Cathcart

Clan Crest: A dexter hand couped above the wrist and erect, Proper, grasping a crescent, Argent

Clan Motto: I Hope To Speed

Origin of Name: Placename, Renfrewshire

Historic Seat: Cathcart Castle, Glasgow

Clan Chief: The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Cathcart

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Clan Cathcart History

The River Cart flows through Renfrewshire and the south side of Glasgow. This is where the name Cathcart comes from. The clan's first mention appears in 1178, when Rainaldus de Kethcart witnessed a charter by Walter Fitzalan to the Church of Kethcart for the monastery of Paisley. Around 1200, his son, William de Kethcart, witnessed another charter, and in 1234, Alan de Cathcart sealed a charter of resignation to the Abbot of Paisley of lands at Culbeth.

Cathcart Castle, the clan's former seat, is still standing. The castle was constructed in the 1400s and demolished in the 18th century. The ruins were demolished in 1980, leaving only the foundations.

His son, William de Cathcart, appears on the Ragman Roll, but he was succeeded by Sir Alan de Cathcart, who backed Robert the Bruce. He fought alongside the King's brother, Edward, and was very successful in a surprise attack on the English in Galloway during one of the many guerrilla raids during the wars of independence. Sir Alan remained close to the family after marrying the sister of Sir Duncan Wallace of Sundrum, who had married Eleanor Bruce, Countess of Carrick. Sir Alan de Cathcart, his grandson, acquired estates in Carrick. He was given the title 'Lord Cathcart' in 1447. Until 1718, the main family seat was the estate of Auchencruive in Ayrshire.

The second Lord Cathcart was killed in the Battle of Flodden in 1513, and the third Lord died in the Battle of Pinkie in 1547. Alan, the fourth Lord, was a staunch protestant who fought Mary, Queen of Scots at Langside in 1568.

Charles Cathcart, the eighth Lord, rose through the ranks of the Scots Grays. In 1709, he was appointed colonel of the regiment. During the 1715 Jacobite uprising at Sheriffmuir, he fought against the Jacobites. Charles Cathcart advanced to the rank of Major General. The ninth Lord also opposed the Jacobites, served as the Duke of Cumberland's aide-de-camp, and fought at Culloden. He was given the moniker 'Patch Cathcart' because of a patch he wore on his cheek to conceal a battle scar. His son also served in the military, rising to the rank of lieutenant general. He fought Napoleon and scored a major victory against his forces in Denmark when he captured sixty Danish ships in Copenhagen with Admiral Gambier. For this, he was created "Viscount Cathcart of Cathcart," "Baron Greenock," and, later, "Earl Cathcart."

The military tradition was carried on by the second Earl, who fought in the Peninsular War and the Battle of Waterloo. He rose to command the Scottish army and rule over Edinburgh Castle. The current chief's father held the rank of major general.

Clan Cathcart Places & People

Cathcart Clan Members

9th Lord Cathcart, General Charles Schaw Cathcart (1721-1776)

Charles Cathcart, 8th Lord Cathcart, and Marion Shaw had a son. Opposed to the restoration of the Stuart monarchy, he became an aide-de-camp to the Duke of Cumberland and was shot in the face during the Battle of Fontenoy in 1745. The black silk patch he used to cover the scar on his cheek is visible in Joshua Reynolds' portrait (1753-5). This appears to have earned him the moniker 'Patch Cathcart'. Cathcart was wounded in battle again the following year while acting as ADC to Cumberland at the Battle of Culloden.

Charles was the last Lord Cathcart to inherit the Sundrum estate. In 1758, after inheriting his mother's estates in Greenock, he sold Sundrum to James Murray of Broughton. He was made a Knight of the Order of the Thistle in 1763. He was appointed ambassador to St. Petersburg in February 1768 and was well received by Catherine the Great. He was a member of the Russian court until 1772. In 1773, upon his return to Britain, he was elected Rector of Glasgow University.

He died on August 14, 1776.

Clan Cathcart Locations

Cathcart Castle was built in the 1400s on lands owned by the Cathcart family since the 12th century. Construction of the fortress is thought to have begun around the mid-15th century, when the head of the Cathcart clan was made a Lord.

Cathcart Castle was passed to the Semples in 1546, who abandoned it in 1740 after constructing Cathcart House, which has since been demolished. In 1814, William Schaw Cathcart, 1st Earl Cathcart (son of the 8th Lord Cathcart), purchased the castle's remains with the intention of selling the stones rather than rebuilding the former stronghold. Linn Park was established in 1927 after Glasgow City Council purchased the lands surrounding the castle. By 1980, the ruins of the castle were deemed dangerous and were removed by the council, leaving only the foundations of the castle.

Clan Cathcart Tartans

Although there is no registered Cathcart tartan, people with the name can wear the Paisley District tartan, which represents the area where the name was traditionally found.

District of Paisley

Clan Cathcart Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Cathcart Coat of Arms

Worn by everyone with the same name and ancestry

Description of the Crest:

Proper, a dexter hand couped above the wrist and erect, grasping a crescent, Argent.

Coat of Arms of Clan Cathcart

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.