HOW MANY SCOTTISH BORDER FAMILIES WERE NAMED A CLAN?

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That great Borders writer Sir Walter Scott himself added a number of the Border Riding Families who were labelled 'Clans' back in 1814. So if you are interested in going for Clan status with the Lord Lyon King of Arms for your own family, as many are today, don't despair as there is some historical presidence to add weight to your claim outside of the '17 Unruly Clans' document. The list is quoted verbatim below. Scott's book is available from a number of sources.



From The Border Antiquities of England and Scotland

By Walter Scott, ESQ

A little work called Moneypenny's Chronicle published in 1597 and 1603 gives among other particulars concerning Scotland a list of the principal clans and surnames on the Borders not landed as well as of the chief riders and men of name among them From this authority we add the following list of foraying or riding clans as they were termed not found in the parliamentary roll of 1587. It commences with the east marches which being in a state of comparative good order were not included under the severe enactments of 1587.

Foraying or riding clans not found in the parliamentary roll of 1587

EAST MARCHES
Bromfields chief Bromfield of Gordon Mains or of that Ilk
Trotters chief unknown
Diksons chief unknown
Redpeth Laird of Redpath
Gradens Laird of Graden originally their chief
Youngs chief unknown
Pringles believed to be Pringle of Galashiels
Tates Tait of Pirn
Middlemast chief unknown
Burns chief unknown
Dalgleishes Dalgleish of that Ilk
Davisons Davison of Symiston
Pyles Pyle or Peele of Milnheuch
Robisons chief unknown a Cumberland clan
Ainslies chief unknown
Olivers chief unknown believed to be Lustruther
Laidlaws chief unknown It is said by tradition the family came from Ireland and that the name was originally Ludlow

LIDDESDALE
Parks chief John of Park
Hendersons chief unknown

WEST MARCHES
Carlisles Lord Carlile
Clans now almost extinct chiefs unknown
Romes
Gasses

Scott also gave some insight into the Beatties in the work while discussing the '17 unruly clans.' He wrote of them in a note: 'a name still numerous on the Borders They were dispossessed of large possessions in Eskdale by the Scotts who killed many of them in the struggle. The name of their chief is unknown. The last was called The Galliard slain at the Galliard's haugh near Langholm. The chief of the Grahames is unknown. The clan were rather English than Scottish. They inhabited the Debateable Land.'

Also important in the 1587 Unruly Clans document is the names of the Border Lairds who signed it.
 
† The roll of the names of the landlords and bailies of lands dwelling on the borders and in the highlands where broken men have dwelt and presently dwell

Middle March
[Francis Stewart], earl of Bothwell
Laird of Ferniehirst
[Archibald Douglas], earl of Angus
Laird of Buccleuch
Sheriff of Teviotdale
Laird of Bedrule
Laird of Wauchope
[William Maxwell], lord Herries
Laird of Howpasley
George Turnbull of Hallrule
Laird of Little Dean
Laird of Drumlanrig
The Laird of Chisholm

West March
[John Maxwell], lord Maxwell†
The Laird of Drumlanrig
The Laird of Johnstone
The Laird of Applegarth
The Laird of Holmends
The Laird of Graitney
[William Maxwell], lord Herries
The Laird of Dunwoody
The Laird of Lochinvar

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