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Clan Kirkcaldy (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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Kirkcaldy

Clan Crest: A man’s head with the face looking upwards, Proper

Clan Motto: Fortissima Veritas (Truth is the strongest)

Historic Seat: Kirkcaldy, Fife

Clan Chief: None, armigerous clan

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Kirkcaldy Clan History

From the Fife town of Kirkcaldy. Willilmus de Kyrcaudi was a cleric in Stirling in 1299, there are records of money paid to John of Kirkcaldy in 1331, and David II granted Andreas de Kirkcaldy a pension of five merks per year in 1363.

The Kirkcaldy of Inchture line ended in 1396, when Marjory, the heiress to John Kirkcaldy of Inchture, married Reginald, the son of Richard Kinnaird of that Ilk, and they became Kinnaird of Inchture.

Simon de Kyrcaldy owned land in 'Edynburgche' in 1366, and he could be the same Simon who was a burgess there in 1392. In 1535, Andrew Kirkcaldy was scribe of Dysart's town council, and in 1540,'veneranda mulier Agnes Karcalde' is recorded in the same town.

During the reign of James V, Sir James Kirkcaldy of Grange served as Lord High Treasurer of Scotland. Following the English defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss in 1542, James V paid a visit to the Kirkcaldy of Grange home, where he predicted his own death while speaking to Sir James Kirkcaldy's wife. He died only a few weeks later, at the age of thirty, in the presence of James and his son William Kirkcaldy at Falkland Palace.

The Regent Moray appointed Sir William Kirkcaldy of Grange, son of Sir James, as Keeper of Edinburgh Castle in the name of the infant James VI. He was also a key figure in the assassination of Cardinal Beaton in 1546.

During the Long Siege of Edinburgh Castle, Sir William, who had switched allegiance to the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots, attempted to defend the castle against the forces of the new regent, Earl of Morton. Kirkcaldy was eventually forced to surrender the castle, and he was hanged alongside his brother in 1573 at Mercat Cross on Edinburgh's Royal Mile.

The family was made baronets in 1664, but the title was abolished in 1739.

Kirkcaldy Places & People

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Kirkcaldy Tartans

Tartan of Kirkcaldy

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District of Fife

Kirkcaldy Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Kirkcaldy Crest

Crest Description: A man's head with his face turned upwards.

Coats of Arms of Kirkcaldy:

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.