Clan Kirkpatrick

Clan Kirkpatrick is a lowland Scottish clan originating in the Dumfriesshire district. The surname Kirkpatrick is derived from kirk meaning church and Patrick, from st. Patrick. Most likely named after the church of St. Patrick in Closeburn. It is believed that the the clan has owned lands in this area since the ninth century. The first mention of the Kirkpatrick name appears on the charter witnessed by Ivone de Kirkpatrick in the 12th century.

The motto of the clan is “I Mak Sikkar” which means “I Make Sure”, and the clans crest features a hand holding a dagger impale embrued with drops of blood, proper.

The clans motto comes from the legend that after Robert the Bruce wounded Red Comyn in a church, he rushed out and told Roger de Kirkpatrick, that he may have killed Comyn. According to this legend Kirkpatrick answered “I mak sikker” and enter the church to finish him off.

The historic seat of the clan is Closeburn Castle located near the village of Closeburn in Dumfriesshire. The Kirkpatrick’s were granted their lands in 1232 by Alexander II and built the Castle. The date of the Castles construction is unknown but it was build sometime before the 15th century. The Kirkpatrick family lived close to the Castle until 1748 when their adjoining house burnt down, the family renovated the castle and moved in. The castle was sold in 1783 to James Stewart-Menteith and changed hand several times until it was eventually purchased by Luis Kirkpatrick in 1981 bringing it back into the family. The castle remains one of the oldest inhabited structures in Scotland.

There has been debate whether or not Kirkpatrick is a clan of its own or is a sept of either the Douglas or Colquhoun clans, but Kirkpatrick has been recognized by the Court of the Lord Lyon to be its own armigerous clan.