief of clan Sinclair has been known as the Earl of Caithness.

The Sinclair Clan trust was formed in 1999 with the objective of restoring Castle Sinclair Grinigoe along with the development of a visitors centre and library.