Grewar
Clan Crest: On a mount of heather a greyhound sejant guardant Sable, langued Gules, holding in his dexter front paw a sword in bend sinister Argent hilt and pommel Or
Clan Motto: Wab Trowth Wi’ Traist (Weave truth with faith)
Lands: Braemar, Aberdeenshire
Clan Chief: None, armigerous clan
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Grewar Clan History
One of the oldest recorded surnames in Breamar is MacGruar, a shortened form of MacGruar. Grewer, Gruer, Gruar, as well as older spellings such as Grower and Gurir, are all variations of the surname Grewar. The Grewars are said to have traveled north with Malcolm Canmore (Malcolm III) to Braemar in the second half of the 11th century, where Malcolm's hunting lodge, Kindrochit Castle, sat on the banks of the Clunie.
The following is written on the tombstone of James Gruar of Tominrau, who died in 1807: "Four hundred years have now wheeled round, With half a century more; Since this has been the burying ground Belonging to the Gruers"
If the inscription is correct, the Gruers have been buried on this site in Mar since at least 1357, making the family's connection with the Aberdeenshire town one of the longest.
There is a legend among the Gruers of Braemar that the Gruers of the past were noted for their running ability, and their name means either 'fleet of foot' or 'greyhound'. This legend is based on a story from the reign of Malcolm III, who wanted to find the physically fittest of all his subjects. So he decided to hold a games as well as a race to the top of Craig Conneach, a hill overlooking Braemar, with a sword and baldric as the prize.
After the race had already begun, the King was asked for permission to allow a late entry to participate in the race. Malcolm did not believe this young man had any chance of success, but he decided to let him run anyway. To everyone's surprise, the new competitor took off at breakneck speed, and he was soon catching up with some of the other runners. The youngster finished first in the arduous race and was given the nickname Greyhound, Goather, or Gruer in the Gaelic dialect of the time, and it is believed that the Braemar Gruers are descendants of the Craig Conneach race winner.
Malcolm III's creations evolved into the first ever Braemar Gathering.
It is believed that the Gruers once owned the lands of Cluny, near Ballochbuie to the east of Braemar, but lost them to the Farquharsons, who took them by force around the end of the 15th century.
The loss of Cluny sparked a bitter feud between the two families that lasted until the marriage of John Gruer, the first recorded Gruer chief, to Isobel Farquharson in 1621.
In 1520, a John Grewyr was tennant in Fortour, and in 1628, a Thomas Growar was a burgess freeman of Glasgow.
The chiefs of the Gruer clan had held their lands relatively peacefully for nearly a century, with no real trouble, until the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715. The Earl of Mar was a staunch supporter of James VIII, and both Alexander Gruer and his heir Donald fought valiantly at Sheriffmuir as vassals of the Earl. After the Jacobite forces failed to crush George I's Government forces, Alexander and Donald returned to Auchallater.
Donald's second son, Alexander Gruer, held the lands at Auchallater until 1777, when the line died out due to a lack of a male heir.
In Aberdeenshire and Angus, there have been several Gruer branches. A branch of the Braemar family was at Forter, at the head of Glenisla, as early as the 16th century, and obtained the Dalvanie lands.
Despite the Clan's colorful history, it is currently an armigerous clan that lacks a chief recognized by the Court of the Lord Lyon.
Grewar Places & People
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Grewar Tartans
Tartan Grewar
The tartans listed below are also appropriate for this name.
Perth Modern's Drummond
Fraser the Elder
Modern Fraser
Fraser's Ancient Hunt
Modern Fraser Hunting
Ancient MacGregor
MacGregor Contemporary
Hunting for MacGregor
Grewar Crest & Coats of Arms
Clan Grewar Crest
Crest Description: A greyhound sejant guardant Sable, langued Gules, holding in his dexter front paw a sword in bend sinister Argent hilt and pommel on a mount of heather. Or
By ScotsTee
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