Clan Ramsay
| Clan Ramsay | |||
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| Ramsaidh | |||
Crest: A unicorn's head couped Argent armed Or
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| Motto | Ora et labora (Pray and work) | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Lowlands | ||
| District | Midlothian | ||
| Plant badge | blue harebell | ||
| Chief | |||
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| The Rt. Hon. James Hubert Ramsay | |||
| The 17th Earl of Dalhousie | |||
| Seat | Brechin Castle | ||
| Historic seat | Dalhousie Castle | ||
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Clan Ramsay is a Lowland Scottish clan.
In the eleventh century a ram in the sea is believed to have been an emblem on the seal of an abbey in Huntingdon. In 1124, David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon was accompanied by many young Norman noblemen. Amongst these nobles may have been Symon de Ramesie. Symon was granted lands in Midlothian from David and also witnessed an important charter to the monks of Holyrood Abbey in 1140.
By the 13th century there were five major branches of the Clan Ramsay: the Ramsays of Dalhousie, the Ramsays of Auchterhouse, the Ramsays of Banff, the Ramsay of Forfar and the Ramsays of Clatto. In 1255, during the minority of Alexander III of Scotland, William de Ramsay of Dalhousie was a member of the king's council.
During the Wars of Scottish Independence, William Ramsay appears on the Ragman Rolls of 1296, swearing fealty to Edward I of England. However Ramsay later declared for Robert the Bruce and was one of the signatories on the Declaration of Arbroath. Ramsay had two sons, William and Alexander. The latter was a renowned knight and in 1342 was made sheriff of Teviotdale. However this office was claimed by the Douglases who became jealous and William Douglas, Lord of Liddesdale captured Alexander Ramsay with a strong force of men, imprisoning him in Hermitage Castle, where he was starved to death. Alexander's brother, William Ramsay, was captured by the English at the Battle of Neville's Cross but was not killed by them as he lived to tell the tale.
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Wikipedia