Clan Skene
| Clan Skene | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| MacSgian | |||
| Motto | Virtutis regia merces (A palace the reward of bravery) | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Lowlands | ||
| District | Aberdeenshire | ||
| Chief | |||
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| Danus George Moncrieff Skene of Skene | |||
| Chief of the Name and Arms of Skene | |||
| Historic seat | Skene Castle | ||
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Clan Skene is a Scottish clan.
The traditional origin of the Clan Skene is found in a legend of the Clan Robertson in the eleventh century. It is said that a younger son of the Robertson chief of Straun saved the life of the king by killing a savage wolf with nothing but his Sgian-dubh. He was rewarded with lands in Aberdeenshire which he named after the weapon (Sgian/Skene) that had brought him good fortune, and the family thereafter took the name of the lands. The feat is commemorated in the clan chief's shield which displays three wolves' heads impaled on daggers or Dirks.
The first bearer of the name on record was John de Skeen, who lived during the reign of Malcolm III of Scotland. After Malcolm died, Skeen supported the claim of Donald Bane who was a rival to the succession of Edgar, King of Scotland. As a result his lands were forfeited and were only restored when the Skenes joined the army of Alexander I of Scotland which marched against rebels in the north in 1118.
John de Skeen's grandson, John de Skene, held the lands during the reign of Alexander III of Scotland.
John de Skene's son was Patrick who appeared on the Ragman Rolls of 1296, submitting to Edward I of England. Despite this the Skenes staunchly supported Robert the Bruce and after his victory the Skene lands were erected into a barony.
In 1411 Adam de Skene was killed at the Battle of Harlaw. Four generations later Alexander Skene de Skene is amongst those listed as dead on the field of the Battle of Flodden in 1513. Another Skene laird was killed at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547.
Other prominent branches of the Clan Skene were the Skenes of Curriehill and Skenes of Hallyards.John Skene, Lord Curriehill was a prominent lawyer of the sixteenth century who in 1594 was appointed to the Supreme Court Bench. He was knighted by James VI of Scotland. His son was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1626. His second son was John Skene of Hallyards who rose to high judicial offices as Lord Clerk Register.Philip Skene of the Skene of Hallyards founded Skenesborough on the shores of Lake Champlain, then in Canada.
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