GRANT

CREST: A burning hill Proper

MOTTO: Craig Elachie (The Rock of Alarm)

On Compartment: Stand Fast

PLANT BADGE: Seedling Scots pines fructed Proper

GRANT, GRAND LE GRAND, LEGRAND: (i) Hugo Grandis 1084 GeldR (W); Gilbert Grant, Grandus Holme (Nf); Thomas le Grant 1219 AssY; Agnes Grant 1221 ElyA(Sf). AFr graund, graunt, OFr grand, grant 'great'. Ekwall notes (ELPN) that William grandis or le grant (c1150-60) was a son of Wlfwin Graunt, Grand, grant (1108-30) and inherited his byname, which was evidently given him for distinction from Wulwinus juvenis (c1130), so that grand here means 'elder, senior'. In most instances it probably mans 'tall'. (ii) Petrus filius Grente 1166 P (Y); Robert filius Grante 1208 P (Gl); Grante le Chapman 1274 RH (D); William Grent 1204 P (O); Robert Grente 1327 SRSx. This must be a survival of the OE Grante, Grente, found in several place-names. v PN ERY 89, DEPN. (7)

GRANT: Some Grants claim the clan is part of the Siol Alpin, the Highland clans whose chiefs are said to descend from King Alpin, father of Kenneth Macalpin, King of the Scots. A Norman descent may also be asserted for the name, derived from the Norman French 'le grand' meaning 'great or large'. The Grants first appear on record in the middle of the 13th century when they acquired lands in Stratherrick through the marriage of one of the family with Mary, daughter of Sir John Bisset. From this union there came at least two sons, one of whom, Sir Laurence le Grand, became sheriff of Inverness.

The Grants supported Bruce in the competition for the Scottish crown. John and Randolph de Grant were taken prisoner at the Battle of Dunbar in 1296. Bruce's victory confirmed the Grants in their holdings in Strathspey, and whatever their origins, they were now firmly established as Hichland chiefs. In 1493 the lands were erected into the free barony Freuchie, whre in 1536 Sir James Grant built a castle, called at one time Castle Freuchie, but renamed at the end of the 17thy century as Castle Grant.

When the Reformation came to Scotland, the Grants soon became staunch adherents of the new doctrine, and they declared for the National Covenant in 1638. After the Battle of Inverlochy in 1645 they joined the Marquess of Montrose, and thereafter remained faithful to the royal cause. After the Restoration of Charles II in 1660, the Laird of Grant was to have been rewarded with an earldom, but he died before the patent had been sealed. The Grants endeavoured to secure their territories by alliances with other clans and they were particularly associated with the Macgregors.

Ludovick Grant, the 8th Laird of Freuchie, was so rich and powerful that he was popularly called 'the Highland king'. He abandoned his family's past loyalties, and supported the house of Hanover during the risings of 1715 and 1745, so saving them from the relentless persecution inflicted on other Hichland clans. In 1811, Sir Lewis Grant of Grant inherited the Ogilvie earldoms of Seafield and Findlater, and the chiefs gained a seat in the House of Lords. But the 5th Earl of Seafield and 27th chief of Clan Grant fell into serious dispute with his brothers, which resulted in the Grant estates being disentailed. The consequence of this was that when the Seafield earldom, which can descend in the female line, parted company with the chiefs of Clan Grant, the lands were lost. The chiefs, however, retained the independent peerage which had been created in 1817 under the title of Baron Strathspey of Strathspey.

Castle Grant has fallen into neglect, but it is hoped a restoration scheme will save it from total ruin. (6)

Researching: Ben Grant m. Rosemary Anne Blight Sydney 1991