Clan Forrester

Clan Forrester
Crest: A hound's head erased Proper collared Gules
Motto	Blaw, Hunter, Blaw Thy Horn
Profile
Region	Lowlands
District	Lothian
Animal	Hound
Chief
Armigerous Clan
The Chief of Clan Forrester
Historic seat	Corstorphine Castle Torwood Castle
Septs of Clan Forrester Forrester, Forester, Foristar, Forrister, Forrest, Forest, Forster, Forstar, Foster, Fostar, Corstorphine, Carstarphen
Clan branches Forrester of Corstorphine (chiefs) Forrester of Torwood Forrester of Garden Forrester of Niddry Forrester of Strathendry Le Forestier du Buisson-SainteMarquerite Le Forestier de Foucrainville
Allied clans Clan Douglas

Clan Forrester is an ancient Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands. The clan took their name from their ancient role as guardians of the royal forest around Edinburgh. The Forresters had significant holdings in Lothian, and Stirlingshire. The clan does not currently have a clan chief and is therefore considered an armigerous clan.

It is possible that the chiefs of Clan Forrester were of Celtic and Druidic origin. The chiefs may descend from Marnin the Forrester who in about 1200 held lands in Dunipace, Stirlingshire.

The founder of the clan is generally regarded as Sir Adam Forrester, 1st of Corstorphine who was an ambassador, merchant, Provost of Edinburgh, Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland and Deputy Chamberlain of Scotland. In 1376 he acquired the estate of Corstorphine in Midlothian which is now part of Edinburgh. It was here that Corstorphine Castle (now demolished) stood as well as the Collegiate church of Corstorphine, which has the effigies of three of the Forrester chiefs.

Sir Adam Forrester's son, Sir John Forrester the elder, was also Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland and Chamberlain of Scotland. He was also Keeper of the Household to James I of Scotland. According to historian Alexander Mackenzie, Gerse or Grace, sister of Sir John Forrester of Corstorphine, possibly married Robert de Munro, 8th Baron of Foulis.