Hay

Gaelic Name: Mac Garaidh

Clan Crest: Issuing out of a crest coronet a falcon volant Proper, armed, jessed and belted Or

Clan Motto: Serva jugum (Keep the yoke)

Origin of Name: French, hail (a hedge)

Clan Badge: Mistletoe

Lands: Aberdeenshire and Tweeddale

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

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Hay Clan History

The de la Hayes were a powerful Norman family, princes of which came to England with William the Conqueror in 1066. The name means hedge and has not been translated into English. However, in Gaelic, the nameholders became Garadh, a word that encompassed hedge, wall, dyke, and defensive stockade. Clan Hay's Chief is still known as Mac Garaidh Mor.

By 1160, the Hays had established themselves in Scotland. William de la Haye served as Malcolm IV's cupbearer before becoming the first Lord of Errol and the husband of Eva, Lady of Petmulin, a Scoto-Pictish heiress. By marrying Ethna, daughter of the Earl of Strathearn, one of Scotland's most ancient earldoms, their son David further integrated the line into the ruling classes.

Sir Gilbert Hay, 5th Lord of Errol, fought alongside Robert the Bruce in many battles, including Bannockburn. He was rewarded with the powerful hereditary position of Constable of Scotland, as well as much of Bruce's defeated enemies the Comyns' lands, including their Buchan coast stronghold Slains.

When the country was forced to undergo the Reformation, the Hays, along with other Catholics such as the Red Douglases and the Gordons, attempted to form an alliance with Philip II of Spain. Finally, Errol and Huntly were declared outlaws by James VI, and both were forced into exile, while the King personally oversaw the demolition of Slain Castle, which is still standing today.

Whether it was better for his soul or not, Errol found that changing his religion was better for his position, and he was able to return from exile into royal favor. The Order of the Thistle was bestowed upon the 13th Earl of Errol by James VIII, the 'Old Pretender,' in recognition of his assistance in the 1715 rising. Mary, his sister and successor, was deeply involved in the administration of the Jacobites, using the ruins of Slain Castle as a point of contact. In 1745, she led the Hays to fight for Bonnie Prince Charlie. When she died in 1758, her great-nephew, James Boyd, inherited everything, including the Earldom and Chiefship.

If his father's title and head had not been removed for treason in 1746, James would have been the Earl of Kilmarnock as well.

William Hay, the 19th Earl, founded the fishing village of Port Errol and was well-known for his generous support of fishermen's widows.

The Hays of Yester, who became the Marquesses of Tweedale, are another branch of the Hays family.

Hay Places & People

Clan Hay People

2nd Earl and 1st Marquis of Tweeddale John Hay (1626-97)

Hay, a Covenant supporter, later supported Charles I and fought for him at Preston. He was imprisoned for speaking out against James Guthrie's execution. Then, in 1663, he sponsored the Indulgences.

The influence of his moderate views is a good predictor of the feelings of moderates throughout Scotland. In 1694, he was created a Marquis for his services to William of Orange. Hay was appointed to conduct an investigation into the Glencoe Massacre, the findings of which implicated King William and Dalrymple of Stair.

While Dalrymple bore the brunt of the blame for the murders, William attempted to improve his reputation north of the border by promising a Scottish trading company. Hay was elevated to the position of governor as a result of this, but when William destroyed the Darien Venture, it was Hay who bore the brunt of the blame, leading to his dismissal in 1697.

Hay, John MacDougall (1881-1919)

Hay was born in Tarbet, Loch Lomond, and attended Glasgow University before going on to teach in Stornoway and Ullapool. Always plagued by illness, he returned to Glasgow and became a minister in Govan.

While working on his first and most acclaimed novel, he worked as a freelance journalist. In 1914, "Gillespie" was published. He finished two more novels before his death at the age of thirty-eight.

Hay, George Campbell

Hay, George Campbell (1915–84).

John MacDougall Hay's son was George Campbell Hay. George did not learn Gaelic until he was a teenager, but he persevered and went on to become a significant Gaelic poet.

In 1947, he published his first collection, "Fuaran Slèibh" (The Upland Spring). Nature, love, politics, and philosophy were all themes in the works. His later work became more political.

He struggled with mental illness in the latter half of his life. His final great work, begun in the 1940s, was called "Mochtàr is Dùghall" (Mokhtar and Dougall) and was released in 1982.

Hay Tartans

Ancient Hay

Hay Contemporary

Hay Crest & Coats of Arms

The Hay Clan Crest

Crest Description: A falcon volant issuing from a crest coronet. Or, proper, armed, jessed, and belted

Coats of Arms of Hay

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.

Earl of Errol HAY

Gules, three escutcheons argent.

Charles Hay, a banker in Edinburgh's New Town, was granted arms by Lord Lyon on May 6, 1865.

These arms feature the three red shields that are a common feature of Hay arms (compare these to the uniformed arms quartered into the Seton recording that was featured in this album a few weeks ago). The blue border and star were added to distinguish Charles as the representative of a particular cadet branch of the Hays from the 16th century.

The blazon is as follows: Argent, three inescutcheons Gules, a mullet Azure for difference in the center, all within a bordure of the Last, and for crest, a goat's head Argent horned Or charged on the neck with a mullet Azure.