Leask

Clan Crest: A crescent Argent

Clan Motto: Virtute Cresco (I grow by virtue)

Origin of Name: From the Anglo-Saxon word 'lisse,' which means 'joyful.'

Region: Lowlands

Clan Chief: Jonathan Leask of That Ilk

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Leask Clan History

There are several theories as to the origin of this name: one is from the Anglo-Saxon 'lisse,' which means 'happy,' another is from the Norse for'stirring fellow,' and a recent suggestion is from Liscus, chief of the Haedui, a Gaulish tribe described by Julius Caesar in his Gallic Wars. Also, the Castle of Boulogne, once owned by Charlemagne, was once owned by the de Lesque family.

William de Laskereske's signature appears on the Ragman Roll in 1296, and in 1345, David II, the son of Robert the Bruce, granted William Leask lands in Leskgoroune.

The baillie of the barony of Findon was the second chief. In 1390, he inherited lands from Henry de Brogan, Lord of Achlowne; later in the 1400s, another branch of the family established itself on Orkney after Jamis of Lask, younger son of Thomas de Lask of that Ilk, settled there.

In 1513, both William Lask of that Ilk, 5th Chief, and his son, Alexander Lask of that Ilk, Younger, dsp, were killed at the Battle of Flodden; the latter's younger brother, William Lask, Burgess of Aberdeen, then became the 6th Leask Chief.

After the murder of Lord Darnley and her scandalous marriage to Bothwell, William Lesk of that Ilk, the seventh chief, supported the infant James VI in opposition to his mother Mary Queen of Scots.

There appears to have been some sort of disagreement between the Leasks and the neighboring Gordons between 1615 and 1616. The Gordons appear to have been the aggressors in all of the recorded cases; Adam Gordon, brother of the Laird of Gight, assaulted Alexander Leask, then the chief's son was attacked by George Gordon, and finally William Leask of that Ilk was ambushed by John Gordon of Ardlogy and a party of armed men.

The Leasks suffered greatly in the seventeenth century after heavily investing in the Darien Venture. The venture was a failure, with a large portion of Scotland's wealth lost, which contributed to the union of Scotland and England. The thirteenth chief, Alexander Leask of that Ilk, was forced to give up his estates, which were taken over by Robert Cumming.

Until the latter half of the nineteenth century, there are few family records. Finally, in 1963, some of the estates were repurchased, and the Leask society was founded with the help of well-known Leasks such as Lieutenant General Sir Henry Leask, General Officer Commanding the Army in Scotland.

Lord Lyon finally recognized the current chief in 1968.

Leask Places & People

Soon to come

Leask Tartans

Tartan Tarsk

The tartans listed below are also appropriate for the name:

Ancient Hay

Hay Contemporary

Leask Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Leask Crest

Coats of Arms of Leask:

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.