Clan Boyd

Boyd Crest badge Crest: A dexter hand erect and pale having the outer fingers bowed inwards. Motto: CONFIDO ("I trust") Profile Region Lowlands District Ayrshire

Chief Alastair Boyd (deceased).[1][2][3][Note 1] 7th Baron Kilmarnock Seat Kilmarnock Historic seat Dean Castle, Ayrshire

Septs of Boyd Air,Aird, Assloss, Auchinloss , Ayr, Ayrd, Bankhead, Blair, Bod, Boddagh, Bodha, Boid, Boit, Boite, Borland, Bowie, Boy, Boyd, Boyde, Boydston, Boyman, Boyte, Braland, Bribane, Brown, Buidhe, Buie, Burn, Bute, Cassy, Chrystal, Conn, Coon, Coonie, Corshill, Cosh, Crawford, Crystal, Dick, Faerie, Faery, Fairlie, Fairly, Farie, Farnly, Faul, Faulds, Fauls, Fenwick, Foulterton, Fullarton, Fullerton, Fullton, Gammell, Gemmill, George, Gorman, Gurman, Haire, Hare, Harshaw, Langmoore, Lines, Longmuir, Lynn, MacCosh, MacGillabuidhe, MacGiollabuidhe, MacLorg, MacLurg, Moore, Muir, O'Boyd, Parris, Pitco, Raeburn, Rayburn, Reburn, Rigg, Riggs, Speirs, Spiers, Spires, Starret, Steen, Stein, Stiret, Tannahill, Tannock, Templeton, Underwood, Vasser, Woodbourne, Woodburn[4] Clan branches Boyd of Merton Boyd of Penkill Boyd of Pitcon Boyd of Trochrig

Clan Boyd is a Lowland Scottish clan from Kilmarnock in Ayrshire, Scotland.

History

Origins of the clan

The origin of the Boyd family name may be either from the Gaelic language or from the Normans, but in both cases translates as 'fair', 'blonde', 'yellow or fair,' etcetera. If the origin be Gaelic, historians argue the family name "Boyd" may have originated from the Gaelic 'buidhe', meaning 'fair' or 'blonde'. The 'fair' man in question is said to have been Robert, whose descendant is Stephen, nephew of Walter Fitzalan, 1st High Steward of Scotland. In Gaelic, 'boid' means 'yellow or fair'. The fess-chequey (see Heraldry) supports this theory. If the origin be Normadic, the name may have originated from de Morville, from their lands in Largs and Irvine. Walter Fitzalan, 1st High Steward of Scotland was the third son of Alan fitzFlaad of Brittany, and was described as "a Norman by culture and by blood a Breton."^[5]

The earliest occurrence of the name is found in an Inquisition formed by King David I of Scotland into the lands of the bishopric of Glasgow. The Boyds were vassals of the de Morville family, who received lands from King David.

The family name Boyd has roots in nobility rather than as a clan, however, the Lord Lyon Court recognizes the Boyds as a Clan.

Dean Castle, ancient stronghold of House of Boyd

14th century

The 14th century saw the Wars of Scottish Independence. (1297–1328, 1332–1357) An early patriot of the clan was Duncan Boyd, who was hanged in 1306 for aiding Robert Bruce. Robert de Boyd is listed in the Ragman Rolls offering homage to King Edward I of England. However, Robert Boyd is remembered as a strong supporter of Robert the Bruce and as a successful commander of the Bruce's forces. The Boyd Family came into possession of the grounds of Dean Castle in 1316, when Robert de Boyd was rewarded the lands of Kilmarnock and West Kilbride (confiscated from Baliols) by King Robert I for his service and valour at the Battle of Bannockburn, (Blàr Allt a' Bhonnaich in Gaelic) (24 June 1314) a decisive victory for the Bruce in the Wars of Scottish Independence.

15th century

The family's fortunes rose and they were raised to the peerage by King James II as 'Lord Boyd of Kilmarnock' in 1454. (Robert Boyd, 1st Lord Boyd) Lord Boyd was a trusted advisor and following the death of James II he was appointed as one of the Regents to the infant King James III; his brother, Alexander, was made military tutor to the king. Boyd effectively kidnapped the young king and obtained an Act of Parliament appointing him sole governor of the crown and Great Chamberlain. The family also successfully negotiated the king's marriage to Margaret of Denmark, daughter of King Christian I of Denmark in 1469, in the process ending the 'Norwegian annual' fee owed to Denmark for the Western Isles, and receiving Orkney and Shetland (theoretically only as a temporary measure to cover Margaret's dowry). Thus Scotland in 1470 reached its greatest ever territorial extent, when James permanently annexed the islands to the crown. The Boyds' influence of the king was considerable but they were rapidly making enemies, including the young king, as they continued to increase their wealth and titles. Lord Boyd's son, Thomas was made Earl of Arran in 1467 and married the king's sister, Mary.

James III eventually grew tired of the Boyds and he summoned Lord Boyd, his son Thomas, and his brother Alexander to appear before the court and parliament to answer charges. Lord Boyd, realising that appearing in Edinburgh meant almost certain death, escaped to England. Alexander, who was sick, was brought before the court and found guilty before he, and his family, were executed in 1469. Thomas was abroad when he heard of the plight of his father and uncle. The king summoned his sister back to Scotland, on the pretense that he may pardon her husband. Mary returned but Thomas remained in Europe. Their marriage was declared void in 1473.

16th century

The family was restored in 1536 by Mary, Queen of Scots, and Robert, a descendant of the younger son of the first Lord Boyd, was confirmed 'Lord Boyd' along with all the estates of the family. Even during her captivity in England, Lord Boyd remained close and visited many times.

17th century and Civil War

During the English Civil War the family supported the cause of Charles I of England and received their reward after the Restoration when Lord Boyd was created Earl of Kilmarnock in 1661.

18th century and Jacobite Uprisings

During the 1714 Jacobite Rising Lord Boyd supported the British government and commanded a regiment in the service of King George I. His son, William Boyd, however, did not share his father's loyalties and fought on the side of Charles Edward Stuart in the 1744 rebellion. He was a member of the Charles's Privy council with the rank of general. He fought, and was captured, at the Battle of Culloden. In August 1745 he was beheaded at Tower Hill and the titles of the Boyd family were forfeit. Boyd's second son, however, retained the lands and succeeded as Earl of Erroll in 1758 through his mother and assumed the name of Hay.

19th century

The eighteenth Earl of Erroll was created Baron of Kilmarnock in the Peerage of the United Kingdom in 1831. In 1941 the twenty-second Earl died in Kenya leaving a daughter who, although entitled to the Scottish earldom of Erroll and the chiefship of the Clan Hay, was unable to succeed the barony of Kilmarnock which, as a United Kingdom title, could only pass to male heirs. Therefore the brother of the twenty-second Earl resumed the name Boyd and succeeded to the barony.

Clan castles

• Dean Castle was seat of the chief of Clan Boyd.
• Bedlay Castle was owned by the Clan Boyd until 1642 when they sold it to the Clan Robertson.
• Brodick Castle
• Callendar House
• Portencross Castle
• Slains Castle
• Law Castle
• Little Cumbrae Castle
• Penkill Castle
• Pitcon Castle
• Trabboch Castle.

Clan Chief

Boyd clan chief: Previous, Alastair Boyd 7th Baron Kilmarnock (deceased). Current, Dr Robin Boyd, MA (Oxon); MB BS; LRCP, MRCS; DCH; AFOM, 8th Baron Kilmarnock^{[1][2][3][Note 2]}

Chiefly arms

Quarterly, 1st Azure a fess chequy Argent and Gules (for Boyd), 2nd Argent three inescutcheons Gules (for Hay), 3rd Argent three gillyflowers Gules within a double tressure flory counter flory Vert (for Livingston), 4th Sable a bend between six billets Or (for Callendar).

Crest Badge

The crest badge used by members of Clan Boyd contains the heraldic motto: CONFIDO ("I trust"). The blazon of the heraldic crest within the crest badge is A dexter hand erect and pale having the outer fingers bowed inwards. The crest badge is the heraldic property of the chief, though any member of Clan Boyd may wear this badge to show his or her allegiance to the chief and clan.

External links

• House of Boyd Society Inc
• The Lordship & Barony of Kilmarnock

Notes

1. ^ Alastair Boyd, 7th Baron Kilmarnock died 19 March, see obituaries updated on 6:59PM GMT 20 Mar 2009 of the The Daily Telegraph, but references continue to list him as chief: see Burks, Standing council, and Boyd clan web site.
2. ^ Alastair Boyd, 7th Baron Kilmarnock died 19 March, see obituaries updated on 6:59PM GMT 20 Mar 2009 of the The Daily Telegraph, but references continue to list him as chief: see Burks, Standing council, and Boyd clan web site.

3. THE 8TH BARON KILMARNOCK, of Kilmarnock, County Ayr and Chief of the Name and Arms of Boyd (Robin Jordan Boyd), born 6 June 1941; succeeded his brother 2009, educated Eton, Strasbourg U, Keble College Oxford (MA 1974) and St Thomas's Hospital London; Page to Deputy Lord High Constable Scotland Coronation 1953; MB, BS, LRCP 1970, MRCS, DCH 1973, AFOM, Page to Lord High Constable of Scotland at Coronation of HM Queen Elizabeth II, married first 1977 (divorce 1986), Ruth Christine, daughter of late Michael Lamont-Fisher; 2ndly, 2000, Hilary Vivien, daughter of Peter Cox, and has issue,

1a Hon SIMON JOHN, born 29 Oct 1978, Aldenham, and Middlesex Univ (BA): 2004, married 2004 Valeria Beatriz, daughter of Jorge Matzkin, of Santa Rosa, La Pampa, Argentina, and has issue,

1b Florence Emilia, born 2005.

2b Lucian Michael, born 13 June 2007.

2a Hon Mark Julian, born 1981, Aldenham, and Leeds Univ (BA). ...

References

1. ^ ^{a b} burkes-peerage.net
2. ^ ^{a b} Boyd clan web site
3. ^ ^{a b} Standing council
4. ^ http://www.clanboyd.org/pages/septs.html Retrieved on 9 May 2009
5. ^ Mackenzie, A. M., MA., D.Litt., The Rise of the Stewarts, London, 1935, pps.8 -9.