Clan Lindsay

Clan Lindsay
Crest: Issuing from an antique ducal coronet Or, the head, neck and wings of a swan proper according to Bain, the crest is : an swan, proper, holding in its beak a key. or.
Motto	Endure Fort (Suffer bravely/ Endure boldly)
Profile
Region	Lowlands
District	Angus
Chief
Robert Lindsay
29th Earl of Crawford and 12th Earl of Balcarres
Seat	Balcarres House
Historic seat	Crawford Castle Edzell Castle
Septs of Clan Lindsay Auchinleck, Buyers, Byers, Cobb, Crawford, Deuchar, Deuchars, Downie, Fotheringham, Leeds, Rhind, Rhynd, Summers, Sumner
Clan branches Lindsays of Crawford (chiefs) Lindsays of Balcarres Lindsays of Lindsay Lindsays of Edzell
Allied clans Clan Stewart
Rival clans Clan Gordon Clan Ogilvy

Clan Lindsay is a Lowland Scottish clan.

The Lindsays were prominent in both England and Scotland from the late 11th century. The name most likely derives from the region of Lindsey in England (the name of which comes from the Old English for "island of Lincoln") though it could also refer to the village of Limésy in Normandy. Sir Walter de Lindissie accompanied David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon to claim his throne. Walter's great-grandson, Sir William de Lindesay, sat in the Parliament of 1164 and was later a justiciar. William Lindsay held the lands of Crawford. The chief's premier title was later Earl of Crawford. Sir William Lindsay sat in Parliament as Baron of Luffness in East Lothian. He probably had two wives, and through his wife Alienora de Limesi came David de Lindsay.

Sir William Lindsay's son was Sir David de Lindsay who married a member of the royal family named Marjory. David died in 1214 and was succeeded as Lord Crawford and High Justiciar of Lothian by his son who was also called David. This David also inherited the English estates of Limesay and Wolveray. One of his descendants was another Sir David Lindsay who was Chamberlain of Scotland in 1256.

The aforementioned David Lindsay's grandson was yet another David whose seal was appended to the letter of 1320 to the Pope, asserting the independence of Scotland, that was more often known as the Declaration of Arbroath. His second son, Sir James Lindsay, married Egidia, daughter of Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland and sister of Robert II of Scotland.