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Dalrymple Clan Crest

Clan Dalrymple Crest
Clan Dalrymple Crest
CREST: A unicorn’s head couped, Argent, armed, Or
MOTTO: Over Fork Over
TRANSLATION: N/A
VARIATIONS: N/A
The Scottish Clan Dalrymple, also known as the Dalrymples of Stair, is an ancient and prominent family that has played a significant role in Scottish history and culture. The origins of the clan’s name and history date back several centuries, and their influence is still felt in Scotland today.

The name “Dalrymple” is thought to have originated from the land the family owned in the parish of Kyle in Ayrshire. The Gaelic for “dale of the crooked pool” and the Saxon for “dahlhrympel” are among the possible sources of the name, but the exact derivation remains uncertain.

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The first recorded mention of a Dalrymple was in a charter from Robert II in 1371, which confirmed Kennedy of Dunmore in part of the barony. The Dalrymples were associated with the Kennedy family, and in 1540, William Dalrymple acquired the lands of Stair-Mongomery in Ayrshire through marriage to Agnes Kennedy. He became the first Dalrymple of Stair, and his descendants went on to play significant roles in Scottish law, politics, and culture.

The Dalrymples were known for their support of the Protestant Reformation, and they fought against Mary, Queen of Scots, at the Battle of Langside in 1568. James Dalrymple, born in 1619, was one of the most prominent members of the family. He became a lawyer and statesman, eventually being raised to the peerage as Viscount Stair. He was also a professor at Glasgow University and served as a commissioner for the administration of justice in Scotland.

Stair’s most significant contribution was his work on Scots Law, Institutions of the Law of Scotland, which became the foundation of modern Scottish civil law. His descendants also made notable contributions to law and politics, including serving as Lord Advocate and ambassador to the court of Louis XIV of France.

Today, the present Earl of Stair is the captain general of the Royal Company of Archers and Gold Stick-In-Waiting to HM the Queen. The Dalrymple family’s legacy continues to be celebrated in Scotland, with the Stair Estate hosting various cultural events and the family’s history being documented in books and museums.

In conclusion, the Scottish Clan Dalrymple is an ancient and influential family that has played a significant role in Scottish history and culture. Their contributions to law, politics, and culture continue to be felt in Scotland today, and their legacy is sure to endure for many more generations to come.

Citations:

  • Descriptive catalogue of the clan tartans and family tartans of Scotland with a brief note on their antiquity: also roll of the landlords and Baillies of lands in the Highlands and isles, A.D. 1587: roll of the clans; badges of the clans, John Catto and Company, King Street, Toronto, Canada
  • Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia”, by Collins, HarperCollins Publishers 1994
Clan Dalrymple Scottish History Poster