Home / Scottish Clans - Histories, Tartans Crests and much more / Clan Napier (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

Clan Napier (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

By ScotsTee Shop

Napier

Clan Crest: A dexter arm erect couped below the elbow Proper, grasping a crescent Argent

Clan Motto: Sans tache (Without stain)

Clan Badge: Heather

Lands: Fife and Midlothian

Clan Chief: The Rt. Hon. Lord Napier and Ettrick

⇨ View All Napier Tartan Products

Napier Clan History

Napier has a long and ancient history, stemming from the Celtic royal families of Scotland and Ireland. It has been suggested that the name derives from the "naperer," a royal household officer in charge of linen. However, another, more romantic, origin suggests that William the Lion honoured a young knight of the Earl of Lennox for his valour, describing him as having "nae peer."

The name Napier first appears in a charter issued by the Earl of Lennox in 1280, granting lands in Dunbartonshire to John de Naper. These lands were to be held by the Napier family for eighteen generations before being sold in 1820.

Alexander Napier, the future Provost of Edinburgh, obtained a charter to the lands of Merchiston in 1436. His son rose to Royal favor, and the family was elevated to the peerage in 1627. The title was almost extinguished when the third

Lord Napier died a bachelor, but the title was passed down through the Napier female line to the Scotts of Thirlestane.

The Napiers had extensive global connections, with subsequent Lord Napiers playing key roles in India and Hong Kong. Francis, the 10th Lord Napier, was appointed ambassador to the Netherlands as well as a diplomat in Washington, eventually serving as acting Viceroy of India in 1872.

Napier Places & People

Clan Napier Individuals

Sir Alexander Napier (circa 1440).

Sir Alexander Napier was appointed as Lord Provost of Edinburgh. He was wounded while rescuing James I's widow from rebels who had kidnapped her and her second husband. James II rewarded him by making him Controller of the Royal Household in 1440 and Vice Admiral of Scotland in 1461.

Mr. John Napier

John Napier (1550–4 April 1617).

John Napier, the celebrated inventor of logarithms, was widely regarded as the greatest mathematician of his time. He was also well-known for being an accomplished agriculturist.

Francis Napier (September 15, 1819 – December 19, 1898)

Francis Napier was a gifted academic who earned degrees from Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Harvard. He was the British Minister to the United States, the Netherlands, Russia, Prussia, and the Governor of Madras. During the American Civil War, Napier was a friend of Jefferson Davis, President of the Confederate States of America. In 1872, he also served as acting Viceroy of India.

Napier Tartan

The Napier tartan was first documented in the Clans Originaux in 1880, and then again in W & A.K. Johnston's 'Tartans of the Clans & Septs of Scotland' in 1906. The Napier tartan in the Highland Society Collection, on the other hand, has a slightly different pattern than these other versions.

Ancient Napier

--------------------------------------------------

Napier Contemporary

Napier Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Napier Crest

Crest: A dexter arm erect couped below the elbow Proper, grasping an Argent crescent

Coats of Arms of Napier

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.

Merchiston NAPIER

Argent, a saltire engrailed, four roses cantoned Gules, barbed Vert.

Lord Napier of Merchistoun, baronet of Thirlestane, NAPIER

Quarterly; 1st and 4th, Argent, a saltire engrailed, cantoned of four roses, Gules, barbed, Vert (for Napier); 2nd and 3rd, Or, a saltire engrailed, cantoned of four roses, Gules, barbed, Vert (for Napier Or, a mullet pierced between two crescents of the field, within a double tressure, flory counterflory, of the second (for Scott of Thirlestane), on a bend of Azure.

Col. Robert Milliken-Napier of Milliken's arms

Quarterly, 1st and 4th Argent., a Saltire, engrailed gules, cantoned with four Roses, gules [Napier of Merchiston]; 2nd, Azure, a Lion rampant, argent., crowned, Or [Macdowall of Garthland]; 3rd, Argent, a fesse azure, voided of the field, between three demi-lions, crowned gules [Milliken], with the Badge of Nova Scotia surrounding the shield. Crests: first, an arm grasping an eagle's leg, ppr. [Napier]; second, a demi-lion rampant, gu., holding a dagger or in his dexter forepaw, Milliken; Supporters: two eagles with closed wings, ppr. Mottos: - Sans tache; regard bien.