The forename Arthur may owe its origins to the Greek word "arktouros" meaning keeper of the bears and in the Celtic world it came to mean "strong as a bear". The name is now known around the world as a result of the legendary King Arthur who may have been a Celtic chieftain around the 6th century. The first reliable record of the name is in Adomnan's "Life of Columba" which tells of a king of the Scots called Aedan mac Gabhrain named his son Arthur, also in the 6th century.

The MacArthur clan is believed to have the same roots as the Campbells, but claims that further back they are descended from the legendary King Arthur, are unprovable. The clan is certainly regarded as ancient and there is a Gaelic saying "as old as the hills, the MacArthurs and the Devil". The more established records show that they originated from the district of Lennox, part of the old kingdom of Strathclyde and moved into Argyll. The clan seat was established at Strachur, on Loch Fyne.

The clan was at its peak in the 14th century when a MacArthur married the heiress of the progenitor of the Campbell lords of Loch Awe. The MacArthurs from Loch Awe supported Robert the Bruce and fought at the Battle of Bannockburn. Their leader, Mac-ic-Artair, was rewarded with land previously held by the MacDougalls of Lorne (who had supported the Comyns). The MacArthurs became keepers of Dunstaffnage castle.

When King James I attempted to subdue the Highland clans who were becoming too powerful in the 15th century, the MacArthurs were amongst those who bore the brunt of his actions. The clan chief, Iain MacArthur, who could summon 1,000 men, was executed in 1427 and most of the clan lands were confiscated. For all practical purposes that was the end of the clan; unlike others who suffered setbacks and managed to recover, the MacArthurs never regained their clan lands, though the name survived as many of the clan dispersed.

For a while, a sept of the MacArthurs were the hereditary pipers of the MacDonalds of Sleat, who were frequently at odds with the Campbells. Charles MacArthur, piper to Sir Alexander MacDonald, was a pupil of Patrick Og MacCrimmon. Another group of MacArthurs were armorours to MacDonald of Islay.

Towards the end of the 15th century, and into the 16th century, a number of MacArthurs held prominent positions in Argyll. Some of their neighbours became jealous and as a result of a skirmish on Loch Awe, Duncan MacArthur and his son were drowned. The Earl of Argyll ordered compensation to be paid but took advantage of the situation and appointed his nephew John to be leader of the Loch Awe MacArthurs.

In the 17th century, one of the MacArthurs of Milton in Dunoon rose to be a baillie in Kintyre and a chamberlain to the Marquess of Montrose in Cowal. Large numbers of MacArthurs fought on both sides during the Jacobite Uprisings in 1715 and 1745. After the '45, many emigrated to the West Indies and North America.

John MacArthur (1767-1834) came to New South Wales in Australia in 1790. He was one of the earliest sheep farmers there (he successfully crossed Bengal and Irish sheep and later introduced the Merino breed from South Africa). His sons planted the first vineyard in Australia.

In more modern times, US General Arthur MacArthur, whose parents came from Glasgow in Scotland, became Lieutenant-General in the Philippines in 1906. His son, General Douglas MacArthur, became even more famous in the Pacific and the Philippines during WW2 as commander of the US forces in the Far East.

The last clan chief of the MacArthurs died in India in the 1780s. He had no obvious male heir and so the hereditary chiefdom of the clan seemed to have died with him. But after a long gap, Canadian-born James Edward Moir MacArthur was recognized by the Lord Lyon in August 2002 as the Arthur clan chief. The new chief was 87 at that date and lived in Edinburgh. He had not sought the title - the research was initiated by a group of senior clan members. The genealogist had to go back to the 16th century to find a common ancestor for the last chief, Charles MacArthur of Tirivadich. The Lord Lyon further decreed that the Chief of Clan Arthur's shield should be "three antique crowns Or (gold) set on an Azure (blue) background". The silver cross molene which, up until now, was thought to form part of the Clan Arthur Chief's shield, has been omitted. James MacArthur's coat of arms now reverts to the earliest, original arms of Clan Arthur, a shield identical to the description given in ancient manuscripts for the legendary King Arthur's blazon. James MacArthur was officially inaugurated in April 2003 but the old chief died in April 2004.

The MacArthur clan motto is "Fide et opera" which means "By fidelity and labour".

Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the MacArthur clan are limited to Arthur.

Biography
The clan claims descent from Griogar, a son of Alpin, king of Dalriada but some genealogists question this. The first chief was probably "Gregor of the golden bridles" and his son, Iain Camm, succeeded as 2nd chief before 1390. Robert the Bruce granted the barony of Loch Awe to the Campbells and this covered much of the land occupied by the MacGregors. As a result, the clan were confined to Glenstrae.

In 1519 Iain of Glenstrae died without direct heirs and the Campbells supported the succession of Eian MacGregor (who was married to the daughter of Colin Campbell of Glenorchy). Eian's son, Alistair, fought at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547 but, following his death, Colin Campbell refused to acknowledge the claim to the land by Gregor Roy MacGregor. Gregor was forced to wage a guerilla war for ten years but was captured and killed by the Campbells in 1570.

MacGregors were involved in the killing of John Drummond, the king's forester (after Drummond had hung some MacGregors for poaching) in 1589 and MacGregors took part in the Conflict of Glenfruin in 1603. With encouragement from the Campbells, King James VI and the Privy Council issued an edict banning the use of the name MacGregor. The clan chief was hanged at Edinburgh's Mercat Cross in 1604. Many adopted the name Murray, Graham, Stewart, Grant and even Campbell. The surname was not fully restored until 1774.

In the 18th century there were disputes over the chieftainship but eventually John Murray (later MacGregor) of Lanrick was recognised. The MacGregors of Glengyle disputed this but eventually, following a petition signed by 800 MacGregors, the Lord Lyon recognised him as chief in 1775.

Rob Roy MacGregor (he was forced to use his mother's maiden name Campbell due to the proscription of the MacGregor name) was a younger son of MacGregor of Glengyle. He took part in the first Jacobite Uprising in 1715. Afterwards, his raids on Lowland farms and his prowess with the sword earned him a reputation which was considerably enhanced by Sir Walter Scott's romantic tales. Rob Roy died peacefully in 1734 and is buried with his family in the churchyard at Balquhidder. A 20th century addition to his grave is defiantly inscribed "MacGregor Despite Them"!

The MacGregor chief, Sir Evan MacGregor, played a prominent part in the visit of King George IV to Scotland in 1822 and he and his clansmen guarded the honours of Scotland (changed days from their former role as outlaws). And it was Sir Evan who had the honour of proposing the toast to the "chief of chiefs" King George, at the royal banquet in Edinburgh.

The MacMillans are descended from Gilchrist, one of six sons of Cormac, the Bishop of Dunkeld around 1100. Gilchrist was a monk in the Celtic church in Moray and his tonsured hair cut is rendered in Gaelic "Mhaoil-Iain" or "Gille Maolin". Around 1160 King Malcolm IV removed the MacMillans from Lochaber to Lawers in Perthshire. However, John, son of Malcolm Mor MacMillan returned to Lochaber in 1335 and the clan remained there for centuries until they were forced to leave by the Camerons.

The clan fought at the Battle of Bannockburn with Robert the Bruce in 1314 and were granted lands at Knapdale around 1360. A MacMillan tower, near Castle Sween is a reminder of their time there. Other branches of the clan settled in Galloway and Arran. It was Alexander MacMillan from Arran who established the publishing firm of MacMillan. Harold MacMillan, UK Prime Minister in 1957-1963 came from this family.



By 1742 the direct line of the MacMillan chieftainship had become extinct and the chieftainship passed to MacMillan of Dunmore at the side of Loch Tarbert. In 1951 Sir Gordon Holmes MacMillan of Finlaystone was recognised as clan chief by the Lyon Court. (The illustration here is of Finlaystone where clan gatherings have been held).

McMillan was the 67th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.

The clan motto is "Miseris sucurrere disco" ("I learn to succour the unfortunate").

The Brown and MacBaxter families are septs (sub-branches) of MacMillan.

The name originated from the barony of Malaville or Malleville in the Pays de Caux in Normandy. Guillame (William) de Malleville accompanied William the Conqueror to England and fought at the Battle of Hastings. Like many of major Scottish families, the de Mallevilles came to Scotland with King David I when he returned in 1124 after 30 years spent at the English court. They were granted lands in Midlothian, outside Edinburgh by King David. The first record of the name was as a witness to a charter granted by Malcolm IV, later in the 12th century. Galfrid de Maleville was a guardian of Edinburgh Castle in Malcolm's reign. A Richard Maluvell was one of those captured with King William at the Battle of Alnwick in 1174. Richard Maluvell's grand-daughter inherited the Barony of Melville which passed to the Ross family when she married Sir John Ross of Halkhead and the barony remained in that family until 1705.

Members of the family spread across Scotland and there are a number of documents with their signatures during the 12th and 13th century. When King Edward I of England demanded that all Scottish landowners and clergy should render homage to him and sign the "Ragman Rolls" in 1296, there were signatures from no less than twelve "Maleuill" (and other variant spellings), from as far afield as Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Stirling, Fife, Roxburgh and Peebles. Sir Johannes Maleuill, who signed the Rolls, was one of the major barons of Scotland at that time. His descendant, Sir John Melville of Raith was a favourite of King James V in the 16th century and obtained lands at Murdocairnie in Fife. Despite the royal patronage, he was an early supporter of the religious Reformation. As a friend of some of those who conspired to kill Cardinal Beaton of St Andrews, he was subsequently executed in 1550 on the evidence of a forged letter.

Sir Robert Melville of Murdocairnie was the keeper of the Palace of Linlithgow at the end of the reign of Mary Queen of Scots. Twenty years later, as an ambassador at the court of Queen Elizabeth, he was so outspoken about the sentence of death which had been pronounced on Mary by an English court, that he was threatened with imprisonment, despite his diplomatic status. Later, he became Vice-Chancellor of Scotland and took the title "Lord Murdocairnie". In 1616 he was created Baron Melville of Monymail. His son, also a judge, was given the title Lord Monymail in 1627 by King Charles I.

The fourth Lord Melville, a staunch Protestant, supported an unsuccessful rebellion by James, Duke of Monmouth, the illegitimate son of King Charles II. He had to flee abroad but returned with Queen Mary and William of Orange and became Secretary of State for Scotland and the first Earl of Melville. Despite trying to exercise a moderating influence on the conflict between the presbyterian and episcopal factions, there was nevertheless a witch-hunt of episcopalian ministers by the Church of Scotland. He married the granddaughter of the Covenanting general, Sandy Lesley and through his wife inherited the title of the earldom of Leven and the Castle of Balgonie in Fife (pictured here). Subsequent heirs have held the courtesy title of Lord Balgonie.

The family seat is Glenferness in Nairn. Melville Castle in Lothian, the original family home, was rebuilt by the Dundas family who took the title "Viscount Melville" although they have no connection with the Melville line.

The Melville clan has two mottoes - "Pro rege et patria" which means "For king and country" and "Denique coelum" which means "Heaven at last".

The early origin of this family is said to be a son of the king of Ulster who landed in Argyll around 1016 and was rewarded with land on the east side of Loch Lomond by King Malcolm II, for service in fighting Nordic invaders. The area was known as "Buth chanain", Gaelic for "house of the canon" and may have been connected with the ancient Celtic Church. The land was to remain in the possession of Buchanans until 1682 when the 22nd laird of Buchanan died and the estates had to be sold to repay debts. The mansion house of Buchanan is now owned by the Graham Dukes of Montrose.

The clan flourished after supporting Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Independence at the start of the 14th century.

In the 15th century, Sir Alexander Buchanan was amongst the 7,000 Scots who fought in France against King Henry IV of England, distinguishing himself at Agincourt and Beauge. In the latter battle in Normandy in 1421, he killed the Duke of Clarence and captured his ducal cap - which is now represented in the clan coat of arms.

The clan chief fell at the Battle of Flodden in 1513 and the clan were involved in the Battle of Pinkie in 1547 and Langside in 1568.

In the 16th century George Buchanan, born in Killearn in Stirlingshire in 1506, travelled widely abroad and had a career as a writer, poet, humanist and Protestant reformer. He was a tutor to Mary Queen of Scots and later to her son, King James VI. He is credited with providing the foundation of the monarch's undoubted academic success.

Andrew Buchanan was the Lord Provost of Glasgow at the time of the 1745 Jacobite Uprising and refused to asist the forces of the Young Pretender when he arrived in the city. A later Buchanan tobacco baron in Glasgow gave his name to Buchanan Street, which is now one of the city's fashionable shopping areas.

James Buchanan (1791-1868) was the 15th president of the USA. His ancestors had moved to Ulster and Donegal before emigrating to the US.

The Buchanan clan motto is "Clarior hinc honos" which means "Brighter, hence the honour".

Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Buchanan clan include Colman, Cormack, Cousland, Donleavy, Donlevy, Dove, Dow, Dowe, Gibb, Gilbert, Gilbertson, Harper, Lennie, Lenny, MacAslan, MacAuselan, MacAuslan, MacAusland, MacAuslane, McCalman, MacCalmont, MacChruiter, MacColman, MacCormack, MacCubbin, MacDonleavy, MacGilbert,MacInally, MacIndoe, MacKinlay, MacMaster, MacMaurice, MacMurchie, MacWattie, MacWhirter, Masterson, Morris, Murchie, Murchison, Richardson, Risk, Rusk, Ruskin, Spittal, Watt, Yuill, Yule.

One of the most powerful of the Border families, the name was derived from the Scots who invaded Dalriada (Argyll) from Ireland and the surname is found in all parts of Scotland. The name would often have been applied to people who spoke Gaelic in the English speaking Lowlands, rather than someone who originated in the west of Scotland. The first record of the name Scott is when Uchtred filius Scot witnessed the foundation charter of Selkirk in 1120. "Uchtred" is in fact a good English name of the time and he probably came from south of the border. Henricus le Scotte witnessed a charter by David Earl of Strathearn around 1195.

Michael Scott "the wizard" originated in the Tweed Valley but lived in Fife where he gained his reputation for magic. In the last quarter of the 13th century the Scotts appear in Fife when Michael Lescot agreed to serve King Edward I of England overseas. (In the 16th century author Sir John Scott would build Scotstarvit Tower near Cupar in Fife which is now a prominent landmark).

In the Ragman Roll (all nobles and landed gentry were required to sign by Edward I in 1296) there are six Scott lairds. One of these, Sir Richard le Scot of Murthoxton (now Murdostoun) in Lanarkshire may have acquired those lands by marriage - he also had estates in Selkirkshire. It is his line which became established and spread out between Ettrickdale and Liddesdale. Sir Michael Scott, 2nd Laird of Buccleuch was a staunch supporter of Robert the Bruce and distinguished himself at the Battle of Halidon Hill in 1333. The Lanarkshire estate was exchanged for Branxholm in Selkirkshire as the family became more and more established in the Borders. In the 15th century, as was common in the Borders, the Scotts quarrelled frequently with their neighbours, particularly the Kerrs. The feud caused the deaths of both chiefs and was only resolved by marriage during the chieftainship of the 10th Laird. The 13th Baron was created Lord Scott of Buccleuch by James VI and in 1619 Lord Scott was created an Earl. The male line failed and Anne, Countess of Buccleuch married the illegitimate son of King Charles II, the Duke of Monmouth. Charles created the couple Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch but the Duke supported the protestant cause and at one stage led an unsuccessful rebellion against King Charles. The third Duke of Buccleuch married the heiress of the Duke of Queensberry (the Douglas family) and became one of the richest men in Britain. In the 19th century, Sir Walter Scott (from a junior branch, the Scotts of Harden) changed Scotland's image forever. The Duke of Buccleuch today is one of the largest landowners in Scotland and the art collections at the family's great houses of Drumlanrig, Bowhill and Boughton are internationally famous.

The clan motto is "Amo" (I love).

The Laidlaw family is regarded as a sept (sub-branch) of the Scott family.

Scott was the 10th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.

The name is thought to be derived the Gaelic "cam-shron" meaning "crooked nose" but the earliest records show the name as "Cambron" which may indicate that it originated in Camberone (from the Gaelic "cam brun" meaning "crooked hill" - now Cameron parish) in Fife. However, there is also a Cameron placename in the outskirts of Edinburgh and in Lennox. To add to the confusion, there is a Cambron in Flanders and the Cameron coat of arms differ only in colouring from those of the family of Oudenarde, nobles in Flanders.

There is a record of a John Cameron in the Carse of Gowrie (on the other side of the river Tay from Fife) and Hugh Cambrun was sheriff of Forfar and John Cambron was sheriff of Perth. A hundred years later the name appeared in Lochaber in the far west.

Often described as "fiercer than fierceness itself" the Camerons originally consisted of three branches in Lochaber - McMartins of Letterfinlay, McGillonies of Strone and McSorlies of Glen Nevis. The first chief of the combined families was Donald Dubh (born around 1400) who was descended from the McGillonies of Strone but through marriage with the McMartins brought the federation together. Donald Dubh and his successors were known as captains of Clan Cameron until the early 16th century when the lands of Lochiel were united by charter into the barony of Lochiel by Allan Cameron, the 12th chief.

The clan assisted Donald, Lord of the Isles at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411. A chief of the clan, Ewen of Lochiel, was born in 1629 and was a supporter of King Charles II. He was knighted in 1682 and fought at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689. Oddly, there were Camerons fighting on the other side - Camerons from Fife who supported the Protestant cause.

Ewen of Lochiel was too old to fight in the 1715 Jacobite Uprising but sent his son and the clan to assist the Earl of Mar. Sir Ewen's grandson was known as "the gentle Lochiel" and is regarded as one of the noblest of all the Highland chiefs. He was persuaded, through loyalty to the crown and the persuasive words of Prince Charles Edward Stewart, to support the 1745 Jacobite Uprising. It is said that if Cameron of Lochiel had not agreed to participate, the rising might never have got off the ground, such was his influence. During the Jacobite retreat, Lochiel prevented the Highlanders from sacking Glasgow and to this day when Cameron of Lochiel enters the city, the bells of the churches are rung in his honour. The Gentle Lochiel survived Culloden and was exiled to France. Following the General Act of Amnesty of 1784 the Cameron lands were restored and Gentle Lochiel's grandson, Donald, became the 22nd chief.

In 1793 Allan Cameron maintained the fighting tradition of the clan by raising the 79th Regiment which, in 1881, became the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders. The 25th chief, who died in 1905, was a Member of Parliament and his son raised four new battalions of the Cameron Highlanders on the outbreak of the First World War.

Cameron was the 35th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.

The motto of the Camerons is "Aonaibh ri chéile" ("Unite"). Septs (sub-branch) of the clan Cameron include Clark, Clarke, Clerk, Clarkson, Macolonie, MacChlery, MacGillonie, MacKail, MacLerie, MacMartin, MacSorley, Martin, Paul and Sorley.

The clan claim kinship with both King Kenneth mac Alpin (through his brother Fingon - hence "mac Fhionghinn" meaning "son of the fair one") and with St Columba. The clan slogan was "Cumhnich Bas Alpin" meaning "Remember the death of Alpin".

Their original territory was in the south of the island of Mull (and the clan provided successive abbots at Iona) but in the 15th century they moved to the north of the island, after losing out to the MacLean clan following a crime by the chief.

The clan also held land in Strathaird in Skye which may have been granted by Robert the Bruce after the clan had supported him during his time as a fugitive. The Mackinnons supported the efforts to restore the MacDonald Lordship of the Isles and Ewen Mackinnon was part of the council of Donald Dubh in the last rising in 1545.

The clan stronghold was at Dunakin which reputedly belonged to a Norse princess called "Saucy Mary" who married the Mackinnon chief. The castle (initially called Dun Haakon) overlooked the water between Skye and the mainland and the Mackinnons ran a chain across the narrows and levied tolls on passing ships. King Haakon IV gathered his fleet below the castle before sailing to his defeat at the Battle of Largs in 1263.

Later, the Mackinnons supported the Stewart kings and Lachlan Mackinnon, the 28th chief was knighted by King Charles II before the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Later chiefs supported both the Old and Young Pretenders in the Jacobite Uprisings of 1715 and 1745. After the defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the Mackinnons sheltered Prince Charles Edward and took him by ship to Mallaig. The chief was captured and imprisoned on the return voyage. When the chief was later released, he was told the king was being "generous". He replied "Had I the King in my power as I am in his, I would return him the compliment of sending him back to his own country". At that time the king was George II, who had German roots.

Within two generations of the 1745 Uprising, the clan had lost all its lands through debt. The direct line of chiefs died out and the title was claimed by a distant relative.

Some bearers of the name believed that the name came from the Gaelic "mac Ionmhuinn" meaning "son of the loved one" and when their name became anglicised, it became the surname Love.

The Mackinnon clan motto is "Audentes fortuna juvat" which means "Fortune assists the daring".

Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Mackinnon clan include MacKinney, MacKinning, MacKinven, MacMorran, Morren, Sherry.

Although this is one of the great families of Northeast Scotland, the name originally came from a location in Berwickshire (probably 'gor-dun' meaning hill fort). The name appears in the Borders in the reigns of King Malcolm IV and King William the Lion in the 12th century. Sir Adam de Gordon was appointed to the lordship of Strathbogie and Badenoch in the North-East of the country by Robert the Bruce, in place of the Comyns, who had opposed him. Sir Adam had been one of those who petitioned the Pope to remove the excommunication of Bruce after he murdered John Comyn in 1306.

The Gordons were major landowners, rather than a traditional tribal clan but became known as the "Cock o' the North". The 1st Earl of Huntly is said to have rewarded anyone who adopted the name Gordon with a gift of oatmeal. In the 15th century, Sir Alexander Gordon was created Lord Gordon and his son the first Earl of Huntly (a name which had also originated in the Borders). In the power struggle between King James II and the Douglas family, the Douglases burned down Huntly Castle but were later defeated. A grander castle was built in its place.

The 4th Earl of Huntly was an adviser to Mary of Guise when she was regent in place of the absent Mary Queen of Scots. Gordons remained staunch Catholics and supporters of King Charles II in the Civil War of 1642-1648, but they refused to support the Marquis of Montrose.

The 2nd Duke of Gordon supported the "Old Pretender" in the first Jacobite Uprising in 1715 and fought at the Battle of Sheriffmuir on September 12, 1715. His son, the 3rd Duke, remained loyal to the Hanoverian government in the 1745 Uprising but his brother fought for Bonnie Prince Charlie.

The Gordon clan motto is "Bydand" which means "Remaining".

Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Gordon clan include Addison, Adie, Aitcheson, Aitken, Barrie, Cullen, Eadie, Edie, Geddes, Huntly, Mavor, Milne, Todd.

Gordon was the 50th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.

The name is derived from a Brethonic word "Ocel-fa" meaning a high plain. Ogilvie was a province of the Picts in Angus (there is still a Glen Ogilvie there), ruled by a mormaer, who became the first earls in the area. In the 12th century Gillebride, Earl of Angus gave the lands of Ogilvy to his son who anglicised his name to Gilbert. The Ogilvys were hereditary sheriffs of Angus in the 14th and 15th centuries.

Early in the 15th century, Sir Patrick Ogilvy commanded the Scottish contingent fighting with Joan of Arc against the English and was called "Viscomte d'Angus". Later in the 15th century, Walter Ogilvy was Lord High Treasurer of Scotland. His eldest son, John, obtained the castle and lands of Airlie in 1459 and other descendants became Earls of Seafield and Deskford. John's descendants became Lord Ogilvy of Airlie. Ogilvys spread over large parts of Aberdeenshire and Banffshire.

The Jesuit martyr John Ogilvie was hanged at Glasgow Cross for refusing to accept the supremacy of King James VI in spiritual matters. He was canonised in 1976, the last Scot to be so honoured.

The Ogilvys were staunch supporters of the Stewart monarchy and joined Montrose in his campaign; the earl's second son was killed at the Battle of Inverlochy in 1645. The Ogilvys had a violent feud with the Lindsays and there was a clan battle at Montrose in 1646 when the Ogilvys suffered heavy losses. A feud with the Campbells resulted in the "Bonny Hoose o' Airlie" being burned to the ground.

Lord Ogilvy joined the 1715 Jacobite Uprising and his grandson raised a regiment in support of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745.

Clementine Ogilvy Hozier, wife of Winston Churchill, was a descendant through the female line of David, 6th Earl of Ogilvy. The present chief served as Lord Chamberlain to Queen Elizabeth II and Angus Ogilvie, the chief's brother, married Princess Alexandra.

The Ogilvy clan motto is "À fin" which means "To the end".

Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Ogilvy clan include Airlie, Findlater, Gilchrist, MacGilchrist, Milne, Richardson and Storie.

The name is said to be derived from the Gaelic "dubh glais" meaning "dark water" but the origins of the line are lost in time. It is thought that a Flemish nobleman may have accompanied King David I on his return from England but the first documented Douglas was a William de Douglas in the 12th century in Morayshire. In time, four main branches of the family evolved -
The "Black" Douglases of Douglasdale in south Lanarkshire
The "Red" Douglases of Angus and Fife
The Douglas earls of Morton in Dumfriesshire and
A branch in Drumlanrig in Nithsdale in the Scottish Borders who became the marquesses of Queensberry.
The first Douglas to stride across the stage of Scottish history was Sir William Douglas who fought and died for William Wallace. His son, Sir James Douglas was a supporter and lifelong friend of Robert the Bruce. "Good Sir James" died taking Bruce's heart on a crusade to the Holy Land. The 2nd Earl of Douglas died at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388 as his army defeated an English force led by Prince Henry "Hotspur". In 1402 the 4th Earl was defeated by the same Henry Hotspur at the Battle of Homildon Hill.

The Douglas family grew in power and by the 15th century they were seen as a threat to the monarch. The 6th Earl Douglas and his brother was invited to the infamous "Black Dinner" at Edinburgh Castle with the 10-year-old King James II. They were seized and beheaded. The 8th Earl suffered the same fate in 1452, this time at the hands of King James II himself.

William, the 11th Earl of Angus became 1st Marquess of Douglas and was a supporter of King Charles I during the Civil War. A number of Douglas titles later devolved to the Dukes of Hamilton and the eldest son of the Duke is now given the title of Marquess of Douglas.

The Douglas clan motto is "Jamais arrière" which means "Never behind".

Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Douglas clan include Drysdale, Lockerbie and Morton.

Douglas was the 89th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.