Clan Wallace
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The Clan Wallace or the Wallace Family originated in the Strathclyde area of the Scottish Lowlands. They are first mentioned in 12th century documents, placing most of the Wallace Family near the city of Glasgow. The most famous member of the Wallace Family was the great Scottish patriot William Wallace.
The Wallace Family and other Lowland families used surnames, a fairly recent Norman innovation, and gathered strength from family ties rather than from regional alliances. The Wallace Family fostered the same strong sense of unity as the Highland Clans, but without the trappings. Lowland families only began embracing Highland traditions (such as calling themselves Clans and having Chiefs) after King George IV's visit to Edinburgh in 1822.
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[edit] Origins of the Name
The name Wallace is believed to originate from the Old French word 'Waleis' meaning 'Welshman' (compare Walha). However the Scottish form is thought to refer to a Strathclyde Briton (being of similar genetic stock). Early records show that the name was common in Renfrewshire and Ayrshire.
[edit] History
Main article: William Wallace
The first record of the name was in 1160 when Richard Walensis witnessed a charter by Alan, son of Walter the High Steward. Richard's lands were named after him and survived as the name of the parish and town of Riccarton (Richard's Town). His grandson, Adam had two sons; Adam 4th Laird of Riccarton and Malcolm who received the lands of Eldershire and Auchinbothie in Elderslie, Renfrewshire.
While tradition claims Sir Malcolm Wallace of Elderslie as the father of three sons, Malcolm, John, and William Wallace, the seal of William Wallace, rediscovered in 1999, identifies William as the son of Alan Wallace of Ayrshire, who appears in the Ragman Roll of 1296 as "crown tenant of Ayrshire". Dr. Fiona Watson in "A Report into Sir William Wallace's connections with Ayrshire", published in March 1999, reassesses the early life of William Wallace and concludes, "Sir William Wallace was a younger son of Alan Wallace, a crown tenant in Ayrshire".
[edit] Wars of Scottish Independence
William Wallace led the revolt against English rule but died before the Scottish victory at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 when Robert the Bruce won an independent Scottish crown. There is no evidence to support the tale that in his early years Wallace and his mother had to take refuge near Dunipace from the English because they refused to pay homage to King Edward I. While Wallace was still young he became the leader of a company of patriots who used harassing tactics against the English and won the support of many Scottish nobles. Wallace's military genius made him "hated and feared" by King Edward I of England.
During the Wars of Scottish Independence William Wallace and Andrew de Moray won a great and stunning victory at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. Wallace was also in command at the Battle of Falkirk (1298), but there he was defeated.
Unfortunately for the Scots, Wallace was eventually captured at Robroyson near Glasgow and delivered to Edward Longshanks of England by a senior Scottish law officer - Sir John Mentieth.
Wallace was subjected to a mock trial, in which he was found guilty of treason and brutally hanged, drawn, and quartered at Smithfield, London in 1305.
[edit] After William Wallace, the Anglo-Scottish Border Wars
During the centuries that followed, the Wallace family continued to leave its marks, cultural and political, on Scotland and on Europe. In the 15th century, General John Wallace commanded Scotland's armies to victory over England at the Battle of Sark. Among those who joined him were the forces of George Douglas from the powerful Douglas family.
[edit] 17th Century & Civil War
A contemporary Wallace, James Wallace served as a Captain under General Robert Munro (d. 1680) when he occupied Huntly Castle of the Clan Gordon in 1640.
Another contemporary Wallace, Sir Hugh Wallace, celebrated Cavalier, raised the regiment for King Charles Stuart during the Puritan revolution of Oliver Cromwell.
Also in the 17th century, mathematician John Wallis was the first to deal with the concept of infinity mathematically and paved the way for the development of calculus and binomial theorem in his 1657 work Arithmetica Infintorum.
[edit] Wallaces in the 19th Century
In the 19th century, imminent naturalist and author, Alfred Russel Wallace, developed his own theories on evolution, based on his studies of flora and fauna in South America and in the West Indies, independently of Charles Darwin. Both theories were published simultaneously in 1858. Thomas Wallace served as the vice-president of the British Board of Trade, who in 1821, cut the duties long imposed on Baltic timber; the act herald the end of the mercantile system that had existed since England had first established colonies. Sociologist Graham Wallis was an early leader of the Fabian Society, along with George Bernard Shaw, an organization which promoted the peaceful and democratic "permeation of (British) politics with socialist and collectivist ideas." Sir Richard Wallace was a great collector of painting, sculpture and furniture; primarily 18th century French. He bequeathed his collections to the people of Britain; upon his death in 1897 they became known as the National Wallace Collection.
[edit] Memorial
At Stirling on top of the Abbey Craig stands the nation's William Wallace Monument built in 1896. In 1814 a huge statue was erected to his memory near Dryburgh Abbey in the Scottish Borders. The Wallaces of Craigie, of Cessnock, of Kelly and of Cairnhill are all descended from the original family of Riccarton in Ayrshire.
[edit] Clan Chief
Upon the death of LTC Malcom Robert Wallace on 9 December 1990, his brother Ian Francis Wallace of that Ilk became the 35th Chief of the Name, Family and Clan Wallace. His heir apparent is Andrew Wallace. Both men reside in Edinburgh, Scotland.
[edit] Clan Septs
There are no sept families of Clan Wallace, just Wallace. This is the decision of the current clan chief.
Some of the many ways of spelling the name attributed to the family of:
Most common Wallace - and second most common: Wallis
Walla, Wallais, Wallace, Wallice, Wallang, Wallass, Wallayis, Wallays, Walleis, Wallensis, Walles, Walleyis, Walleys, Walli, Wallis Walls, Wallyis, Wallys, Walois,Walys
- Waces, Wal’, Walace, Walais, Walans, Walas, Walays, Wale, Waleis, Walency, Walens, Walense, Walensen, Walensi, Walensis, Wales, Waless, Waleys, Waleyss
- Valance, Valensis, Valeyns, Vallace, Vallance, Valles, Valleyis, Vallibus (Not Vallibus, which has always signified the family of de Vaux or Vaus)
- Uallas (the Scots Gaelic)
- Gadhel, Galeis, Galeius, Gales, Galeys, Galleius, Galleius, Galles, Galles, Gallia, Gallois, Gaul, Gweddol
[edit] Clan Profile
- Arms of the Chiefs: Gules, a Lion rampant argent, armed azure, a Bordure counter company azure and argent.
- Crest Badge: Upon a Wreath azure and argent, else, issuant from a Crest Coronet of four strawberry leaves or a dexter Arm vambraced argent, the Hand brandishing a Sword, Hilt or all proper.
- Natural Badge: A sprig of oak leaves with acorn.
- Motto: Pro Libertate (Latin - "For Freedom")
- Gaelic Name: Uallas
- Tartans: Red Wallace, Green Wallace, Blue Wallace; each available in modern, ancient and weathered hues and all invented in relatively recent times.
