Lennox

Clan Crest: Two broadswords in saltire behind a swan’s head and neck, all Proper

Clan Motto: I’ll Defend

Clan Badge: A rose slipped Gules

Lands: Dunbartonshire

Clan Chief: Edward Lennox Of That Ilk

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Lennox Clan History

The Lennox clan was important in early Scottish history. The Earldom of Lennox included parts of Renfrewshire, Stirlingshire, and Perthshire in addition to Dunbartonshire. The name is derived from the ancient Celtic Mormaers of Levenax, from whom the Earls of Lennox descended.

Several theories exist regarding the clan's origins, but by the end of the 13th century, the powerful Earls had established a strong power base, with the fifth Earl being a prominent supporter of Bruce's claim to the throne. Despite commanding an army besieging Carlisle in 1296, the fifth Earl signed the Ragman's Roll, swearing allegiance to Edward I of England. However, like many of his noble contemporaries, he quickly switched his support to the cause of Scottish independence.

When there was no male heir, the earldom was bestowed on Walter de Fasselane in 1373 through the previous earl's only daughter, Margaret. Later, they gave the title to their son Duncan. Duncan's daughter married the Duke of Albany, who was Scotland's Regent from 1419 to 1425. His reign as regent was cut short when an enraged James I returned from incarceration in England and set about exacting revenge on Albany for his brother's murder. In 1425, the Earl was beheaded alongside the Duke, and his daughter was imprisoned alongside her son, who was later executed.

This unfortunate association with Albany effectively shattered the Lennoxes' great power. Despite the fact that the dead Earl's daughter was eventually released, the vast Lennox lands were divided, with descendants from her sisters each claiming a portion of the estate; from one half descended the Menteiths of Rusky, and from the other, the Stewarts, later Lords Darnley. In 1488, John, Lord Darnley was appointed Earl of Lennox.

His descendant Matthew helped to restore the Earldom's power with the sheriffship of Dunbartonshire in 1503, but he was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.

The youngest son of the fourth Stewart Earl is probably the most well-known. Mary Queen of Scots married Henry, Lord Darnley. His assassination triggered a turbulent period in Scottish history that ultimately cost Mary her life.

Her son James inherited the Earldom when he became James VI of Scotland and James I of England. These he passed on to his father's uncle. When he died without leaving an heir, the King bestowed the title on Esmé Stuart, son of John, Lord de Aubigny, Governor of Avignon. He was made Duke of Lennox and High Chamberlain of Scotland in 1581.

A generation later, without an heir, the title passed back to the throne, this time to Charles II. Charles Lennox, the King's illegitimate son, inherited the Dukedom of Lennox and Richmond. The line has remained unbroken since then. The Lennoxes of Woodhead claimed the right to the title and honors of the ancient Earls of Lennox in the nineteenth century. Their claim was never proven, but they were recognized as the chief family of the name.

Lennox Places & People

Clan Lennox People

Charlotte Ramsay Lennox (circa 1730 - 1804)

18th-century British author and poet. She is best known for her work on The Female Quixote and her friendships with Samuel Johnson, Joshua Reynolds, and Samuel Richardson, but she had a long career and wrote poetry, prose, and plays.

She was most likely born in Gibraltar. Her father, Scottish captain James Ramsay, served in the British Navy, and her mother was Scottish and Irish. At the age of fifteen, she accepted a position in London as a "companion" to the widow Mary Luckyn. However, when she arrived in London, she discovered that Mary Luckyn had gone insane, and the position was canceled. She later became Lady Isabella Finch's companion.

Poems on Several Occasions, her first volume of poetry, was dedicated to Lady Finch in 1747. Charlotte tried her hand at acting around 1750. She didn't fare well with this. In the same year, she published her most popular poem, The Art of Coquetry, in Gentleman's Magazine. Around this time, she met Samuel Johnson, who held her in high regard. Johnson threw a lavish party for Mrs. Lennox when her first novel, The Life of Harriot Stuart, Written by Herself, was published.

Both Samuel Richardson and Samuel Johnson reviewed and contributed to Lennox's second and most successful novel, The Female Quixote, or, The Adventures of Arabella, and Henry Fielding praised it in his Covent Garden Journal. Henrietta, her third novel, was published in 1758 and sold well, but it did not earn her any money.

Harriot Holles Lennox (d. 1782) and George Lewis Lennox (b. 1771) were her two children who survived infancy. For many years, she was estranged from her husband, and the couple finally divorced in 1793. After their divorce, he moved to America, leaving her in poverty and relying solely on the Literary Fund. She died on January 4, 1804 and was buried in Broad Court Cemetery in an unmarked grave.

Mr. Bobby Lennox

Bobby Lennox MBE (born 1943)

Professional footballer from Scotland. Lennox joined Celtic on provisional terms in September 1961 and made his first-team debut the following March. He went on to score 273 league goals in 571 appearances for Celtic, giving him the club's second highest scoring record. Eleven League medals, eight Scottish Cup medals, and four League Cup medals (scoring 63 goals in the competition) were his haul. He also won a European Cup medal with the Celtic team known as the Lisbon Lions when they won the competition.

He also earned ten international caps for Scotland, a total that would have been much higher if not for the fierce competition for his position. Fans dubbed him "Buzz Bomb" or "Lemon" because he made defenders look like "suckers."

In November 2005, he was inducted into the Scottish Football Museum Hall of Fame. In 1981, he was also given an MBE.

Annie Lennox (born 1954)

British rock musician and vocalist with Oscar, Brit, Grammy, and Golden Globe nominations. She is a solo artist as well as the lead singer for the duo Eurythmics. Ann Lennox was born in the Scottish city of Aberdeen. She was a student at Aberdeen High School for Girls. She received her classical music education at the Royal Academy of Music in London, where she studied the flute.

After three years as The Tourists' lead singer, Lennox rose to prominence as the alto, soul-tinged lead singer of the 1980s pop duo Eurythmics with British musician David A. Stewart. In the 1980s, the duo released a slew of classic singles. Though the Eurythmics never officially disbanded, Lennox parted ways with Stewart in 1990, embarking on a long and equally successful solo career.

Annie Lennox has amassed a sizable fortune, estimated to be worth £30.95 million, through her work with both Eurythmics and as a solo artist. Uri Fruchtmann, to whom she was married from 1988 to 2000, is the father of her two daughters, Lola and Tali. From 1984 to 1985, she was married to Radha Raman.

David Thomas Lenox was born on December 8, 1802 and died on October 18, 1874.

David Thomas Lenox was an American pioneer who established the first Baptist Church west of the Rocky Mountains in Oregon Country. He was a New York native who had lived in Illinois and Missouri before leading the first wagon train across the Oregon Trail to what became the state of Oregon. He also established a number of schools and churches, as well as serving as a judge and justice of the peace. He settled in Oregon on the Tualatin Plains near Hillsboro and later in Eastern Oregon.

Lennox Tartans

Tartan of the Lennox District

Lennox Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Lennox Crest:

Crest Description: Two saltire broadswords behind a swan's head and neck, all Proper

Coats of Arms of Lennox:

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.