Home / Scottish Clans - Histories, Tartans Crests and much more / Clan Oliphant (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

Clan Oliphant (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

By ScotsTee Shop

Oliphant

Clan Crest: A unicorn’s head couped Argent armed and manned Or.

Clan Motto: A tout pouvoir (Provide for all)

Origin of Name: Oliphant, derived from elephant, denotes great strength.

Lands: Kincardineshire

Historic Seat: Ardblair Castle

Clan Chief: Richard Oliphant of that Ilk.

⇨ View All Oliphant Tartan Products

Oliphant Clan History

The Oliphants first appear as a family in Normandy, where Osbert Oliphant held sway in 1045, and are known to have first held lands in England at Lilford, Northamptonshire, though they may have done so earlier in Hereford and Wessex. Roger is the first Olifard for whom there is contemporary evidence of the surname being used in 1090.

David de Olifard is widely regarded as the progenitor of the House of Oliphant. During the 1141 Battle of Winchester, David de Olifard saved his godfather, David I of Scotland, and in exchange received grants of land at Crailing and Smailholm in Scotland, becoming the first Chief and the first of four successive hereditary Justiciars of the Lothians.) In addition, Malcolm IV established the Great Barony of Bothwell for David or his son.

Sir Walter, the 2nd Chief, married Christian, the daughter of Ferteth, Earl of Strathearn, in 1173 and by 1183 had gained control of the Aberdalgie lands in Strathearn.

Sir William, the 10th Chief, was captured and imprisoned in 1296 at the Battle of Dunbar. As a result, he is one of the few Scots who did not sign the Ragman Roll (a list of Scottish nobles who voluntarily submitted to Edward I of England). He quickly took up the cause of Scottish independence, defending Stirling Castle against Edward in 1304. Sir William was apprehended and imprisoned in the Tower of London. In 1317, he or his cousin of the same name was granted the lands of Balcraig, Auchtertyre, Turin, Newtyle, Gask, and Gallery as compensation. Sir William was a signatory to the Declaration of Arbroath, which asserted Scotland's freedom to Pope John XXII nine years before his death in 1329.

Sir Walter, Sir William's nephew's son, married The Bruce's youngest daughter, Elizabeth. In 1360, they received the Barony of Kellie as a group.

Laurence Oliphant, the 15th Chief, was a Lord of Parliament in July 1455, though his grandfather is referred to as Lord Oliphant earlier. He was an ambassador to France in 1491 and later became keeper of Edinburgh Castle.

The fourth Lord Oliphant was a staunch supporter of Mary, Queen of Scots and a member of the inquiry that cleared the Earl of Bothwell of murdering Lord Darnley, Queen Mary's second husband. The fourth Lord was present at the queen's wedding and fought alongside her at the Battle of Langside in 1568.

The Oliphants remained loyal to the Jacobite cause, and the ninth Lord Oliphant was imprisoned at Killiecrankie in 1689 for his role. During the 1715 rising, he was accompanied by Oliphant of Bachilton, Oliphant of Condie, and Oliphant of Carpow, as well as the ninth Lord's cousin, Laurence Oliphant of Gask, who would later play an active role in Charles Edward Stewart's campaign in 1745. Both Gask Oliphants were exiled in France following their defeat at Culloden.

Carolina, later known as Lady Nairne, was Laurence the Younger's daughter.

Their cousin married Laurence the Elder's sister. Laurence Oliphant of the 5th of Condie. His son (Laurence Oliphant, 6th of Condie) assisted Gask's brother, James, in raising funds for the 1745 campaign. The 6th laird of Condie amassed large estates in Perthshire, which were later divided among those appointed as his son's guardians after his death.

In the male line, the current Oliphant Chief is descended from this Condie branch of Oliphants. This branch was notable in the 19th and 20th centuries, producing an Ambassador, a Chairman of the Hon. E. India Company, two Generals, an Admiral, a Chief Justice of Ceylon, two MPs, and a president of the Madrigal Society who wrote words for King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra's wedding chorale.

Among others, the Oliphants of Rossie produced a Postmaster General of Scotland and Betty, the founder of the Canadian National Ballet School.

The Oliphants owned castles, houses, and Clan sites throughout Scotland, with the fourth Lord owning lands in seven counties, including Broxburn and Muirhouse near Edinburgh, a quarter of Caithness, Kellie in Fife, and various grants in Perthshire.

In addition to the Chiefly line, an Oliphant Chieftain has a wealth of Clan memorabilia at Ardblair Castle, a Blair seat near Blairgowie in Perthshire.

Oliphant Places & People

People of Clan Oliphant

Lawrence Oliphant (born around 1560)

Lawrence Oliphant took part in the infamous Ruthven Raid and was sentenced to exile by James VI. He was eventually lost at sea and was later sold into Turkish slavery.

Oliphant, Carolina

Carolina Oliphant (1766-1844).

Carolina Oliphant, named after Prince Charles Edward Stewart, rose to prominence as a Jacobite poet. Her fame stems primarily from the lyrics she wrote for two well-known songs, "Charlie is My Darling" and "Will Ye No Come Back Again?"

Oliphant Tartans

Ancient Oliphant

Oliphant Contemporary

Oliphant Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Oliphant Crest

Crest Description: Argent, a unicorn's head couped, armed and manned Or

Coats of Arms of Oliphant

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.