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Clan Glendinning (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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Glendinning

Clan Crest: A maunch, Or, upon the point of a sword

Clan Motto: Have Faith in Christ

Lands: Dumfriesshire

Clan Chief: None, armigeraous clan

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Glendinning Clan History

This name derives from the same-named lands in Westerkirk, Dumfriesshire. Prior to 1286, John Macgill of that Ilk granted a charter to Adam de Glendonwyn of his part of the lands and baronies of Clifton and Mertobel in Roxburghshire. In 1313, Sir Adam obtained a discharge from Archibald Douglas, Lord of Galloway, of all bygone feu-duties, and in 1398, John of Glendonwyne and Symoun of Glendonwyne were two of the 'borowis' for the Earl of Douglas' bounds of the West March.

In 1450, William de Glendonwyn was rector of Crawfurdjon, and in 1467, he was canon of the church of Glasgow.

Symon of Glendynwyn was one of the guardians of the 1451 truce between Scotland and England.

In 1587, the Glenuningis were named as one of the unruly clans on the West March, and in 1599, Robert Glendonying was returned heir in lands in the parish of Balmaghi. When John Glendinning joined Montrose, he was outlawed and his lands were forfeited. Although the direct line is thought to have ended in 1720, William Glendonwyn of that ilk is mentioned in 1798.

DNA testing has recently revealed ancestral relationships between people named Glendinning, Little, and Elliot. Scott of Satchells, a 17th-century historian, described a migration from Angus to the Borders of "twelve great families." The Elliots of Redheugh were the dominant family, and their Breton ancestry is now well documented. Historians have discovered that Anglo-Bretons, and thus Scots-Bretons, were notoriously slow to adopt surnames. In the Elliot family, the adopted surname "Elwald" was used interchangeably with the old Breton toponym-based surname, and was eventually dropped. This DNA evidence suggests that those families who did not settle on Redheugh lands adopted their own new surnames based on local toponymic or geographic features, much like the Flemish Douglas progenitor, who took his name from lands surrounding Douglas Water. The Glendinnings were named after their new home, while the Littles were named after the Liddel.

Because of the close relationship between the Douglases, Elliots, Glendinnings, and Littles, these DNA results are especially significant. The progenitor of the Stewarts, Walter fitzAlan (of Dol, Brittany), was of Breton origin, but we can now identify more Scots of Breton origin, whose settlement in Scotland, like that of so many feudatories of Norman, Flemish, and Picard origin during the reign of William the Lion, has been described as a "tidal wave." William favored Flemings such as Freskin (Clan Murray) and his nephew Theobald, founder of the powerful Douglas family, as well as Beorwald, founder of Clan Innes. The majority of mercenaries or professional soldiers during this period were Flemish or Breton, who were given land instead of pay by a cash-strapped William I.

Glendinning Places & People

Soon to come

Glendinning Tartans

This name does not have a registered tartan. The tartans listed below are appropriate.

Douglas the Elder

Douglas Contemporary

Grey, Douglas

Glendinning Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Glendinning Crest

A maunch, Or, on the point of a sword, is the description of the crest.

Glendinning Family Crest:

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.