Boyd Clan Crest
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CREST: A dexter hand erect in pale have the two outer fingers bowed inwards MOTTO: Confido TRANSLATION: I trust VARIATIONS: N/A |
| The Boyd Clan is said to have originated from the Gaelic word “buidhe,” which means “fair” or “yellow,” referring to the fair hair of Robert, the nephew of Walter, the first High Steward of Scotland. However, this origin is challenged by some historians who believe the name to be of Norman or Saxon origin. | |
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| Robertus de Boyd was among the first recorded members of the Boyd Clan, having witnessed a contract between the Lord of Eglinton and the Burgh of Irvine in 1205. In 1296, Robert de Boyte was listed in the Ragman Roll, rendering homage to King Edward I of England. Duncan Boyd was executed by the English in 1306 for supporting the cause of Scottish independence.
One of the most notable members of the Boyd Clan was Sir Robert Boyd, who was a staunch supporter of King Robert the Bruce and was one of the commanders at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. His bravery on the battlefield earned him lands confiscated from the Balliols, including Kilmarnock, Bondington, and other substantial holdings in Ayrshire. The Boyd Clan continued to rise to prominence and was raised to the peerage under the title of “Lord Boyd of Kilmarnock” by King James II. Lord Boyd was a trusted royal officer, and upon the death of James II, he was appointed one of the regents to the young James III. The influence of the Boyd brothers on the young king was considerable, and Lord Boyd was appointed Great Chamberlain. However, the Boyds’ rise to power also made them many powerful enemies, and eventually, their ambition was seen as a threat to the throne itself. In 1469, Lord Boyd and his son, the Earl of Arran, were charged with treason and had to flee to England. Despite a spirited defense, Sir Alexander was executed for treason, and the Earl of Arran went into exile. The family was restored to royal favor when Robert, a descendent of the younger son of the first Lord Boyd, received conformation from Mary, Queen of Scots, of all the estates, honors, and dignities of the family, with the title of “Lord Boyd.” Lord Boyd was among the first to join Queen Mary after her escape from Loch Leven Castle, and he fought at the Battle of Langside. The Boyd Clan supported the cause of the king during the civil war and were rewarded after the Restoration when William, Lord Boyd, was created Earl of Kilmarnock in 1661. The third Earl opposed the Stuart claim during the rising of 1715 and commanded a regiment of Ayrshire volunteers. His son, the fourth Earl, fought for Prince Charles Edward Stuart during the Jacobite uprising, but was captured and beheaded on Tower Hill in 1746. |
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