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Clan Wishart (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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Wishart

Clan Crest: A demi eagle with wings expanded, Proper

Clan Motto: Mercy Is My Desire

Origin of Name: Old French, Wischard, meaning ‘prudent’, ‘wise’

Clan Chief: None, armigerous clan

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Wishart Clan History

The surname Wishart is the same as the old French name Guischard, which comes from the old French word Wischard, which means 'prudent' or 'wise'.

William Wischard witnessed a grant of the mill teind to Cambuskenneth Abbey around the beginning of the 13th century.

Cambuskenneth Abbey is located near Stirling.

In 1245, John Wischard was mentioned as a witness, and nine years later, in 1254, he appears again, this time as a witness at the preambulation of the bounds of Conon and Tulloch.

A William Wischard was a Culdee of St. Andrews in 1250, and an Adam Wischard was granted a charter of the lands of Kenny Murchardyn in 1279.

Bishop of Glasgow Robert Wishart (1271-1316) was a staunch supporter of William Wallace and, later, Robert the Bruce. Wishart was instrumental in the cause of Scottish independence and played an important role in the subsequent wars. Although he swore fealty to Edward of England when captured, he immediately renounced it upon release and continued to be a thorn in Edward's side.

In 1296, John Wychard of the Miernes, along with a number of other Scottish nobles, swore allegiance to England's Edward I by signing the Ragman Roll.

There is a record of an Andrew Wycchard (or Wyschard or Wychard) who was a Scottish prisoner-of-war in Hereford Castle between 1305 and 1307.

George Wischart was found guilty of heresy and sentenced to death by burning at the stake in St. Andrews in 1545 or 1546.

Following the Restoration, beginning in 1660, another George Wischart was appointed bishop of Edinburgh, and he also served as a private chaplain and biographer to James Graham, the 1st Marquess of Montrose (1612 - 1650). The person who wrote the inscription on Wischart's grave thought his name meant 'wise heart': Hic recubat celebris doctor Sophocardius alter, entheus ille v Agricola.

In 1549, Queen Mary appointed James Buchart, or Buschart (also known as Wischart), to the chaplainry of Tolly, or Towie, in the diocese of Ross.

In Aberdeen in 1596, a Johnnett Wischart was burned at the stake for witchcraft.

In 1649, a James Wysehartt, or Wisehartt, was a burgess of Montrose, in Angus, and in 1686, a John Wishit was a prisoner in Canongate Tolbooth in Edinburgh.

Visart, Vischart, Vishert, Vychart, Vyschart, Wischarte, Wischeart, Wiseheart, Wissheart, Wschartt, Wschert, Wyischart, Wyishart, Wyschart, Wysharde, Wyssart, and Wythcharde are all recorded variations of the surname Wishart.

Wishart Places & People

Clan Wishart Locations

Logie House is owned by George Wishart, the Marquis of Montrose's chaplain and biographer.

People of Clan Wishart

Wishart, Robert

During the Wars of Scottish Independence, Robert Wishart was Bishop of Glasgow and a staunch supporter of Robert Bruce. He was related to William Wishart, Chancellor of Scotland and Bishop of St. Andrews. In 1273, Wishart was appointed Bishop of Glasgow.

Wishart was one of six guardians of Scotland at the time of Alexander III's untimely death in 1286, while Margaret, the Maid of Norway was in her infancy; however, with her death in 1290, a struggle for the throne of Scotland ensued. Wishart met with King Edward of England to defend Scotland's sovereignty against Edward's lordship claims. Despite his efforts, Edward was still regarded as the supreme ruler.

Wishart supported Bruce's claims to the throne and was instrumental in establishing the 'Auld Alliance' between Scotland and France, but he was forced to sign the Ragman Roll in 1296, pledging loyalty to Edward of England. Nonetheless, he never stopped working to restore Scotland's independence. He was also a supporter of the Scottish church's independence from outside control, which led him to lead the uprising against English occupation in 1297. Wishart persuaded William Wallace to take up arms against the English before he was arrested and imprisoned. He was forced to swear an oath to Edward once more, but broke it as soon as he was released.

Wishart continued to irritate Edward, prompting him to complain to Pope Boniface, who asked him to ease up on Edward and condemned Wishart for his stance. After Bruce murdered Comyn in Dumfries, Wishart's continued support ensured that the political situation was kept under control, and Bruce was crowned in 1306 under his careful management. This immediately led to war with England, and Wishart was once again involved, taking the timber given by England to repair Glasgow Cathedral to use in the construction of siege devices.

Bruce's initial campaign did not go well, and after being defeated at Methven, Wishart was captured and brought to England in chains. He was imprisoned for another 8 years before being released as part of a prisoner exchange following Bannockburn and returning to Scotland, where he lived the rest of his life in peace.

Wishart was one of the great unsung heroes of Scottish independence; he was not a sword-wielding type like Wallace or Bruce, but he was instrumental in the formation of the nation of Scotland.

George Wishart (c. 1513 – 1 March 1546).

George Wishart was a religious reformer and Protestant martyr from Scotland. He attended Kings College in Aberdeen and then the University of Leuven. Wishart became a schoolmaster in Montrose, but his New Testament teachings prompted an investigation by the Bishop of Brechin in 1538. Wishart fled to England, but charges were brought against him again.

He enrolled in Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, around 1542, where he studied and taught. But he returned to Scotland the following year to resume his old job. He was thought to be involved in a plot against Cardinal Beaton.

In 1544, he began preaching and took on a young disciple named John Knox. His outspoken views against the Papacy caused frequent trouble as he moved from place to place, until he was apprehended by the Earl of Bothwell on the orders of Cardinal Beaton in Ormiston, East Lothian, in 1545. On 1 March 1546, he was sentenced to death in a'show trial' and burned at the stake in St Andrews.

Cardinal Beaton was later assassinated, in part in retaliation for Wishart's death. John Knox carried on Wishart's Calvinistic teachings.

Wishart Tartans

Wishart Dress

Wishart Hunting

Wishart Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Wishart Crest

Crest Description: A demi eagle with expanded wings, Proper

Coats of Arms of Wishart

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.