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Clan Grierson (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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Grierson

Clan Crest: A fetterlock, Argent

Clan Motto: Hoc Securior (More secure by this)

Origin of Name: from Gregor

Clan Badge: Bluebell

Lands: Dumfriesshire

Historic Seat: Lag Castle, Dumfries

Clan Chief: Sarah Grierson of Lag

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Grierson Clan History

The name Grierson was thought to be derived from Gregor or MacGregor, but no evidence of this has been discovered. Around 1408 is when the family first settled on the lands of Lag. Gilbert Grierson was listed as the Earl of Douglas' 'armour bearer' in 1420. Through marriage, he was related to the Douglas Clan. His wife Janet was the fourth Earl of Douglas's and Princess Margaret's great granddaughter.

The Chiefs of the Griersons were based at Lag Tower in Dumfriesshire. It is now in ruins.

Roger was the son of Vedast Grierson of Lag, who had built a strong defensive tower. In 1488, he was assassinated at Sauchieburn. Following lairds were also assassinated at Flodden. The Griersons had a close relationship with the Maxwell family in addition to the powerful Douglas clan. When they both took on the Johnstones at the Battle of Dryfe Sands in 1593, they needed this alliance.

Around 1608, James VI knighted William Grierson of Lag. He had a son, Robert, whose cousin (also Robert) succeeded him and became the first Baronet of Lag, still known as 'Auld Lag'. Sir Robert worked especially hard to crush the Covenanters who worshiped illegally in south-west Scotland. He was involved in a near-massacre in Kirconnell, earning him a dreadful reputation that nearly cost him his life. Sir Robert married Lady Henrietta Douglas, the sister of the Duke of Queensberry, cementing ties between these two lowland families. In 1689, he was arrested and charged with conspiracy to counterfeit money. Sir Walter Scott's Red Gauntlet was inspired by Sir Robert's life.

Sir Gilbert succeeded to the title after his eldest son, William, died without an heir.

Robert Grierson, the third Baronet of Lag, was born around 1700, the son of James Grierson (the second son of the first Baronet of Lag). After incurring the wrath of the 'Auld Lag' and William his uncle, Robert Grierson was expressly barred from inheriting the family estates. This was accomplished through a fourth deed, which 'Auld Lag' carried out a few days before his death, on December 20, 1733. Sir Robert's name is removed from the line of succession. On his uncle's death, he took out breaves and had himself served heir to the estates, but he could not be barred from succession to the family title, and he became 3rd Baronet of Lag on William's death in 1764.

The 4th Baronet of Lag was also the son of Sir Robert Grierson and Dame Henrietta Douglas, the 1st Baronet of Lag. Sir Gilbert Grierson (16th Chief and 4th Baronet of Lag) was born around 1690/93 and died in Midlothian in 1766. From 1722 to 1765, Sir Gilbert served as Chamberlain to the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch. He worked to clear the debts owed by tenants of the Lordship of Dalkeith and the Barony of East Park alias Smeaton.

Several Griersons served in the military, including Thomas Grierson, who fought at the siege of Delhi in 1857, Sir Alexander Grierson of Lag, who was an officer in the 78th Ross-shire Highlanders, and Sir Robert Grierson of Lag, who served in the King's Own Scottish Borderers during the Great War.

Sir George Abraham Grierson was gifted in languages. He became an expert in Indian languages and dialects, publishing a Linguistic Survey of India with information on 364 of them. In 1912, he was knighted for his contributions.

Dr. John Grierson was a documentary film pioneer. He helped establish the National Film Board of Canada in 1939 and was also a director of UNESCO and later film controller for the British Central Office of Information until 1950. He was educated in Glasgow and Chicago.

Grierson Places & People

Clan Grierson Individuals

Sir James Moncrieff Grierson (1859-1914), CVO, KCB, CMG, ADC

Soldier from the United Kingdom. Despite having the odds stacked against him, he defeated Douglas Haig in the Army Manoeuvres in September 1912. This was largely due to Grierson's use of aerial reconnaissance, which he had been persuaded to use against his better judgment by his subordinate Charles Briggs.

On August 17, 1914, he died of a heart aneurism on a train near Amiens. Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien took over as commander of the II Corps. Grierson's body was repatriated, which was legal at the time, and is now interred in the Glasgow Necropolis. The Sir James Moncrieff Grierson Language Prize was later established at Sandhurst.

Grierson, Sir Herbert John Clifford (1866-1960).

Scottish literary critic and scholar. He is best known for his research on metaphysical poets. He was born in the Shetland town of Lerwick. He was appointed Knight Professor of English Literature at the University of Edinburgh.

Grierson, John

Grierson, John (1898-1972).

Grierson was born near Doune in Deanston. Both parents instilled in their son liberal politics, humanistic ideals, and Calvinist moral and religious philosophies from an early age. Grierson enrolled at the University of Glasgow after serving in the Royal Navy during World War I. He received a Rockefeller Research Fellowship in 1924, after graduating from university with a degree in moral philosophy. His research focused on the psychology of propaganda--the influence of the press, film, and other mass media on public opinion formation.

At the time, New York film critics were drawn to Grierson's emerging and outspoken film philosophies. He was approached by the New York Sun to write criticism. Grierson wrote articles for the Sun about film aesthetics and audience reception, and he made many contacts in the film industry. Grierson coined the term "documentary" while writing about Robert Flaherty's film Moana during this writing stint.

In the late 1920s, Grierson returned to the United Kingdom. He joined the Empire Marketing Board (EMB), a government agency established several years earlier to promote British global trade and unity throughout the empire. Grierson and his cameraman, Basil Emmott, finished his first film, The Drifters, which he wrote, produced, and directed, in late 1929. The film, which follows the heroic efforts of North Sea herring fishermen, was a radical departure from anything produced by the British or Hollywood film industries.

The Canadian government invited Grierson to study the country's film production in 1938. He proposed that the government establish a national coordinating body for film production. Canada established the National Film Commission in 1939, which later became the National Film Board of Canada.

Grierson Tartans

There is no registered tartan for this name; however, the tartans listed below are appropriate.

Ancient MacGregor

MacGregor Contemporary

Hunting for MacGregor

Grierson Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Grierson Crest

A fetterlock, Argent, is the description of the crest.

Coats of Arms of Grierson

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.