House of Douglas

Douglas
Dubhghlas
Crest: On a chapeau, a green salamander surrounded by fire
Motto	Jamais arrière (Never behind) Tender and true Forwards
Slogan	"A Douglas! A Douglas!"
Profile
Region	Lowlands
District	Lanarkshire,Lothian, Scottish Marches, Angus,Moray, Galloway and Dumfriesshire
Plant badge	Rue
Pipe music	Dumbarton's Drums
Douglas has no chief, and is an armigerous clan
Historic seat	Douglas Castle
Last Chief	His Grace Archibald Douglas The 1st Duke of Douglas
Died	21 July 1761 --- Note: His Grace Alexander Douglas-Hamilton, the 16th Duke of Hamilton is heir to the chiefdom of Douglas, but cannot assume the title of chief since the Lord Lyon King of Arms requires him to assume the single name Douglas.
Septs of Douglas Agnew, Blackwood, Blackett, Blacklock, Blalock, Breckinridge, Brown, Brownlee, Carmichael, Cavin, Cavers, Dick, Dickey, Dickie, Dickson, Dixon, Drysdale, Forest, Forrest, Forrester, Forster, Foster, Gilpatrick, Glenn, Glendenning, Glendinning, Glenndinning, Hardie, Hardy, Haden, Inglis, Irwin, Kidston, Killgore, Kilpatrick, Kirkland, Kirkpatrick, Lockerbie, Lockerby, Lockery, Lochrie, MacGuffey, McKittrick, Morton, Sandlin, Sandilands, Simms, Soule, Sterrett, Sterritt, Syme, Symington, Troup.
Clan branches Black Douglas Red Douglas Douglas of Morton Douglas of Queensbury Douglas of Ormond and Forfar Douglas of Selkirk Douglas of Mains See also: Douglas baronets
Allied clans Clan Hamilton Clan Carmichael Clan Kirkpatrick Clan Forrester Clan Carruthers Clan Maxwell (16th century) Clan Heron
Rival clans Clan Stewart Clan Crichton Clan Gordon Clan Sandilands Clan Charteris Clan Johnstone Clan Colville Clan Scott Clan MacLellan Clan Ramsay Clan Maxwell (17th century)

The Douglases are an ancient clan or noble house from the Scottish Lowlands. Taking their name from Douglas in Lanarkshire, their leaders gained vast territories throughout the Borders, Angus, Lothian, Moray, and also in France and Sweden.

The Douglases were one of Scotland's most powerful families, and certainly the most prominent family in lowland Scotland during the Late Middle Ages, often holding the real power behind the throne of the Stewart Kings. The heads of the House of Douglas held the titles of the Earl of Douglas (Black Douglas) and later the Earl of Angus (Red Douglas). The clan does not currently have a chief recognised by the Lyon Court. The principal Douglas today is the Duke of Hamilton, but as his surname is "Douglas-Hamilton" rather than simply "Douglas" the laws of the Lyon Court prevent him from assuming the chiefship of the name.

The original caput of the family was Douglas Castle in Lanarkshire. The Kirk of St Bride at Douglas, along with Melrose Abbey and the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés holds the remains of many of the Earls of Douglas and Angus.

The family's surname is derived from the village of Douglas, the name of which comes from the Gaelic elements dubh, meaning "dark, black"; and glas, meaning "stream" (in turn from Old Gaelic dub and glais). One old tradition is that the first chief of Douglas was Sholto Douglas who helped the king of Scotland win a battle in the year 767. This is unsubstantiated and is today considered pseudo-history.