Clan Sinclair

Clan Sinclair
Clann na Ceàrda or Clan na Ceàrdaich
Crest: A cock rampant
Motto	Commit thy work to God
Profile
Region	Highlands
District	Caithness
Plant badge	Whin
Pipe music	"The Sinclair's March"
Chief
The Rt. Hon. Malcolm Ian Sinclair
The 20th Earl of Caithness
Historic seat	Castle Sinclair Girnigoe
Septs of Clan Sinclair Budge, Caird, Clouston, Clyne, Laird, Linklater, Lyall, Mason, Purdie, Snoddy, Peace
Clan branches Earls of Caithness (chiefs) Sinclair of Roslin Sinclair of Thurso Sinclair of Keiss Sinclair of Stemster and Dunbeath Sinclair of Murkle Sinclair of Assery Sinclair of Lybster Sinclair of Scotscalder Sinclair of Geise Sinclair of Greenland and Rattar Sinclair of Freswick Sinclair of Mey Sinclair of Ulbster Sinclair of Durran Sinclair of Olrig Sinclair of Dunbeath and Latheron Sinclair Sutherland of Brabster Sinclair of Barrock Sinclair of Stirkoke Sinclair of Dun Sinclair of Southdun Sinclair of Brabsterdorran Sinclair of Forss Sinclair of Achingale and Newton Sinclairs of Lybster, Reay Sinclairs of Hoy and Oldfield See also: Sinclair baronets
Allied clans Clan Sutherland (18th century)
Rival clans Clan Sutherland (16th century) Murray of Aberscross Clan Gunn Clan Campbell

Clan Sinclair (Scottish Gaelic: Clann na Ceàrda [ˈkʰl̪ˠãũn̪ˠ nə ˈkʲaːrtə]) is a Highland Scottish clan who held lands in the north of Scotland, the Orkney Islands, and the Lothians. The chiefs of the clan were the Barons of Roslin and later the Earls of Orkney and Earls of Caithness.

No certain record exists but it is likely that the Sinclairs came from St Clare in Normandy. They first went to England (before they came to Scotland) with William the Conqueror during his invasion of England. The name was originally "Saint-Clair" which was a place name. Richard of Saint-Clair and Brittel of Saint-Clair are both mentioned in the Domesday Book. William of Saint-Clair accompanied Saint Margaret of Scotland, daughter of Edward the Exile to Scotland in 1068, where she eventually married Malcolm III of Scotland. In return for his efforts, the king supposedly granted Sinclair the barony of Roslin, Scotland "in free heritage".

One of the earliest recorded Sinclairs in Scotland was Henry of Saint-Clair/Sinclair, who obtained a charter for the lands of Herdmanston in Haddingtonshire in 1160.

The chiefs of Clan Sinclair, the Earls of Caithness, descend from Sir William St Clare who was sheriff of Edinburgh and who was granted the barony of Roslin (Rosslyn) in 1280.