Bannerman

Gaelic Name: Mac a’ Bhrataich

Clan Crest: A demi man in armour holding in his right hand a sword, Proper

Clan Motto: Pro Patria (For my country)

Origin of Name: Bearer of the Royal Standard

Clan Chief: Sir David Bannerman of Elsick Bt

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Clan Bannerman History

Bannerman has something in common with other Scottish names like Armstrong and Turnbull in that it refers to a historical event. During the reigns of Malcolm III or Alexander I in the late 11th and early 12th centuries, the King's forces gathered on the banks of the Spey, while a rebel army gathered on the other side. At its best, the Spey is a fast-flowing river, and the rebels felt safe as the waters rose. It was suggested to the King that he wait until the river had receded before crossing to meet the rebel army. The sight of the rebels, however, infuriated the king, and he took off into the river to meet them. Sir Alexander Carron, the king's chamberlain, realized the king was in danger and rode after him with the royal standard. When the rest of the King's army saw the standard being carried across the river, they followed and defeated the rebels. Sir Alexander Carron was appointed hereditary Standard Bearer to the King as a reward for his quick thinking and bravery. His descendants continue to carry the Scottish royal banner at appropriate ceremonies.

In 1367, David II granted the Bannermans the land of Clyntrees, Waterton, and Welltown. The Abbott of Kinloss later granted the family land west of Aberdeen in 1370.

The North East of Scotland was the scene of intense clan feuds between the Gordons and Forbes toward the end of the 16th century. The Bannermans were caught in the middle of this bloody conflict and initially supported Clan Forbes. Margaret Bannerman, on the other hand, married George Gordon of Haddo, son of Sir John Gordon, in 1608. Sir John was a King Charles I loyalist who was executed for opposing the National Covenant.

Alexander Bannerman of Pitmedden, who supported the King and nearly lost his estates during the civil war, was also a supporter of the King. During the restoration, Charles II made Sir Alexander Bannerman a Baronet of Nova Scotia for his loyalty in 1682. During the first Jacobite uprising, Alexander's son Patrick supported the Stuarts, siding with the 'Old Pretender' James Francis Edward Stuart. Alexander was knighted by James VIII in 1715, but his support for the Jacobites led to his execution when the uprising failed. Fortunately, he was able to flee to France.

Despite this, when Charles Edward Stewart arrived in Scotland, the Bannermans backed him. Sir Alexander, son of the second baronet, joined the Jacobites at Stirling in 1745 with 160 men and stayed with the Prince until Culloden, fleeing to the north and then to France after the battle. Sir Alexander Bannerman, fourth Baronet, was forced to sell the Elsick estates due to their Jacobite connections in the climate that followed. Sir Alexander Bannerman, previously Governor of the Bahamas, acquired the estates in 1851 and returned them to the family.

From 1905 to 1908, Sir Campbell Bannerman was the Liberal Prime Minister. After Arthur Balfour resigned, Edward VII appointed him Prime Minister in 1905. He was in charge of appointing Herbert Asquith and David Lloyd George to the cabinet, two of the country's most well-known prime ministers. In 1908, Asquith succeeded him, and he died just a few days later.

John Bannerman was a legendary rugby player who earned 39 caps for Scotland. In 1967, he was created a life peer as Lord Bannerman of Kidonan, and he died in 1969.

The Cameron Highlanders were led by the thirteenth Baronet. He trained as a Russian interpreter and later taught at Gordonstoun and Fettes Colleges in Edinburgh. His son currently serves as chief.

Clan Bannerman Places & People

Helen Bannerman (1862-1946)

Helen Bannerman was born in Edinburgh in 1862 and spent her early childhood in Madeira, where her father was a minister. She was later educated privately in Edinburgh and graduated from St Andrews University. In 1889, she married army doctor Will Bannerman and moved to India.

'Little Black Sambo,' a book consisting of illustrated letters to her two daughters still in Scotland, was published in 1899. Due to some bad copyright advice, she sold the rights to the book, which resulted in bad copies of the work appearing with new illustrations, giving the work a racist slant that was never intended in the original. The Story of Little Babaji was re-illustrated in 1996 by illustrator Fred Marcellino, who noted that the story itself had no racist overtones.

She wrote and published nine more children's books before dying at the age of 84 in Edinburgh.

Lord Bannerman of Kildonan John MacDonald (1902-1969)

John Macdonald, who was born in Glasgow, earned 37 caps for Scotland in rugby. He was president of An Comunn Gaidhealach and composed many Gaelic songs. He was a well-known broadcaster and supporter of the Gaelic language.

In 1967, he was made a life peer.

Clan Bannerman Tartans

Because there is no registered Bannerman tartan, Bannermans can choose to wear Forbes tartans as a sept of Clan Forbes.

Forbes the Elder

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Forbes Contemporary

Clan Bannerman Crest & Coats of Arms

Bannerman Clan Crest

Worn by everyone with the same name and ancestry

Description of the Crest:

A demi-man in armour wielding a sword in his right hand, Proper

Coat of Arms of Clan Bannerman

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.