Byres Clan Crest
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CREST: A cock reguardant Proper MOTTO: Marte suo tutus (Safe by his own exertions) TRANSLATION: Safe by his own exertions VARIATIONS: N/A |
| Clan Byres is a Scottish clan with a rich and fascinating history. The clan takes its name from the ancient barony in the county of Haddington, which was a highly defensible position over the fertile farmland of this rich county. Byres Castle, which occupied this position, is now a ruin, but it serves as a reminder of the clan’s early roots. | |
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| The Byres family was prominent and wealthy merchants, with John Byres of Cates acquiring the estate of Coates on the outskirts of Edinburgh and becoming lord provost of the city. Sir John Byres of Coates fought for the king during the civil war and was knighted for his services, and his fine seventeenth-century mansion of Coates still stands and now forms part of the St Mary’s Cathedral Music School. The family continued to prosper and acquired the barony of Tinley in Aberdeen, which became the chief seat of the family.
One of the most interesting members of Clan Byres was Major Patrick Byres, who fought at the Battle of Culloden and thereafter fled to France where he entered the service of Cameron of Lochiel in the French Royal Scotch Regiment. This highlights the clan’s loyalty to the Jacobite cause, which was a significant factor in Scottish history during the 17th and 18th centuries. The direct line of the Byres family passed through an heiress to the distinguished Aberdeen family of Moir of Overhill, but they assumed the additional surname of Byres and continue to live on the family lands to this day. This shows the continuity of the clan’s legacy and the importance of land and family in Scottish culture. Clan Byres may not be as well-known as some other Scottish clans, but its history is no less fascinating. The clan’s roots in Haddington, its role in Edinburgh’s civic leadership, and its loyalty to the Jacobite cause are all important parts of Scottish history. The Byres family’s continued presence on their family lands also shows the lasting impact of Scottish culture and the importance of clan identity. |
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