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Clan Clelland (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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Clelland

Clan Crest: A falcon upon a glove sinister, Proper

Clan Motto: Non Sibi (For Sport)

Historic Seat: Cleland, North Lanarkshire

Clan Chief: None, armigerous clan

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Clelland Clan History

This name is thought to derive from the Cleland or Kneland lands in Dalziel, Lanarkshire. Lanarkshire was home to several branches of the family.

Alexander Kneland of that ilk is the first name on record. He married Margaret, the sister of the patriot and independence leader William Wallace. Kneland was a Wallace supporter who fought against the English during the Scottish Wars of Independence. He is thought to have taken part in the 1314 Battle of Bannockburn. For his services, Robert I rewarded him with land, some of it within the barony of Calder in West Lothian.

Throughout the centuries, Clellands fought for Scotland. Alexander Cleland of that ilk, along with his cousin William, fought and died in the disastrous Battle of Flodden in 1513, which also saw the death of James IV.

In 1567, Alexander Clelland of that ilk was accused of murdering Mary, Queen of Scots' second husband, Lord Darnley (pictured top). Clelland was a cousin of Mary's third husband, James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell.

Alexander Clelland's grandson, Lord Bargeny, married the sister of John Hamilton. Their son inherited Hamiltons' land from his mother, and in turn sold Cleland's lands to a cousin.

The family has been without a chief for over 200 years, with the last recorded chief being William Cleland (1674-1741), whose son John Cleland (d.1789) wrote the novel "Fanny Hill."

Clelland Places & People

This section is currently being researched.

Clelland Tartans

John Hocknull created the Clelland tartan in 1989 for the clan Clelland society. It is based on the Douglas tartan because the Clellands were traditionally Douglas' foresters.

Commercially available.

Thread count B/60 K32 G12 R12 G20 K8 Y8 K8 G20 R12 G20 K32 B16 K/8

Clelland

Clelland Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Clelland Coat of Arms

Worn by everyone with the same name and ancestry

Description of the Crest:

Properly, a falcon on a sinister glove.

Coat of Arms of Clan Clelland

A word about Coats of Arms:

A coat of arms is granted to an individual under Scottish heraldic law (with the exception of civic or corporate arms). A 'family coat of arms' does not exist. With the exceptions noted above, the arms depicted below are personal arms. Only the person who has been granted these weapons has the right to use them.