Clan Kincaid
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Clan Kincaid was a Lowland Scottish clan.
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[edit] History
[edit] Origins of the Kincaid Family
The name Kincaid is believed to derive from a territorial origin. It may possibly derive from the Gaelic words ceann cadh which means the steep place or pass but it could also be of the head of the rock. Another possible meaning is head of the battle. The family is believed to have taken their surname from the local area of origination which was about 30,000 acres.
The Kincaid family originated and lived in the Central Scottish Lowlands. The Scottish Lowlands (a' Ghalldachd,meaning roughly 'the non-Gaelic region', in Gaelic ), generally includes those parts of Scotland due south and east of a line (the Highland Boundary Fault) between Stonehaven and Helensburgh (on the Firth of Clyde).
Genealogical research suggests that the family comes from Normandy, and the fact that the "first" Kincaid was granted land around the time of the Norman Conquest.
[edit] Wars of Scottish Independence
Some Kincaids are thought to have supported King Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence. Kincaids possibly fought against King Edward I of England and helped re-capture Edinburgh Castle in 1296. A Kincaid was made constable of the castle by Robert the Bruce and the castle was added to the Kincaid arms and crest as recognition of their achievements.
[edit] 16th Century & Local Conflicts
The family estates grew in the 16th century, through marriage the Kincaids gained the estate of Craiglockhart near Edinburgh, the estate of Bantaskin by Falkirk, Blackness Castle and the fields of Warriston which is now in Edinburgh.
Malcolm of Kincaid led the family's tenants in a battle against the Clan Stirling of Craigbarnet in 1563 where he lost his arm.
However Malcolm continued to fight when he led another battle which took place between the Kincaids and the Clan Lennox of Woodhead in 1570.
Malcolm of Kinciad was finally dispatched by a Stirling of Glovat when the Kincaid and the Clan Stirling fought another battle in 1581.
In 1600 John Kincaid of Warriston was murdered. His wife and one of his own grooms were implicated and both were put to death for their crimes, the wife beheaded and the groom 'broken on the wheel' a particularly grizzly punishment.
[edit] 17th Century & Civil War
During the Civil War in Britain the Kincaids supported the Royalists and as a result suffered during the period prior to the restoration of the monarchy. Some Kincaids spent much of the Civil War fighting battles in Northern Ireland.
[edit] 18th Century & Jacobite Uprisings
During the Jacobite Uprisings some Kincaids continued their support of the Jacobite House of Stuart. Many lives were lost in both the 1715 and the 1745 to 1746 rebellions. Several Kincaids escaped to Virginia around this time.
[edit] Clan Kincaid Today
The Clan Kincaid club was established in Virginia, USA several decades ago. Clan Kincaid maintains a website with historical and family documents, photos, and information about upcoming Scottish Games events. Today's Clan Kincaid is a fairly active club based in Virginia with hundreds of members, the bulk living in the USA. There are a few foreign members in countries such as the Netherlands. Clan Kincaid gatherings at Scottish games and on trips to Scotland are sociable meetings of people with like interests in Kincaid family history. There are usually some people in attendance dressed in kilts, and bagpipes are another expression of Scottish and Kincaid pride.
[edit] Clan Chief
The club today in the States known as the Clan Kincaid was created some decades ago by Kincaids in the United States looking for a better connection to their Scottish past. Part of the effort was to locate a person whose Kincaid roots qualified for "clan chief". The current chief of Clan Kincaid is Arabella Kincaid of Kincaid.
[edit] Castle and Seat
The historic seat of the Kincaid family was the ancient Tower of Kincaid near Milton of Campsie in Stirlingshire. The site of this tower is close to the site Kincaid House was built in 1690, being extensively re-built and enlarged in 1812. It is now the Kincaid House Hotel. Another nearby structure was also built by Kincaids, although due to a family name change, it is called "Lennox Castle".
These are popular destinations for vacationing members of the Clan Kincaid. During one group tour organized by Clan Kincaid, a commemorative tree was planted outside the Kincaid House Hotel.
[edit] Variations in Spelling
Spelling variations include:
Kincade, Kincaid, Kincaidie, Kinkade, Kingcade, Kinkaid, Kinkead, Kyncad, Kyncade, Kyncayd, and Kinket.
