Clan Hope

Clan Hope Crest badge Crest: A broken terrestrial globe surmounted by a rainbow issuing out of a cloud at each end all Proper. Motto: AT SPES INFRACTA Profile Region Lowlands District Fife

Chief Sir John Carl Alexander Hope of Craighall,[1] 18th Baronet Hope of Graighall Seat Westleigh Avenue, London.[2] Historic seat Craighall, Fife

Clan Hope is a Lowland Scottish clan.

History

Origins of the clan

Hope is a native Scottish name. However, in middle English it means 'small valley'. Another suggestion is that it derives from 'oublon', which is French for 'hop' and could be from the family de H'oublons of Picardy.

The Clan Hope was a Scottish border family and their name is among those found on the Ragman Rolls giving the oath of fealty to King Edward I of England in 1296.

16th century

The principal line can be traced back to John de Hope, who travelled from France with Magdalen the first wife of King James V of Scotland. John settled in Edinburgh and became commissioner for Edinburgh to the first General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1560.

17th century

John de Hope's grandson Sir Thomas Hope was Lord Advocate as appointed by King Charles I. The family became 'Hope of Craighall' after acquiring the estates of the same name in the parish of Ceres in Fife. Sir Thomas Hope's contribution to the Scottish legal profession was immense and his works are still referred to by Scottish lawyers today. He saw two sons raised to the Supreme Court Bench and was created Baron of Nova Scotia in 1638. He also drafted the National Covenant. After his death in 1646 his eldest son took the title 'Lord Craighall'. Lord Craighall became a trusted advisor to Charles II, his advice proved particularly useful in his dealings with Oliver Cromwell.

18th century

The younger son of the great Sir Thomas Hope founded the Hopetoun branch of the family and settled in West Lothian. His son was lost at sea when the frigate Gloucester sank. There is a story that he died saving the Duke of York, James VII of Scotland. Sir Thomas's grandson was a young member of parliament for Linlithgow, rising rapidly to the Privy Council and by 1703 was made a peer; Earl of Hopetoun, Viscount Aithrie and Lord Hope. Around this time the magnificent Hopetoun House, one of William Adam's best known houses, was built for the family.

In 1792 the Craighall estates were sold on by the sixth Baronet to the Earl of Hopetoun, Sir Thomas Hope. The eighth Baronet is best known for turning former plague pits in Edinburgh into the 'Meadows' park.

The Earl of Hopetoun's estates grew rapidly in the 18th century with most of West Lothian, and parts of East Lothian and Lanarkshire.

19th century

The fourth Earl, who had a notable military career, particularly during the Peninsular War, worked with Sir Walter Scott in welcoming George IV during his visit to Scotland in 1822. Hopetoun House was used to host a lavish reception for the monarch.

20th century

The name John Adrian Hope is well remembered on the other side of the world; the seventh Earl was first Governor General to the Australian Commonwealth in 1900. Two years later he was made Marquess of Linlithgow. The second Marquess was Viceroy of India from 1936 to 1943. The family still live at Hopetoun House.

Clan chief

The chief of Clan Hope is Sir John Hope of Craighall, Baronet. The chiefly line of the Hope family survives through the Baronets of Craighall.

Clan castle

The seat of the Clan Hope is at Hopetoun House.

See also

• Scottish clan
• Marquess of Linlithgow

External links

• CLAN HOPE OF CRAIGHALL SOCIETY
• http://www.scotclans.com/clans/Hope/history.html
• http://www.myclan.com/clans/Hope_53/default.php
• http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/htol/hope2.htm

References

1. ^ burkespeerage.com: Hope
2. ^ clanchiefs.org: Chiefs