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Clan Moffat (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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Moffat

Clan Crest: A crest coronet and issuing therefrom a cross crosslet fitchée Sable surmounted of a saltire Argent

Clan Motto: Spero meliora (I hope for better things)

Origin of Name: Movat (Norse)

Region: Borders

Clan Chief: Madam Jean Moffat of that Ilk

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Moffat Clan History

The Moffats were a powerful and influential borders family as far back as Sir William Wallace's time, and they most likely gave their name to the town of Moffat in Dumfriesshire. The clan's forefather was a Norseman named William de Mont Alto, who arrived in Scotland in the tenth century. By the twelfth century, the family had grown significant enough to be referred to as "de Moffet," indicating that their standing in the community was high.

The Moffat clan, like many other border families, were raiders and reivers who had long-running feuds with their neighbors. Their main adversaries were the powerful Johnston clan, and numerous feuds between the two families culminated in the murder of clan chief Robert Moffat by the Johnstons in the sixteenth century. The Johnstons then burned down the building where most of the Moffat family's notables had gathered, and slaughtered anyone who tried to flee. The powerful Moffat clan was nearly wiped out in one blow. As a result of the Moffats' massive debts, the Moffat lands passed to the Johnston family some seventy years later.

Later, the Moffats were thought to be a leaderless clan until 1983, when Francis Moffat was recognized as the hereditary clan leader after many years of research.

The Moffat family has always been associated with the church, and Nicholas de Moffet was the Bishop of Glasgow in the thirteenth century. Rev. Robert Moffat, another notable churchman, established the Kuruman mission in Africa, and his daughter married the famous explorer, David Livingstone.

Moffat Places & People

Clan Moffat People

Keith Moffatt, Ph.D.

Professor Henry Keith Moffatt (born 1935)

Respected mathematician and physicist who has lectured at Cambridge University and in the United States. He has written numerous papers on the Dynamo Theory in fluid mechanics.

Moffat, Alistair Murray (born 1950).

Scottish Television's programme director.

Moffat Tartans

Tartan Moffat

Moffat Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Moffat Crest

Crest Description: A coronet with a cross crosslet fitchée Sable issuing from it, surmounted by a saltire Argent.

Coats of Arms of Moffat:

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.