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Clan Baillie (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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Baillie

Clan Crest: A boar’s head erased, Proper

Clan Motto: Quid Clarius Astris (What is Brighter Than the Stars)

Origin of Tartan: The one most commonly worn was designed by Mr A W Geddes of Messrs William Anderson, Edinburgh, in 1937.

Origin of Name: French: ‘Baillie’ meaning ‘Bailiff’

Clan Badge: A boar’s head erased, Proper

Lands: William de Bailli was also known as Baillie of Hoperig, acquired the lands of Lamington in Lanarkshire

Region: Earldom in Haddington and owned land by Lochness.

Clan Chief: None, armigerous clan

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Clan Baillie History

The surname Baillie is most likely derived from the French term bailif, which was given to an officer in charge of estates. It is a common misconception that the name comes from the surname Bailliol, but that it was changed after the wars of independence because of its association with the unpopular Balliol kings.

The name Baillie appears for the first time in 1311, when William de Baillie appears as a jury member at an inquest concerning forfeited lands. David II knighted Willaim Baillie of Hoprig in 1357 and later granted him a royal charter to the barony of Lamington. This was the start of a long Baillie dynasty that spanned Carphin, Park, Jerviston, Dunrogal, Carnbroe, Castlecarry, Provand, and Dochfour.

Inverness Castle's constable was Alexander Baillie. In 1512, Cuthbert Bailllie of Carphin was appointed Lord High Treasurer to James IV. Sir William Ballie of Provand was made 'Lord Provand' and served as Lord President of the Court of Session between 1565 and 1595.

Their fortunes, like many other Scottish families, were determined by which side they took during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, and Sir William Baillie's presence at the Battle of Langside resulted in the forfeiture of his estates. His grandson was defeated by the Marquis of Montrose as well. These Baillies were devout and outspoken Protestants. Robert Baillie of Jerviswood was unfortunately involved in an attempt to oppose James VII's succession and was hanged in 1684, while his family fled to Holland. The family estates were restored after James VII was deposed in 1688.

This branch of the family married into the Earldom of Haddington, while the Dochfour Baillies also acquired large estates near Loch Ness through marriage.

Clan Baillie Places & People

People of Clan Baillie

Charles Baillie (1542–1625)

Charles Baillie was a Scots-born Fleming. Following the murder of her husband, he became a papal agent and a member of Mary, Queen of Scots' household.

Baillie was apprehended in 1571 with documents describing a plan for a Spanish landing on Mary's behalf in the eastern counties of England. He was arrested, but the documents were replaced with less incriminating ones. Unfortunately, a spy who had been imprisoned alongside him to gather information was about to expose the plot but was exposed himself.

Baillie was taken to London's Tower and tortured on the rack. An inscription scratched by him on the tower's walls can still be seen today: "L. H. S. 1571 die 10 Aprilis." Wise men should see what they do, to examine before they speake, to prove before they take in hand, to beware of whose company they keep, and, above all, to whom they trust. |— Charles Bailly."

He was let out of the tower in 1574 and died in 1625. He was laid to rest in the Belgian town of La Hulpe.

Lady Grizel Baillie (1665–1746)

Lady Baillie was a songwriter from Scotland. Sir Patrick Hume gave birth to her as Grizel Hume at Redbraes Castle in Berwickshire. She was implicated in a conspiracy involving Robert Baillie of Jerviswood, who was then in prison, when she was 12 years old. As a result, her father was forced to take refuge in the crypt of Polwarth church, where Grizzle smuggled food to him. Jerviswood was executed, and Lady Grizel married George Baillie, his son, in 1992.

"And werena my heart light I wad dee," the most famous of Lady Grizel's Scots songs, first appeared in William Thomson's Orpheus Caledonius, or a Collection of the Best Scotch Songs in 1725.

Grizel died in London on December 6, 1746, and was buried on December 25, her eighty-first birthday, at Mellerstain.

Clan Baillie Tartans

Baillie Contemporary (also called Baillie of Polkemett, Green)

Mr A W Geddes of Messrs William Anderson, Edinburgh, designed the most commonly worn one in 1937. It is based on the MacKenzie tartan, but instead of a single stripe, it has three fine white lines on the green. It was created for the Baillies of Polkemett, who were the owners of the Barony of Polkemett. Around the same time, Geddes produced a red sett for the Baillies.

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Red Baillie of Polkemett

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Baillie (Wilsons of Bannockburn) (Wilsons of Bannockburn)

Settled from the Bannockburn 1819 Key Pattern Book by William Wilson and Sons. This is the same as MacLeod of Skye, but with a black guard replacing the red. Wilson's of Bannockburn's pattern books are the definitive source for the Baillie tartan. Wilson provided variations on the basic 'Black Watch' regimental sett to the MacLeods, MacKenzies, and Campbells. Telford Dunbar mentions a Baillie tartan in his 1962 'History of Highland Dress,' stating that it appeared in William Wilson's stock list in 1800.

Clan Baillie Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Baillie Coat of Arms

Worn by everyone with the same name and ancestry

Description of the Crest:

Properly erased the head of a boar

Coat of Arms of Clan Baillie

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). There are no such things as "family coats of arms." Personal weapons are depicted below (with the above exceptions). Only the person who has been granted these weapons has the authority to use them.