Clan Urquhart
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Urquhart is a Highland Scottish clan. They were a Seafarring tribe. The clan's name derives from the area of Airchartdan or Urchard in Scotland, where Urquhart Castle sits beside Loch Ness.
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[edit] History
[edit] Origins of the Name
The name Urquhart is believed to be of gaelic origin. It has been translated as "by a rowan wood" and "fort on a knoll". The Urquhart family derive their name from the district of Urquhart which can be found in the old locality of Cromarty, on the north side of the Great Glen.
[edit] Motto
The motto of Clan Urquhart found on their crest reads Meane Weil Speak Weil and Doe Weil. It bears strong resemblance to, and is probably inspired by the ancient Persian motto: "Good Thoughts, Good Words, Good Deeds" derived from Zoroastrian religion.
[edit] 15th Century
Wiland Chisholm of Clan Chisholm and Sir Alexander MacDonald of Glengarry were with Sir Donald MacDonald of Lochalsh on his return from the Battle of Flodden Field when he decided to invade the Clan Urquhart. Some sources say that Macdonald occupied Urquhart Castle for three years despite the efforts of Clan Grant to dislodge them.
[edit] 16th Century & Anglo Scottish Wars
During the Anglo-Scottish Wars the Clan Urquhart fought at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547.
[edit] 17th Century & Civil War
Inverness 1649, During the Civil War the Clan Munro and Clan Fraser again took Inverness Castle. This time they were also joined by Clan Urquhart and Clan MacKenzie who they had recently made peace with. They were all opposed to the authority of the current parliament. They assaulted the town and took the castle. They then expelled the garrison and raised the fortifications. However on the approach of the parliamentary forces led by General Leslie all of the clans retreated back into Ross-shire. During the year several skirmishes took place between these parties.
The Clan Urquhart fought at the Battle of Worcester in 1651 where the Chief Sir Thomas Urquhart was taken prisoner. During his captivity at the Tower of London he published several books. In 1662 he returned to Scotland on parole to find that his estate had been ruined and pilaged.
[edit] Urquhart Castles
Urquhart Castle sits beside Loch Ness. Another important Urquhart castle is Craigston Castle in Aberdeenshire, and the present-day Cromarty House on the hill above the Black Isle town of Cromarty was built from the stone and timbers of the former Urquhart stronghold of Cromarty Castle. The current seat of the Chief of Clan Urquhart is the ruined Castle Craig, a 15th-century tower originally occupied by the Urquharts of Braelangwell and Newhall that overlooks the Cromarty Firth from the north shore of the Black Isle.
[edit] Clan Chief
The 26th and current Clan Chief of Urquhart is Kenneth Trist Urquhart of Urquhart.
[edit] Notable Urquharts
Several branches of the clan have emigrated to North America. Some of the clan's more famous members are:
- Sir Thomas Urquhart (1611–1660), Scottish writer and translator of Rabelais.
- John Urquhart of Craigfintry, Tutor of Cromarty
- David Urquhart (1805–1877), British diplomat and writer.
- Thomas Urquhart (1858-1931), mayor of Toronto.
- Roy Urquhart (1901–1988), British military officer who served in World War II.
- Alasdair Urquhart (born 1945), British-born Canadian logician
- Jane Urquhart (born 1949), Canadian writer.
- Feargus Urquhart, computer game developer and CEO of Obsidian Entertainment.
- Emma Maree Urquhart (born 1991), Scottish fantasy writer.
- Dylan Urquhart (born 1990), American Science Fiction Writer.
A fictional Urquhart, Francis, was the protagonist of the House of Cards TV series; another, Ethan, of the science fiction novel Ethan of Athos.
