Clan Cranstoun

Clan Cranstoun
Crest: A crane Proper dormant holding a stone in her claw
Motto	Thou shalt want ere I want
Profile
Region	Lowlands
District	Midlothian
Chief
David Alexander Somerville Cranstoun of that Ilk and Corehouse
Seat	Corehouse, Lanarkshire

Clan Cranstoun is a Lowland Scottish clan.

The name Cranstoun is of territorial origin and comes from the lands and barony of Cranstoun in Midlothian. The lands might have been named after the Anglo-Saxon for place of the crane. A crane being a bird which appears on both the shield and crest of the Clan Cranstoun. It has also been suggested that the lands were named after the dwelling place of the Cran or Cren, which are both Saxon forenames.

Elfrick de Cranstoun witnessed a charter from William the Lion to Holyrood Abbey. In about 1170 Elfrick also appears in a deed between Roger de Quincy and the Abbot of Newbattle. During the reign of Alexander II of Scotland, Thomas de Craystoun is recorded as making a donation of lands to the Church that were near Paiston in East Lothian. This was for the welfare of his soul and those of his ancestors and successors.

In 1296 Hugh de Cranstoun appears on the Ragman Rolls swearing fealty to Edward I of England. In 1338 Randolphus de Cranstoun made a donation to the Abbey of Newbattle.David II of Scotland granted a charter to Thomas de Cranston for all the lands of Cranston.

The Clan Cranstoun prospered up to the late 16th century when they became involved in the volatile political situation of the time. In 1592 Thomas and John Cranstoun, both relatives of the chiefly family were among those accused of treason for assisting Francis Stewart, 5th Earl of Bothwell in his attack on Holyrood Palace.

In June 1600 Sir John Cranstoun of that Ilk was indicted for harbouring traitors who were his kinsmen and only on the intervention of the king did he obtain a stay of the proceedings against him. In August 1600 Sir John's brother, Thomas Cranstoun was executed in Perth for his involvement in the Gowrie Conspiracy, which intended to kidnap James VI of Scotland. However, later in 1609, Sir John Cranstoun of Morristoun who was captain of the Guard to James VI, was raised to the peerage and given the title Lord Cranstoun. At about the same time, William Cranstoun, a staunch Presbyterian who was minister of Kettle in Fife, resisted attempts by the king to bring bishops into the Scottish Church. As a result the minister fell into disfavour with the authorities and the king's commissioners ordered him to stop preaching but he did not and was formally put to the horn and declared an outlaw.