Article

Lindsay

Crest: Issuing from an antique ducal coronet Or, the head, neck and wings of a swan Proper.

Motto: ENDURE FORT "Endure boldly"
Badge: Rue

 

There remains debate whether Clan Lindsay came from British, Saxon, Norman or Flemish family lines.  After the Norman conquest they were found in England moving to Scotland with avid I. They acquired lands in Lanarkshire at Crawford. In the 13th century Sir David Lindsay of Crawford joined King Louis IX of France on a crusade but he was killed in Egypt. 
 
In the 14th century the Lindsays had lands both in Scotland and England. The latter were forfeited when Alexander Lindsay supported William Wallace and Robert the Bruce against the English. Sir David Lindsay was a signaturie of the Declaration of Abroath 1320.The fourteen and fifteen hundreds saw much feuding with the Oglvies reducing the clan lands. At the same time giving loyalty to James III and James IV.
 
Lord Lindsay commanded several thousand at the battle of Sauchieburn  1488.  In the 16th century 6th Earl of Crawford was killed at the Battle of Flodden Field 1513. The fifth Lord Lindsay was one of the four nobles in 1542 to whom the charge of the infant Mary Queen of Scots was committed.. The Lindsays later supported Mary, Queen of Scots and fought for her at the Battle of Langside in 1568.  
 
Clan Lindsay were Royalist supporters of King Charles Stuart of England, Scotland & Ireland. The death of the Clan Chief and 16th Earl in 1652 was the last of that line to be Earl of Crawford. The Earldom was passed into the hands of King Charles. However another line of Lindsays received a new title, held by John the 1st Earl of Lindsay who was also already the 10th Lord Lindsay of Byres.The 1st Earl of Balcarresanother Lindsay was made hereditary governor of Edinburgh Castle. His son supported the Jacobite uprising and fought at the Battle of Sherrifmuir in 1715. The Clan Lindsay did not take part in the Jacobite Uprising of 1745.  
 
The Tartan is recorded in the Sobieski & Stuart Vestartium Scotium 1842.