Clan Kincaid

Clan Kincaid
Motto	I'll Defend
Chief
Madam Arabella Kincaid
Of Kincaid
Historic seat	Kincaid House Lennox House
Allied clans Clan Lennox (18th century)
Rival clans Clan Lennox (16th century) Clan Stirling (16th century)

Clan Kincaid is a Scottish clan.

The chiefs of Clan Kincaid are said to be descended from several families including the ancient Earls of Lennox, the Galbraiths of Buthernock, the Grahames and also the Comyn Lords of Badenoch. The name Kincaid appears to have been of territorial origin. One explanation is that it comes from ceanncadha that is Scottish Gaelic for the steep place or pass. Another translation is that it might mean of the head of the rock. Yet another possibility is that it means the head of the battle, possibly referring to an achievement in the family history.

In 1238 an early reference to the name is found when Alexander II of Scotland granted the lands of Kincade to Maldouen, third Earl of Lennox. In the same year the Earl of Lennox granted the lands to Sir William Galbraith, 4th chief of Galbraith. The Galbraith's main castle was originally at Craigmaddie, but when the line ended in three sisters the estate was separated. One of the sisters married a Logan in 1280 and they received the lands of Kyncade by a charter from the fourth Earl of Lennox. The family then took their surname from the property, of which the spelling was then different. The Kyncade lands consisted of thirty thousand acres, extending from the River Kelvin to the River Glazert.

One member of the Kincaid family distinguished himself by gallant conduct against the English forces of Edward I of England and in 1296 successfully recaptured Edinburgh Castle. The Laird of Kincaid then held the office of constable of Edinburgh Castle until about 1314. In reference to this honorable feat, during the reign of Robert the Bruce the castle was added to the Kincaid shield as an honorable augmentation to his armorial bearings.

The Kincaid family increased their landholdings in the east of the country from the late sixteenth century onwards. This included the estate of Craiglockhart, near Edinburgh that the Kincaids gained from an adventurous marriage. They later also added the estate of Bantaskin near Falkirk, the Blackness Castle near Linlithgow and the fields of Warriston that is now a suburb of Edinburgh.