Gilbert de Fraser
Gilbert de Fraser’s roots are embedded in the Norman invasion of England, a pivotal event that reshaped the British Isles’ political landscape. As Norman adventurers extended their reach into Scotland, Gilbert emerged among those who ventured north, bringing with them Norman customs, military tactics, and governance models. By the late 11th and early 12th centuries, Gilbert de Fraser established himself in Scotland, marking the beginning of the Fraser presence in Scottish history.
Gilbert’s arrival in Scotland coincided with a period of significant change, as the country absorbed Norman influences through marriage, land grants, and the establishment of feudal lordships. Gilbert de Fraser’s early recognition comes from his witnessing of a charter of Cospatrick to the monks of Coldstream around 1109, during the reign of Alexander I of Scotland. This act not only signifies his early importance within the Scottish realm but also highlights the Fraser’s initial landholdings and their relationship with the church, a common means of establishing and legitimizing authority during the medieval period.
Gilbert held lands in East Lothian under the Earl of Dunbar, and possessed extensive estates in Tweeddale and Lothian, areas that would become central to the Fraser clan’s power base in the centuries to follow. His holdings and influence laid the groundwork for the Frasers’ expansion across Scotland, including into Aberdeen, Kincardine, and Inverness shires, territories that would later play crucial roles in the clan’s history.
Gilbert de Fraser’s legacy is enshrined in the subsequent generations of Frasers who played pivotal roles in Scotland’s history. His descendants would continue to expand the Fraser territories and influence, participating actively in the political, military, and social affairs of Scotland. Gilbert had several sons, including Oliver Fraser, who succeeded him and continued to build on his father’s legacy.