Clan Fraser
| Clan Fraser | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Motto | All my hope is in God. | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Lowlands | ||
| Plant badge | Yew | ||
| Chief | |||
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| Flora Fraser | |||
| The Rt. Hon. The Lady Saltoun | |||
| Seat | Philorth Castle (Cairnbulg Castle) | ||
| Historic seat |
Oliver Castle Pitsligo Castle |
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Clan Fraser is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands. It is not to be confused with the Clan Fraser of Lovat who are a separate Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands (though with a common ancestry). Both clans have their own separate chief, both of whom are officially recognized by the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.
The Frasers are believed to have come from Anjou in France. The name Fraser may be derived from Fredarius, Fresel or Freseau. Another suggestion is that the Frasers were a tribe in Roman Gaul, whose badge was a strawberry plant (fraisier in French). The first Fraser to appear in Scotland was in about 1160 when Simon Fraser held lands at Keith in East Lothian .
About five generations after the first Simon Fraser, another Simon Fraser was captured fighting for Robert the Bruce and was executed in 1306 by Edward I of England. Simon’s cousin was Alexander Fraser of Cowie who was Bruce’s chamberlain. He married Bruce’s sister Mary. Alexander Fraser’s younger brother was another Sir Simon Fraser, from whom the chiefs of the Clan Fraser of Lovat are descended from. One of Simon Fraser’s grandsons was Sir Alexander Fraser of Cowie and Durris. This Alexander Fraser acquired a castle now called Cairnbulg Castle and the lands of Philorth by marriage to Joanna, younger daughter and co-heiress of the Earl of Ross in 1375.
In 1592, Sir Alexander Fraser of Philorth received charters from James VI of Scotland for the fishing village of Faithlie which later became the town of Fraserburgh. Sir Alexander Fraser was also authorized to found a university in the town but this scheme was short lived due to the religious troubles of the time.
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Wikipedia