Clan Lindsay

File:Lindsay tartan (Vestiarium Scoticum - plate).svg

The Lindsays were prominent in both England and Scotland from the late 11th century.{{cite book |last1=Way |first1=George of Plean |last2=Squire |first2=Romilly of Rubislaw |author-link2=Romilly Squire of Rubislaw |author-link1=George Way of Plean |year=1994 |title=Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia |location=Glasgow |publisher=HarperCollins (for the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs) |isbn=0-00-470547-5 |pages=196–197}} The surname derives from the region of Lindsey in England (the name of which comes from the Old English for "island of Lincoln"), from where the family originated.{{cite web|publisher=Surname Database|title=Last name: Lindsay|url=http://www.surnamedb.com/surname/lindsay|access-date=1 May 2015}}

In Domesday Book, Sir Baldric de Lindsey of Hemingby is recorded as holding a number of estates in Lindsey in 1086.{{cite web|publisher=Open Domesday by Anna Powell-Smith|title=Baldric of Lindsey |url=https://opendomesday.org/name/baldric-of-lindsey/|access-date=23 Oct 2021}} Sir Baldric's sons, Sir Walter and William de Lindsay accompanied David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon, to claim his throne. William's son, William de Lindsay, sat in the Parliament of 1164 and was later a justiciar. William Lindsay held the lands of Crawford and Luffness. The chief's premier title was later Earl of Crawford. His son, Sir William Lindsay, who sat in Parliament as Baron of Luffness in East Lothian, married Alice de Limesi, and from their younger son Sir William Lindsay, dapifer to the High Steward of Scotland, descends the Earl of Crawford.The Scots Peerage: Founded on Wood's ed. of Sir Robert Douglas's Peerage of Scotland; containing an historical and genealogical account of the nobility of that kingdom

by Paul, James Balfour, Sir, 1846–1931

Sir William Lindsay's elder son was Sir David Lindsay who married a member of the royal family named Margerie. David died in 1214 and was succeeded as Lord Crawford and High Justiciar of Lothian by his son who was also called David. This David also inherited the estates of Limesi and Wolveray. One of his cousins was another Sir David Lindsay who was Chamberlain of Scotland in 1256.

The aforementioned David Lindsay's grandson was yet another David whose seal was appended to the letter of 1320 to the Pope, asserting the independence of Scotland, that was more often known as the Declaration of Arbroath. His second son, Sir James Lindsay, married Egidia, daughter of Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, and Marjory Bruce, daughter of Robert The Bruce and Isabella de Mar, and half-sister of David II of Scotland, son of Robert the Bruce and his second wife, Elizabeth de Burgh.

In 1390, Sir David Lindsay famously took part in a tournament at London Bridge, in the presence of Richard II of England. At the tournament Lindsay won the day and the admiration of the English king. Lindsay was created Earl of Crawford on 21 April 1398. In 1403, he was Lord High Admiral of Scotland and in 1406, he was sent as an ambassador to England.

The Lindsays fought at the Battle of Arbroath in 1445.[http://canmore.rcahms.gov.uk/en/site/35543/details/arbroath/ Arbroath] canmore.rcahms.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 July 2013. In 1452, Alexander Lindsay, 4th Earl of Crawford, joined in a rebellion against James II of Scotland and fought at the Battle of Brechin where the royal forces were victorious. Alexander Lindsay was attained for treason but was later pardoned.

The fifth Earl of Crawford rose high in royal favour. He was successively Lord High Admiral of Scotland, Master of the Royal Household, Lord Chamberlain and High Justiciary. In 1488 he was created Duke of Montrose by King James III, but this was annulled after the king's death. The sixth Earl of Crawford was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513,{{cite book |last=Guthrie |first=William |author-link=William Guthrie (historian) |year=1767 |title=A General History of Scotland |url=https://archive.org/details/ageneralhistory14guthgoog/page/n6/mode/2up |volume=4 |location=Paternoster Row, London |publisher=A. Hamilton, Robinson and Roberts |pages=[https://archive.org/details/ageneralhistory14guthgoog/page/n366/mode/2up 371]-372 |access-date=May 7, 2023}} while on close attendance to King James IV.

Ludovic Lindsay, 16th Earl of Crawford, learned his trade as a soldier on the Continent. He later fought for King Charles I during the civil war where he commanded a cavalry regiment at the Battle of Marston Moor. He was later captured supporting James, Marquis of Montrose, at the Battle of Philiphaugh in 1645. The earldom of Crawford was succeeded to by his kinsman John Lindsay, Earl of Lindsay. The Crawford title remained with this branch of the family until it passed to the Earl of Balcarres in the 19th century, who were descended from a younger son of the ninth Earl of Crawford. This branch of the family had been created Earls of Balcarres in 1650 for services during the civil war.

The first Earl of Balcarres was made hereditary governor of Edinburgh Castle. He was also made Secretary of State for Scotland and High Commissioner to the General Assembly. His younger son was Colin Lindsay, 3rd Earl of Balcarres, who was a staunch Jacobite and fought during the Jacobite rising of 1715. He only escaped being attained for treason through the intervention of the Duke of Marlborough who was a lifelong friend of his. In 1739, John Lindsay, 20th Earl of Crawford, was made Lieutenant-Colonel of the newly formed 43rd Regiment of Foot ("Black Watch" regiment) that supported the British Government during the Jacobite rising of 1745 and had been formed from the ten Independent Highland Companies of "Black Watch".Simpson, Peter. (1996). The Independent Highland Companies, 1603 – 1760. {{ISBN|0-85976-432-X}}. pp. 115 – 118.

File:Lindsay arms.svg|Traditional Lindsay arms

File:Arms of Lindsay (Earl Crawford).svg|Lindsay, Earls of Crawford

File:Arms of Lindsay, Duke of Montrose.svg|Lindsay, Duke of Montrose

File:Arms of Lindsay of Westville.svg|Lindsay, Earls of Balcarres (1624)

File:Arms of Lindsay, Earl of Balcarres.svg|Lindsay, Earls of Balcarres (1670)

File:Arms of Lindsay of Balcarres.svg|Lindsay of Balcarres

File:Arms of Lindsay of Balgawies.svg|Lindsay of Balgawies

File:Arms of Lindsay of Barnyards.svg|Lindsay of Barnyards

File:Arms of Lindsay of Blacksolme.svg|Lindsay of Blacksolme

File:Arms of Lindsay of Bonhill (alternate).svg|Lindsay of Bonhill

File:Arms of Lindsay of Broadland.svg|Lindsay of Broadland

File:Arms of Lindsay of Byres.svg|Lindsay of the Byres

File:Arms of Lindsay of Cavill.svg|Lindsay of Cavill

File:Arms of Lindsay of Covington.svg|Lindsay of Covington

File:Arms of Lindsay of Crossbasket.svg|Lindsay of Crossbasket

File:Arms of Lindsay of Culsh.svg|Lindsay of Culsh

File:Arms of Lindsay of Dowhill.svg|Lindsay of Dowhill

File:Arms of Lindsay of Dunrod.svg|Lindsay of Dunrod

File:Arms of Lindsay of Eaglescairnie.svg|Lindsay of Eaglescairnie

File:Arms of Lindsay of Edzell.svg|Lindsay of Edzell

File:Arms of Lindsay of Evelick.svg|Lindsay of Evelick

File:Arms of Lindsay of Garnock.svg|Lindsay of Garnock

File:Arms of Lindsay of Kilspindie.svg|Lindsay of Kilspindie

File:Arms of Lindsay of Linbank.svg|Lindsay of Linbank

File:Arms of Lindsay of Loughry.svg|Lindsay of Loughry

File:Arms of Lindsay of Menmuir.svg|Lindsay of Menmuir

File:Arms of Lindsay of Mount.svg|Lindsay of the Mount

File:Arms of Lindsay of Pitscandlie.svg|Lindsay of Pitscandlie

File:Arms of Lindsay of Pitscarlies and Cairn.svg|Lindsay of Pitscarlies and Cairn

File:Arms of Lindsay of Pyctstone and Wormstone.svg|Lindsay of Pyotstone

File:Arms of Lindsay of Rossie.svg|Lindsay of Rossie

File:Arms of Lindsay of Spynie.svg|Lindsay of Spynie

File:Arms of Lindsay of Cumberland.svg|Lindsay of Staplegorton

File:Arms of Lindsay of Virginia.svg|Lindsay of Virginia

File:Arms of Lindsay of Wauchopdale.svg|Lindsay of Wauchopedale

File:Arms of Lindsay of Wormistone.svg|Lindsay of Wormestone

File:Arms of Lindsay and Limésy.svg|Ancestral arms of Alice de Limési

• Balcarres House is the current seat of the Chief. It was built by John Lindsay of Balcarres in 1595.{{cite book |last=Coventry |first=Martin |year=2008 |title=Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans |location=Musselburgh |publisher=Goblinshead |pages=332–336 |isbn=978-1-899874-36-1}}
• Edzell Castle was the original castle of the Chief of Clan Lindsay which they acquired in 1357 and retained ownership until 1715.
• Crawford Castle, to the north of the village of Crawford, South Lanarkshire, was from where the Earldom of Crawford was created and it was also known as Lindsay Tower.
• Luffness Castle, East Lothian.
• Lamberton Castle, Scottish Borders
• Wauchope Castle, Dumfries and Galloway.
• Carsluith Castle.
• Spynie Palace.
• Lordscairnie Castle.
• Byres Castle, East Lothian.
• Garleton Castle, East Lothian.
• Barnweill Castle, South Ayrshire.
• Craigie Castle, South Ayrshire.
• Lindsane

• Dunrod Castle, Inverkip.

• Earl of Crawford
• Earl of Lindsay
• Lord Spynie
• Scottish clan

{{reflist|2}}

• [http://www.clanlindsaysociety.co.uk clanlindsaysociety.co.uk]
• [http://www.clanlindsay.com clanlindsay.com]

{{Scottish clans}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lindsay, Clan}}

Category:Scottish clans

Category:Scottish Lowlands