Branches of Clan Wallace
Wallace of Riccarton
The Riccarton branch is the senior line of Clan Wallace, established by Richard Wallace (Walensis) in the 12th century, who held lands at Riccarton in Ayrshire. This family produced several prominent barons, including Adam Wallace of Riccarton, who appears on the 1296 Ragman Roll. The Riccarton line continued through the 14th century and formed the foundation of the Wallaces of Craigie. Though eventually merged with the Craigie branch, the Riccarton family is recognized as the clan’s original chief line.
Wallace of Elderslie
A cadet of Riccarton, the Elderslie branch was founded by Malcolm Wallace in the 13th century. It produced the most famous member of the clan: Sir William Wallace, Guardian of Scotland and hero of the Wars of Independence. The Elderslie line held lands in Renfrewshire and Auchenbathie. After the loss of estates and the sale of Elderslie in 1678, the branch faded from prominence, but its legacy endures through the memory of Scotland’s national hero.
Wallace of Craigie
The Craigie branch was established when Sir John Wallace of Riccarton married Margaret Lindsay, heiress of Craigie, in the 14th century. Their descendants held Craigie Castle in Ayrshire and played important roles in Scottish politics and military affairs. Sir John Wallace of Craigie led troops at the Battle of Sark in 1449. In 1669, the family was granted a baronetcy of Nova Scotia. The Craigie line became extinct in the male line in the 18th century, but it served as the principal line for several centuries.
Wallace of Cairnhill
A cadet of Craigie, the Cairnhill branch rose to prominence in the 18th and 19th centuries. The family held estates at Busbie and Cloncaird and spent time in Jamaica before returning to Scotland. In 1888, Captain Hugh Robert Wallace of Cairnhill was recognized as the 33rd Chief of Clan Wallace. The current chief of the clan descends from this branch, which remains the active and recognized line of leadership.
Wallace of Kelly
Established by Hugh Wallace, who sold Elderslie and relocated to Kelly near Wemyss Bay in the 17th century, this branch held lands on the Clyde coast. The most prominent member was Robert Wallace of Kelly, a noted politician and reformer. Though never part of the chiefly line, the Kelly family represented a significant regional presence in Renfrewshire during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Obscure or Nonactive Branches
Wallace of Cessnock
A short-lived cadet of the Cairnhill branch, this line held Cessnock Castle briefly in the late 18th century. Purchased with wealth acquired in the West Indies, the estate was sold out of Wallace hands by 1795, and the line merged back into the main family.
Wallace of Carnell
An early offshoot in Ayrshire, the Wallaces of Carnell held the estate from the 15th to 16th century. The male line became extinct after the death of William Wallace of Carnell at Flodden in 1513. The estate passed to other families through marriage, and the branch is no longer active.
Wallace of Sundrum
Sir Duncan Wallace, a relative of Sir William Wallace, acquired Sundrum Castle in the 14th century. He built the stone keep but died without heirs. The property passed to the Cathcart family in 1384. This branch ended with Sir Duncan’s death and is one of the earliest known extinct Wallace lines.
References (APA Format)
Anderson, W. (1863). The Scottish Nation (Vol. III). Edinburgh: A. Fullarton & Co.
Clan Wallace Society. (n.d.). Clan Wallace History. Retrieved March 30, 2025, from https://clanwallace.org/cw/who-we-are/clan-wallace-history/
Hendrie, B. F. (1997). The Wallaces. Glasgow: Lang Syne Publishers.
Rogers, C. (1889). The Book of Wallace (Vols. 1–2). Edinburgh: Printed for the Grampian Club.
Way of Plean, G., & Squire, R. (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. Glasgow: HarperCollins.