Charteris

Clan Crest: A dexter hand holding up a dagger paleways, Proper

Clan Motto: This is our Charter

Origin of Name : Placename, France

Region: Lowlands

Historic Seat: Gosford House, East Lothian

Clan Chief: The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Wemyss & March KT

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Charteris Clan History

This name is said to have originated in Chartres, a northern French city famous for its Gothic cathedral. One of the sons of a Lord of Chartres is thought to have come over to England during the Norman conquests, and one of his descendants is thought to have traveled north to Scotland with David I, settling in the Borders. The name 'de Carnoto' appears in a charter dated 1174 to the Abbey of Kelso (pictured above), which may be a Latin version of the name.

Longniddry, East Lothian: Gosford House. Gosford, the clan's seat, was built between 1790 and 1800 by the 7th Earl of Wemyss.

Sir Thomas de Charteris was appointed Lord High Chancellor of Scotland by Alexander III in 1280. Andrew de Charteris' name appears on the infamous Ragman's Roll in 1296. However, like many others who swore allegiance to Edward I, he became involved in the cause of Scottish independence. He lost the family estates as a result of this. Andrew's son William continued the family's support for the cause of independence by siding with Robert the Bruce, and he was present when Robert stabbed Comyn at the Minorite Friars church in Dumfries in 1306. Sir Thomas Charteris was appointed ambassador to England, ensuring Scotland's loyalty even more. In 1346, Sir Thomas was defeated at the Battle of Durham.

Sir James Douglas of Drumlanrig challenged Sir Robert Charteris, the eighth Laird, to a duel in 1530. The King watched the duel from the castle walls and had to send men to separate the opponents due to the ferocity of the duel.

Another branch of the family who settled in Perthshire has long contested the chiefship. They came up against the powerful Ruthvens, and when Patrick, Lord Ruthven, who was elected Provost of Perth, was removed from office and replaced by John Charteris of Kinfauns, Charteris was forced to attack Perth to gain entry. Charteris was forced to relinquish the title, which the Ruthvens held until 1584.

Sir John Charteris of Amisfield supported the Covenant but refused to take up arms against Charles I and was imprisoned for two years in Edinburgh. Following this, he fought alongside the Marquis of Montrose at Philiphaugh in 1645. In 1650, his brother Alexander Charteris followed Montrose and was captured and executed in Edinburgh. Alexander was executed by 'the maiden,' Scotland's own guillotine. This heinous device is still on display at the Museum of Antiquities in Edinburgh.

Colonel Francis Charteris left behind a daughter who married the Earl of Wemyss. Francis, her second son, inherited the estates and took the name and arms of Charteris.

Charteris Places & People

People of Clan Charteris

Colonel Francis Charteris (1672-1732)

A British aristocrat known as "The Rape-Master General" had amassed a substantial fortune through gambling. In 1730, he was convicted of raping a servant. He was later pardoned, but died of natural causes not long after.

Charteris was born into a prominent Scottish family and christened in Amisfield, Dumfriesshire. Even before his rape conviction, he was known and despised by many Londoners as the archetypal rake. He had a long military career but was discharged four times, the third time by the Duke of Marlborough in Belgium for card cheating and the fourth time by Parliament for accepting bribes. Despite his dismissal from the army, he amassed a substantial fortune, and his daughter, Janet, married James Wemyss, 5th Earl of Wemyss in 1720.

Charteris inspired the characters in William Hogarth's paintings, A Rake's Progress and A Harlot's Progress (where he is depicted as the fat lecher in the first plate), as well as Fanny Hill. In his Moral Essay III, written in 1733, Alexander Pope condemned him. Charteris' sexual excesses were compared to the greed of politicians such as Robert Walpole. According to some sources, he was a founding member of the Hellfire Club, though the famous club founded by Sir Francis Dashwood did not begin meeting until 1743. He could have been a member of Philip Wharton, 1st Duke of Wharton's original "Hell-Fire Club" in 1720. Later admirer Leslie Charteris, creator of Simon Templar, The Saint, legally changed his name from Leslie Charles Bowyer-Yin.

Martin Michael Charles Charteris, 1st Baron Charteris of Amisfield GCB GCVO OBE QSO PC (1913-1999) -

Queen Elizabeth II's confidante and aide.

Hugo Charteris, Lord Elcho's son, was a brother of the 12th Earl of Wemyss. He attended Eton and the Royal Military College Sandhurst before serving in the Middle East during WWII, rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He married Hon. Mary Margesson (daughter of the 1st Viscount Margesson) on his return and they had three children.

He became the Duchess of Edinburgh's Private Secretary in 1950 and served as her Assistant Private Secretary from her accession in 1952 until 1972, when he was promoted to Private Secretary. He held this position until semi-retiring in 1977, when he returned to Eton as Provost.

Charteris was probably best known for an interview he gave to The Spectator in 1995, in which he called the Duchess of York "vulgar," the Prince of Wales "whiney," and the Queen Mother "a bit of an ostrich."

Charteris Tartans

Although there is no registered Charteris tartan, people with the name can wear the Roxburgh District tartans, which reflect the region where the Charteris name was traditionally found.

Modern Roxburgh District

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Ancient Roxburgh District

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Muted Roxburgh District

Charteris Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Charteris Coat of Arms

Worn by everyone with the same name and ancestry

Description of the Crest:

Properly, a dexterous hand holds up a dagger.

Coat of Arms of Clan Charteris

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.