Livingstone
Gaelic Name:Mac an Léigh
Clan Crest: A demi-savage, wreathed around the head and middle, holding a club erect in the dexter hand and a serpent in the sinister, all Proper
Clan Motto: Se je puis (If I can)
Origin of Name: Placename
Lands: West Lothian, Trossachs, Lorn
Historic Seat: Bachuil, Isle of Lismore
Clan Chief: Niall Livingstone of Bachuil
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Livingstone Clan History
According to legend, the lands in West Lothian were named Livingston after a Saxon named Leving. The people of the area adopted this as their surname.
Sir William Livingston of Livingston fought alongside King David II at the Battle of Durham in the 1346 invasion of England. When he and the King were both captured, he assisted in negotiating his King's release, for which he was granted the barony of Callendar in 1347.
In 1440, the Livingstons of Callendar persuaded the young Earl of Douglas and his brother to come to Edinburgh Castle and reconcile the two families' differences at a banquet. However, upon their arrival, the brothers were kidnapped and murdered. The Douglases avenged their loss by imprisoning and executing one of Sir Alexander Livingston's sons.
Alexander, the 5th Lord Livingston, was chosen in 1543 to tutor Mary, Queen of Scots' child. He traveled with her to France and died there.
One of the adored 'Four Marys' was his own daughter Mary. Alexander's son William rose to become the 6th Lord and fought valiantly for his father's former pupil at the Battle of Langside, which is now part of Southern Glasgow. He passed away in 1592.
Because of their patriotism, the Livingstones' estates and titles suffered greatly during the Jacobite rising of 1715.
With a 'e' at the end, the 'Highland Livingstones' have been completely separate from the original line.
Ferchar Leighiche, a physician, was one of a famous family who looked after the Lords of the Isles' health. In 1386, he purchased land in Assynt. Macleay (from the Gaelic Mac-an-leigh, son of the physician) was the surname of his descendants.
When Charles I granted James Livingston a grant of the lands of Bachuil in 1641, he moved into Achanduin Castle, and the Macleays there changed their name to Livingstone. It's unclear why they added the 'e' or whether they were willing to change their names.
Livingstone Places & People
Clan Livingstone Individuals
Livingstone, David
Dr. David Livingstone (March 19, 1813 – May 1, 1873)
David Livingstone, born in Blantyre in 1813, was a medical missionary and explorer for the London Missionary Society in Africa.
Livingstone Tartans
Livingston Contemporary
Livingstone Crest & Coats of Arms
Clan Livingstone Crest
Crest Description: A demi savage, wreathed around the head and middle, holding a club erect in the dexter hand and a serpent in the sinister, all Proper.
Coats of Arms of Livingstone:
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.
LIVINGSTONE (PURE)
Three gillyflowers (cinquefoils), Argent, within a double tressure, flory counterflory, Vert.
Niall Livingstone of Bachuil's Achievement (as a Coat of Arms is correctly called).
The Protection Shield
Shields in the West Highlands of Scotland bore symbolic charges that depicted the bearer's ancestry.
The Lion Rampant
In the back of his splendid book The Highland Clans, the late Sir lain Moncreiffe of that Ilk charted the use of the Lion Rampant by various families whose common origins lie in the Kingdom of Scottish Dalriada.
Alastair Campbell of Airds, Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms, thinks “there is little doubt that the Lion is used as a reference to the Royal Line of the Sons of Erc, Fergus, Loam and Angus who moved across the North Channel in around 500 AD and established a major extension of Irish Datriada in what is now Argyll.” From his article on West Highland Heraldry
The Salmon
Alastair Campbell continues “This is a most mysterious symbol and one which is clearly of great importance. Salmon appear frequently in early Celtic mythology as a symbol of Wisdom and Knowledge. They are also a symbol of eternity with their mysterious return to their birthplace from the outermost ocean where they recommence the life cycle – also for their strength and beauty. Their Knowledge springs from their having eaten the red hazel nuts of Wisdom that fall into the water of the sacred wells from the hazel trees that surround them – the red spots on the salmon’s belly derive from this.
Clearly it is a powerful symbol. To my mind there is a pagan feel to it; I do not think it is the txoua of early Christianity and wonder if it is not a reference to the Old Religion of the Celts, or more accurately, to a person or family connected with it. “
The Hand
I am not certain that I agree with Alastair’s view of the meaning of the hand. I believe that the hand represents the ancient symbol of the derbhine, the true family, and its use, like the Lion Rampant alludes to Royal ancestry. It appears in different guises -on its own, holding a cross, sometimes even a heart or a dagger.
The Coarbs of St Moluag use a hand holding the blue cross crosslet fitchée – this is born by the Macleans of Duart (who descend from an Abbot of Lismore), the MacNaughtons and a few other families.
In conjunction with the Red Cross it implies a connection with St. Columba himself a scion of the O’Neills – The O’Donnell being the Coarb and Chief of the Kindred of St. Columba.
I was told recently that the cross crosslet fitchée is used as a symbol of evangelism and Moluag was famous for founding a hundred monasteries, mostly amongst the heathen Picts of Albany.
Supporters
Supporters are a mark of considerable distinction and honour and are generally granted only to Peers, Knights of the Thistle or Grand Cross, Barons (pre 1587) and Chiefs of old clans. We are very privileged to have these well dressed stags as supporters. Supporters stand on a compartment which in our case is strewn with Moluag’s favourite flower, the flower of the grass of parnassus which grows abundantly on Lismore. It is the most beautiful and delicate flower.
The Chapeau
The Chapeau is now used as the “Coronet” of a baron. Crown Baronies are furred ermine. Baronies of the old earldoms or Lordship of the Isles are furred contre-ermine. Ours is unique – Vair or squirrel fur, as it is held by the Grace of God.
The Crest
The crest shows St Moluag with his golden “circle of glory” holding aloft his crozier – the Bachuil Mor in his right hand and the blue cross-crosslet fitchee in his left hand.
Croziers in Saltire
We have been granted a very notable distinction of two croziers crossed in saltire behind the shield representing the golden cased Bachuil Mor, the Great Staff of St Moluag, as the insignia of the Barons of the Bachuil, as Coarbs of St Moluag and Heritable Keepers of the Bachuil Mor.
Robe
In the warrant the blazon refers to “his baronial mantle Gules doubled of silk Argent, fur-edged of miniver and collar Ermine and fastened on the right shoulder by five spherical buttons Or” however as the achievement would be rather cluttered we have elected NOT to show the robe.
By ScotsTee
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