Clan Moffat

Clan Moffat is a clan of the Scottish borders originating in the Dumfriesshire district of Scotland. The surname Moffat is a place-name that evolved from the Gaelic terms magh, meaning field, and fada, which means long, therefore the name means long field.  The progenitor of the clan is William de Movat who was a land owner and chief in the town of Moffat.  The Moffat’s were supporters of Robert the Bruce and therefore were granted charters that gained them lands in the barony of Westerkirk in 1300.

The motto of the clan is Spero Meliora which means “I aspire to greater things” and the clan’s crest features a saltire cross on top of a crosslet, emerging from a crest.

The historic seat is  Moffat, Dumfriesshire.  These lands were granted to the Moffat family by Sir John Douglas who had feudal superiority over the area.  The Moffat family held this land until 1628 when the family was forced to sell their lands to their rivals, the Johnston Clan, due to family debts.

The Moffats were considered to be a very powerful boarder clan until a feud with the Johnston’s

decimated the clan.  In 1557 the clan chief was murdered by the Johnston clan. The Johnston’s also burned a building housing much of the Moffat family and their supporters. The building burnt to the ground killing all inside, they massacred those who tried to escape.  The Chiefdomship of the clan became dormant and stayed that way for 420 years until Frances Moffat, a retired farmer, living in Dumfriesshire was recognized as the rightful clan chief in 1983 by the Lord Lyon King of Arms.

The Clan Moffat Society has be established as an education and cultural organization that encourages genealogical and historic research into the clan.