Clan Napier

Clan Napier
Crest: A dexter cubit arm, the hand grasping a crescent argent
Motto	Sans tache (Without stain)
Profile
District	Central Belt
Plant badge	Heather
Chief
The Rt. Hon. Francis David Charles Napier
The 15th Lord Napier & 6th Baron Ettrick
Historic seat	Merchiston Tower Kilmahew Castle

Clan Napier is a Lowland Scottish clan.

Traditionally the Napiers are descended from the ancient Earls of Lennox who were one of the Celtic royal families of Scotland and Ireland. One theory holds that a "naperer" is "a person in charge of table linen in a royal or manor house” and that the original Napiers must have been “naperers” as an office for the royal household. However, there is not much evidence for this title being used in Scotland. Another origin for the name is that one of the knights of the Earl of Lennox, possibly a younger son of the earl, distinguished himself in battle in support of William the Lion. After the victory the king singled him out praising his valour by saying "nae peer".

In 1625, Sir Archibald Napier of Merchiston, the first Lord Napier, presented an affidavit to the College of Heralds, in which he described this origin of the name Napier, as having been bestowed by the king (probably Alexander II) on one Donald Lennox in recognition for acts of bravery. He states:

The first certain reference to the name Napier is in a charter of Malcolm, Earl of Lennox some time before 1290, in which he granted lands to John de Naper in Kilmahew and Dunbartonshire. The Napiers held the lands at Kilmahew for eighteen generations until 1820.

The first Lord of Merchiston was Alexander Napier who was a prominent merchant in Edinburgh. He ammased a fortune and became Provost of Edinburgh. He obtained a charter for the lands of Merchiston in 1436. His son was Alexander Napier who also became Provost of Edinburgh and rose to high royal favour. He was wounded rescuing the widow of James I of Scotland and her second husband, Sir James Stewart, who had been captured by rebels. In 1440 Napier was honoured by James II of Scotland by being made Comptroller of the Royal Household and was later also made Vice Admiral of Scotland in 1461. His son was John Napier who was also the son-in-law of the Earl of Lennox who was executed in 1444. John did not press the family's claim to the earldom and was killed at the Battle of Sauchieburn in 1488.