Clan Mar

Clan Mar is a Scottish clan. It is also officially known as the Tribe of Mar. The chiefs of the Clan Mar were the original Earls of Mar, although this title later went via an heiress to the Douglases in the late fourteenth century, and then to the Stewarts before going to the Erskines. The current chief of Clan Mar is Margaret of Mar, Countess.

One of the seven ancient provinces or kingdoms of Scotland that was ruled by a Mormaer, which was an ancient Pictish equivalent of an Earl, was the Mormaerdom of Mar. The territory of the Earldom of Mar was in Aberdeenshire, between the River Dee and the River Don.

Donald, Mormaer of Mar fought alongside the High King of Ireland, Brian Boru, against the Viking invaders at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014. In a charter of 1114, erecting Scone Abbey, Rothri, Mormaer of Mar is named and is given the Latin title Comes which equates to the modern rank of Earl.

Sometime before 1152 Morgund, 2nd Earl of Mar witnessed a charter to Dunfermline Abbey.William, 5th Earl of Mar was one of the Regents of Scotland and in 1264 he was the Great Chamberlain of the Realm. William's son was Donald I, 6th Earl of Mar who was knighted at Scone in September 1270 by Alexander III of Scotland. Donald witnessed the contract of marriage between Eric II of Norway and Margaret of Scotland. Donald also acknowledged Eric's daughter, Margaret, Maid of Norway as the lawful heir to the throne. However, Margaret died in Orkney on route to claim her kingdom.