Colville

Clan Crest: A hind’s head couped at the neck, Argent

Clan Motto: Oblier Ne Puis (I cannot forget)

Origin of Name: Placename, Normandy

Lands: Roxburghshire and Ayrshire

Clan Chief: The Rt. Hon. The Viscount of Culross

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Colville Clan History

This name comes from the small Norman town of Colville-sur-Mer. They most likely traveled with William the Conqueror during the Norman Conquests. The Colvilles appear in Scotland for the first time in the 12th century. Philip de Colville was named as a witness on a charter from Malcolm IV to the Monastery of Dunfermline (main image of Dunfermline Abbey). Later, he was kidnapped (a common practice in medieval Europe) and later exchanged for the release of William the Lion in 1174. The Colvilles were given baronies in Roxburghshire as well as additional land in Ayrshire. William Phillips, Phillips' son, later obtained the barony of Kinnaird in Stirlingshire.

Sir Reginald Cheyne of Inverugie died in 1291. E'stace, the heiress of Sir William Colville of Oxnam, was his widow. She was a signatory to the Ragman Roll. Despite this, she is credited with improving the Colvilles' fortunes. She made grants to Melrose Abbey, which were later confirmed in 1324. David II confirmed the barony of Ochiltree in 1350.

After the murder of John Auchinleck, a friend of the Earl of Douglas, the Colvilles split with the Douglasses. The ensuing feud destroyed much of the Colville estates and cost them Kinnaird Castle, which was taken by force. The King then stabbed the Earl to death at Stirling Castle. In 1450, the Colvilles rebuilt their home far away from the Auchinlecks.

Sir Robert Colville was Queen Margaret's steward and master of James the 4th's household. To fight for the King, he raised an army from his estate. The majority of his army, along with Sir Robert, was defeated at Flodden in 1513. Sir James Colville of Ochiltree, Sir Robert's son, was appointed to the Royal Household in 1527. Three years later, in 1530, he swapped his estate at Ochiltree for the baronies of East Wemyss and Lochorshyre in Fife with Hamilton of Finnart. Unfortunately, he was later charged with treason, and his estates were taken over by the Crown and not released until 1543.

Sir James Colville of Easter Wemyss fought for King Henry IV in France. In 1604 he was given the title 'Lord Colville of Culross,' which is still held by the chiefs today. When the second Lord died without an heir in 1640, the title of Lord Colville was lost. The title was not restored until 1723, when 'de jure' John Colville was elevated to the peerage.

Honourable Charles Colville commanded the 21st Regiment of Foot at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Instead, the Honourable Alexander Colville chose a naval career, joining the navy in 1731. In 1755, he was promoted to the rank of commodore and led the Northumberland to America. He helped to liberate Quebec, which had been besieged by the French. Following this, he was promoted to Vice Admiral. After participating in the Battle of Waterloo and the Peninsular War, Sir Charles Colville was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. After his father's death, his son Charles was created Viscount Colville of Culross.

Colville, located in northern Washington, is named after Sir Andrew Colville, who discovered a tribe in the area. This family holds several titles, including Viscount Colville of Culross. The current Viscount (the thirteenth Lord Colville of Culross) was appointed in 1945.

Clan Colville Places & People

Clan Colville Individuals

Sir Charles Colville (1770-1843)

British military leader who rose to the rank of Lieutenant General after fighting in the Peninsular War and the Battle of Waterloo. Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath and Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Guelphic Order were bestowed upon him.

John Colville (c. 1540-1605)

He was the son of Robert Colville of Cleish in Kinross, a Scottish clergyman, judge, politician, and author.

He was educated at the University of St Andrews and became a Presbyterian minister, but his main interest was political intrigue, sending secret information to the English government about Scottish affairs. He joined the Earl of Gowrie's party and took part in the Ruthven Raid in 1582. In 1587, he briefly served on the judicial bench and as Commissioner for Stirling in the Scottish Parliament.

He was outlawed with the Earl of Bothwell in December 1591 after being implicated in the Earl of Bothwell's attack on Holyrood Palace. He is said to have retired abroad and joined the Roman Catholic Church. In 1605, he died in Paris.

Colville wrote several works, including an Oratio Funebris on Elizabeth I of England and some controversial political and religious essays. He is also said to have written The Historie and Life of King James the Sext, which was edited by T. Thompson for the Bannatyne Club in Edinburgh in 1825.

The Bannatyne Club published Colville's Original Letters, 1582-1603 in 1858, and it includes a biographical memoir by the editor, David Laing.

Colville Clan Tartans

There is no official Colville clan tartan. People with the surname can, however, wear the Ayrshire District tartan, which represents the area where the surname was traditionally found.

The Ayrshire tartan was created at the request of the Clan Boyd and Clan Cunningham Societies for Ayrshire families who did not have clan affiliations. The colors stand for:

The rising sun's gold

The land's green

The coast's brown

The color of the sea

The setting sun's red

Threadcount G/8 Y4 G32 DT16 B40 R4 B/8

District of Ayrshire

Clan Colville Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Colville Coat of Arms

Worn by everyone with the same name and ancestry

Description of the Crest:

Argent, a hind's head couped at the neck

Coat of Arms of Clan Colville

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.

COLVILLE (simple)

Sable, a cross moline argent

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Lord and Viscount Colville's Arms, and Lord Colvill of Ochiltree's Arms:

Quarterly, first and fourth: Argent, a moline sable (for Colville). Gules, a fess chequy argent and azure (for Lindsay), 2nd and 3rd.

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Cullross's Coleville

Quarterly (partitioned), 1st & 4th Gules, a fess chequy, Argent (silver or white), Sable (black); 2nd & 3rd Gules, a fess chequy, Argent (silver or white), and Azure (blue).