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m Brief tidy of 'Origins of the Name' section. Still confusing though: was the clan name derived from the area or the area name derived from the clan? It is not clear.
m Disambiguating links to Flemish (link changed to Flemish people) using DisamAssist.
 
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{{Short description|Lowland Scottish clan}}{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2015}}
<!-- Commented out because image was deleted: [[Image:ElphinstoneCrest.gif|thumb|right|Clan Elphinstone Crest]] -->
{{Use British English|date=July 2015}}
'''Clan Elphinstone''' is a Lowland [[Scottish clan]]
{{Infobox clan
|clan name= Clan Elphinstone
|image badge= Clan member crest badge - Clan Elphinstone.svg
|chiefs crest= A lady, from the waist upwards, richly habited in [[gules]], her arms extended, the right hand supporting a tower and the left holding a branch of laurel, all [[Proper (heraldry)|Proper]].
|chiefs motto= {{lang|sco|Cause Causit|rtl=|italic=}}&nbsp;([[Scots language|Scots]])
|chiefs slogan=
|war cry=
|region= [[Scottish Lowlands|Lowlands]]
|district=[[East Lothian]]
|gaelic names=
|image arms= Coat of Arms of the Lord Elphinstone.svg
|plant badge=
|animal=
|pipe music=
|chiefs name= The Right Hon. [[Alexander Elphinstone, 19th Lord Elphinstone|Alexander Elphinstone]]
|chiefs title= [[Lord Elphinstone|19th Lord Elphinstone]]
|chiefs gaelic title=
|seat= Whitberry House, [[Tyninghame]], East Lothian
|historic seat=[[Elphinstone Tower, Falkirk|Elphinstone Tower, Stirlingshire]]<ref>[http://www.stravaiging.com/history/castle/elphinstone-tower-dunmore Elphinstone Tower] stravaiging.com. Retrieved 20 September 2013.</ref>
|septs=
|branches=[[Lord Elphinstone|Elphinstone of Elphinstone]] (chiefs)<br>[[Lord Balmerino|Elphinstone of Balmerino]]
|Allied clans=[[Clan Swinton]]<br>[[Clan Seton]]
|Rival clans=
<!-- the following information is for clans without a current chief -->
|last chiefs name=
|date of death of last chief=
|commander=
}}
'''Clan Elphinstone''' is a [[Scottish Lowlands|Lowland]] [[Scottish clan]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott">Way, George and Squire, Romily. ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The [[Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs]]). Published in 1994. Pages 130 - 131.</ref>


==History==
==History==
[[File:Tartan Elphinstone.jpg | thumb | 220x124px | right | Elphinstone tartan ]]
===Origins of the Name===
===Origins of the clan===


The 'de Erth' family took their name from the lands of [[Airth]] which lie close to the barony of [[Plean]] in [[Stirlingshire]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/> This family probably erected the first [[Plean Castle]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/> The de Erth family ended in an heiress, and lands that were acquired by her husband near [[Tranent]] near [[East Lothian]] were probably named after the heiress's family.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/> The name first appears in about 1235 in East Lothian in a deed by Alanus de [[Clan Swinton|Swinton]] in which a mention is made of the name 'de Elfinstun'.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/> It is likely that de Swinton's son, John, who owned the lands, went on to become John de Elfinstun.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/>
The Clan Elphinstone is believed to have originated from Airth in [[Stirlingshire]]. The surname Elphinstone is derived from the territory of Elphinstone in the parish of Tranent, East Lothian. The original name is thought to have been 'de Erth', which later became 'Elfinstun', and finally 'Elphinstone'. The de Erths inherited lands near Tranent through marriage and built a castle there. Deeds dating from 1235 bear the name ‘de Elfinstun’ and grants dating from 1250 record the name John de Elphinstone as a witness. Sir John Elfinstun married Margaret Seton of [[Clan Seton]], the niece of King [[Robert I of Scotland]].


There is a family tradition however, that claims that the family are descended from [[Flemish people|Flemish]] knights (or one knight) called Helphenstein.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/> Another theory suggests that the name is derived from [[Old English]] ''Alpins tun'' ("the farmstead of Alpin").<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/>
Some people believe that John de Elphinstone was previously named John de [[Clan Swinton|Swinton]] of [[Clan Swinton]]. Supporters of this theory claim that Clan Elphinstone, in common with many Borders clans, was founded from the [[Clan Swinton|Swinton Family]].


===15th Century===
===14th, 15th and 16th centuries===


A descendant, William Elfinstun, became rector of [[Kirkmichael]] at the age of twenty-five. He studied Civil and Canon Law in [[Paris]], eventually becoming Professor of Law in that university. In 1484 he was appointed [[Bishop of Aberdeen]] and later Lord High Chancellor of Scotland, a post he held until the death of King [[James III of Scotland]] in June of 1489. In 1494 he was given a bull from [[Pope]] [[Alexander VI]] for founding the University of [[Aberdeen]]. He died in 1514.
Sir John de Elfinstun married [[Clan Seton|Margaret of Seton]] who was a niece of [[Robert the Bruce]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/> One of John's descendants was [[William Elphinstone|William Elfinstun]] who became rector of Kirkmichael (St. Michael's Church) in [[Glasgow]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/> William studied Civil and Canon Law in [[Paris]] and he eventually became Professor of Law at that university.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/> He also became [[Bishop of Aberdeen]] in 1484 and later Lord High Chancellor of Scotland.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/> William later obtained a bull from [[Pope Alexander VI]] in 1494 for founding the [[University of Aberdeen]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/>


A cousin of bishop William was [[Alexander Elphinstone, 1st Lord Elphinstone|Sir Alexander Elphinstone]] who was created [[Lord Elphinstone]] by [[James IV of Scotland]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/> Alexander and the king were together killed at the [[Battle of Flodden]] in 1513.<ref>{{cite book |last=Guthrie |first=William |author-link=William Guthrie (historian) |year=1767 |title=A General History of Scotland |url=https://archive.org/details/ageneralhistory14guthgoog/page/n6/mode/2up |volume=4 |location=[[Paternoster Row]], London |publisher=A. Hamilton, Robinson and Roberts |pages=[https://archive.org/details/ageneralhistory14guthgoog/page/n366/mode/2up 371]-372 |access-date=May 7, 2023}}</ref><ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/> Alexander's son, another [[Alexander Elphinstone, 2nd Lord Elphinstone|Alexander Elphinstone]], was killed at the [[Battle of Pinkie]] in 1547.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/>
===16th Century & Anglo Scottish Wars===


In the 16th Century during the [[Anglo-Scottish Wars]] a cousin of William Elfinstun called Sir Alexander Elphinstone led the Clan Elphinstone at the [[Battle of Flodden Field]] in 1513 where he was slain, fighting in support of King [[James IV of Scotland]]
In 1599 the [[Alexander Elphinstone, 4th Lord Elphinstone|fourth Lord Elphinstone]] was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Scotland.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/>


===18th century and Jacobite risings===
Alexander's son, also called Alexander, took over as chief and led the Clan Elphinstone at the [[Battle of Pinkie Cleugh]] in 1547, where he was killed. The fourth Lord Elphinstone was appointed in 1599 as a judge of the Supreme Court of Scotland in 1599 and later Lord high Treasurer.


A cadet branch of the Clan Elphinstone were the [[Lord Balmerino|Lords Balmerino]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/> They were staunch Jacobites and the [[Arthur Elphinstone, 6th Lord Balmerinoch|sixth Lord Balmerino]] was captured after the [[Battle of Culloden]] and beheaded in August 1746.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/>
===18th to 19th Centuries & the Napoleonic Wars===


The eleventh Lord Elphinstone was [[List of Governors of Edinburgh Castle|lieutenant governor of Edinburgh Castle]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/>
The eleventh Lord Eliphinstone was lieutenant governor of [[Edinburgh Castle]]. One of his younger brothers called George Keith Elphinstone was a successful and distinguished naval commander. The squadron of ships which served was used to protect British shipping interests off the eastern coast of [[Americas|America]]. In 1795 he was made vice admiral and commanded the fleet which captured the [[Cape of Good Hope]] and compelled the Dutch fleet to surrender without firing a gun. His reward was an Irish barony. He was later promoted to the rank of admiral, and created Baron Keith of Banheath, only to be advanced once more, to the rank of Viscount in 1814. William George Elphinstone, the Viscount's nephew was a Colonel and fought against the French at the [[Battle of Waterloo]] in 1815 during the [[Napoleonic Wars]].

===19th and 20th centuries===

One of the eleventh Lord's younger brothers was [[George Elphinstone, 1st Viscount Keith|George Keith Elphinstone]] who was a distinguished naval officer.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/> He served on ships that protected the British shipping off the east coast of America.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/> He was created [[Baron Keith]] which was promoted to the rank of Viscount in 1814. The Viscount's nephew was [[William George Keith Elphinstone|William George Elphinstone]] who was a colonel at the [[Battle of Waterloo]] in 1815.<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/> He was later promoted to commander-in-chief of the Bengal army in 1837 and led the disastrous [[First Anglo-Afghan War|Afghan campaign of 1841]].<ref name="Clan.Encyclopedia.Eliott"/>


==Clan Chief==
==Clan Chief==


The present Chief of Clan Elphinstone succeeded as 19th Lord Elphinstone in 1994 at the age of 14.
The present Chief of Clan Elphinstone is [[Alexander Elphinstone, 19th Lord Elphinstone|Alexander Lord Elphinstone]] who succeeded his father in 1994 at the age of 14.


==Clan Castles==
==Clan Castles==
*[[Elphinstone Tower (East Lothian)|Elphinstone Tower, East Lothian]]

*[[Elphinstone Tower, Falkirk]]
*[[Airth Castle]]
*[[Kildrummy Castle]]
*[[Plean Castle]]
*[[Airth Tower]]


==See also==
==See also==


*[[Scottish clan]]
*[[Scotland]]


==External links==
==References==
{{reflist}}


==External links==
*[http://www.myclan.com/clans/Elphinstone_33/default.php http://www.myclan.com/clans/Elphinstone_33/default.php]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070314000845/http://www.myclan.com/clans/Elphinstone_33/default.php https://web.archive.org/web/20070314000845/http://www.myclan.com/clans/Elphinstone_33/default.php]
*[http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/dtog/elphinstone2.htm http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/dtog/elphinstone2.htm]
*[http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/dtog/elphinstone2.htm http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/dtog/elphinstone2.htm]


{{Scottish clans}}
{{Scottish clans}}


[[Category:Boars in heraldry]]
[[Category:Scottish clans|Elphinstone]]
[[Category:Scottish clans|Elphinstone]]
[[Category:Scottish Lowlands]]

Latest revision as of 14:52, 15 January 2024

Clan Elphinstone
Crest: A lady, from the waist upwards, richly habited in gules, her arms extended, the right hand supporting a tower and the left holding a branch of laurel, all Proper.
MottoCause Causit (Scots)
Profile
RegionLowlands
DistrictEast Lothian
Chief
The Right Hon. Alexander Elphinstone
19th Lord Elphinstone
SeatWhitberry House, Tyninghame, East Lothian
Historic seatElphinstone Tower, Stirlingshire[1]
Clan branches
Allied clans

Clan Elphinstone is a Lowland Scottish clan.[2]

History

[edit]
Elphinstone tartan

Origins of the clan

[edit]

The 'de Erth' family took their name from the lands of Airth which lie close to the barony of Plean in Stirlingshire.[2] This family probably erected the first Plean Castle.[2] The de Erth family ended in an heiress, and lands that were acquired by her husband near Tranent near East Lothian were probably named after the heiress's family.[2] The name first appears in about 1235 in East Lothian in a deed by Alanus de Swinton in which a mention is made of the name 'de Elfinstun'.[2] It is likely that de Swinton's son, John, who owned the lands, went on to become John de Elfinstun.[2]

There is a family tradition however, that claims that the family are descended from Flemish knights (or one knight) called Helphenstein.[2] Another theory suggests that the name is derived from Old English Alpins tun ("the farmstead of Alpin").[2]

14th, 15th and 16th centuries

[edit]

Sir John de Elfinstun married Margaret of Seton who was a niece of Robert the Bruce.[2] One of John's descendants was William Elfinstun who became rector of Kirkmichael (St. Michael's Church) in Glasgow.[2] William studied Civil and Canon Law in Paris and he eventually became Professor of Law at that university.[2] He also became Bishop of Aberdeen in 1484 and later Lord High Chancellor of Scotland.[2] William later obtained a bull from Pope Alexander VI in 1494 for founding the University of Aberdeen.[2]

A cousin of bishop William was Sir Alexander Elphinstone who was created Lord Elphinstone by James IV of Scotland.[2] Alexander and the king were together killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.[3][2] Alexander's son, another Alexander Elphinstone, was killed at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547.[2]

In 1599 the fourth Lord Elphinstone was appointed a judge of the Supreme Court of Scotland.[2]

18th century and Jacobite risings

[edit]

A cadet branch of the Clan Elphinstone were the Lords Balmerino.[2] They were staunch Jacobites and the sixth Lord Balmerino was captured after the Battle of Culloden and beheaded in August 1746.[2]

The eleventh Lord Elphinstone was lieutenant governor of Edinburgh Castle.[2]

19th and 20th centuries

[edit]

One of the eleventh Lord's younger brothers was George Keith Elphinstone who was a distinguished naval officer.[2] He served on ships that protected the British shipping off the east coast of America.[2] He was created Baron Keith which was promoted to the rank of Viscount in 1814. The Viscount's nephew was William George Elphinstone who was a colonel at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815.[2] He was later promoted to commander-in-chief of the Bengal army in 1837 and led the disastrous Afghan campaign of 1841.[2]

Clan Chief

[edit]

The present Chief of Clan Elphinstone is Alexander Lord Elphinstone who succeeded his father in 1994 at the age of 14.

Clan Castles

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Elphinstone Tower stravaiging.com. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x Way, George and Squire, Romily. Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages 130 - 131.
  3. ^ Guthrie, William (1767). A General History of Scotland. Vol. 4. Paternoster Row, London: A. Hamilton, Robinson and Roberts. pp. 371-372. Retrieved 7 May 2023.
[edit]
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