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Clan Fairlie (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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Fairlie

Clan Crest: A lion’s head, couped, Or

Clan Motto: Paratus Sum (I am prepared)

Origin of Tartan: Fairlie are a sept of Clan Boyd so wear the Boyd Tartan

Origin of Name: From the place name

Historic Seat: Fairlie, Ayrshire

Clan Chief: None, armigerous clan

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Fairlie Clan History

The name derives from the barony of Fairley in the parish of Largs. The Ayrshire family of this name is said to be descended from Robert de Ross, a branch of the Rosses of Tarbert in Cunningham who possessed the lands of Fairley. These Fairies were known as "Fairlies of that Ilk."

Fairlie of that ilk (name's Chief)

As a mark of distinction from the Ross family, the coat of arms was argent, three water budgets (leather bags for carrying water) sable, and a chevron.

In 1335, Edward III granted a pardon to William de Fairlie at Berwick on Tweed.

In 1521, Sir Robert Fairlie of that ilk built Fairlie Castle (pictured above).

In 1526, Catherine Crawford of Kilbirnie married David Fairlie. Their son's name was Robert.

Sir John Fairlie of that Ilk obtained a charter for the ten merk land of Fairlie in 1605. Sir John and Marion Crawford of Jordanhill had a daughter named Marion, who married Thomas Boyd of Linn and later remarried into the Marquis of Bute's line.

In around 1650, the last member of the Fairlie family (the title Fairlie of that ilk is now extinct) sold the castle, barony, and lands to David, first Earl of Glasgow.

Braided Fairies

The Hermitage of Braid (the area between the Braid Hills and Blackford Hill) was awarded to William Fairley in 1341 for his participation in a daring raid on Edinburgh Castle. He took the castle from the English by turning a cart loaded with wine and food under the portcullis gate.

The Black Death struck Edinburgh in 1585, killing thousands. Sir Robert Fairley, owner of Braid at the time, donated ale from his brewhouses to plague victims.

In 1485, James Fairlie acquired the lands and barony of Braid, naming himself James Fairlie of Braid and establishing a branch of Fairlies of Braid. The Fairlie family owned this land until 1631, when Sir Robert Fairlie sold it to Sir William Dick, later known as Sir William Dick of Braid.

From the 12th to the 18th centuries, Braid Castle stood above the Braid Burn. Unfortunately, no record of this exists.

Bruntsfield's Fairlies

These were the Fairlies of Braid's cadets. They are said to be descended from King Robert's son. This is echoed in the Fairlies of Bruntsfield's arms, which feature a red lion rampant on a gold royal house shield.

A branch distinct from the Fairlie of that ilk in Ayrshire.

In 1603, John Fairlie, burgess of Edinburgh, received the lands of Bruntsfield, originally Brownsfield, from Richard Brown of Burrowmuir by charter from Alexander Lauder of Halton.

John had a knighted son named William Fairlie. This was passed down to his son, William Fairlie.

The son of this William, also William Fairlie of Bruntsfield, purchased the lands of Little Dreghorn in Ayrshire from the Fullarton family, and was appointed one of the commissioners for ordering out the militia in 1689.

William married the dole heiress Dame Jean Mure of Rowallan. The site where Fairlie married the heiress of Rowallan is still marked by tradition. The ceremony was performed by a curate in the fields about a quarter of a milt from Rowallan's house, at a tree still known as the marriage tree, which stands on the top of a steep bank, above that part of the stream known as 'Janet's Kirn,' Scots for 'churn.'

When his son, William, succeeded to the estates, he dropped the name Bruntsfield in favor of Fairlie, the name now given to the lands of Little Dreghorn, which his father had acquired.

William, his son by his first wife, Catherine, the daughter of Thomas Brisbane of that ilk, had two children: Alexander and Margaret. His second wife, Elizabeth Craufurd, was the second daughter of John Craufurd of Craufurdland, who survived him for more than sixty years and remarried, in 1744, John Howieson of Braehead, in the county of Edinburgh.

Alexander Fairlie, the son, was a gentleman of considerable talent who took the lead in most matters pertaining to the county of Ayr at the time, and was a great promoter of agricultural improvement. He died unmarried, and his sister, Margaret Fairlie of Fairlie, succeeded him.

Baronets Fairlie-Cuninghame

David Cuninghame, Master of the Works to James VI, was given this title on November 25, 1630. The fifth Baronet married Margaret, daughter of William Fairlie, heir to his estates. The sixth Baronet added the surname Fairlie to his name.

In 1912, the thirteenth Baronet took the surname Fairlie-Cuninghame instead of his patronymic, Cuninghame, by deed poll. Robert Fairlie-Cuninghame, the current holder of the title, lives in Australia.

Fairlie Places & People

This section is currently being researched.

Fairlie Tartans

There is no registered Fairlie tartan; however, as a sept of Clan Boyd, those with the Fairlie surname are permitted to wear the Boyd tartans.

Boyd Contemporary

Fairlie Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Fairlie Coat of Arms

Worn by everyone with the same name and ancestry

Description of the Crest:

A couped lion's head, Or

Coat of Arms of Clan Fairlie

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.