Family Crest & Info

Our Crest:

Our motto:

I fear not, but am cautious.

Our Tartan:

Designed in 1987, by Tony Murray. According to Kenneth Dalgliesh (Scottish World Tartan Society) it was first seen in 1999, and was registered in 2000.

Origins:

In the year 1200, Walderus de Stratheihen made a grant of lands to the church of St Andrews.

John, son of Rudolph de Strachane, gave the lands to the Abbey of Dunfermline which was confirmed by a charter of King Alexander III of Scotland in 1278.

The barony of Strachan and the lands of Feteresso passed to the Clan Keith family from the Strachans by marriage, in the reign of King David II of Scotland, but Sir James Strachan of Monboddo obtained the lands of Thornton in Kincardine. He had two sons the elder, Duncan, took the lands of Monboddo, while the younger had the lands of Thornton.[2]

17th Century & Civil War

Sir Alexander Strachan of Thornton was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia by King Charles I in 1625. The baronetcy passed in to the senior line of Monboddo by a charter under the great seal in 1663.

During the Civil War the chief, Colonel Alexander Strachan led a body of dragoons from Clan Strachan at the Battle of Carbisdale in 1650, where he held command under General Sir David Leslie on the side of the Covenanters. They were victorious against the Royalist army of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose.

In 1654, Chief Sir James Strachan, 3rd baronet and 17th laird married his 16 year old cousin Elizabeth Forbes of Waterton. Their son James Strachan married Barbara Forbes of Newton. He led the clan at the Battle of Killiecrankie on the side of John Graham, 1st Viscount of Dundee where he was killed. After his death to the estate passed into the successive ownership of three Forbes lairds and, in 1720, to Thomas Fullerton of Gallery, the initials of whose son, Phillip (Beau) Fullerton of the Dragoon Guards and of his wife Katharine Scott of Benholm embellish the gilded weather-vane on the keep.

Napoleonic Wars

In the 19th century, during the Napoleonic Wars, Admiral Sir Richard Strachan, 6th baronet from the direct line of the chieftenship of the Clan Strachan, commanded a squadron. On 2 November 1805, his squadron engaged four French battleships that had escaped from Lord Nelson’s triumph at the Battle of Trafalgar. Sir Richard captured all four French vessels with little loss of British life. He was created a Knight of the Bath and in 1810 was granted freedom of the City of London.

Present day

Clan Strachan Tartan – designed in 1987, by Tony Murray. According to Kenneth Dalgliesh (Scottish World Tartan Society) it was first seen in 1999, and was registered in 2000.
Clan Strachan Tartan – designed in 1987, by Tony Murray. According to Kenneth Dalgliesh (Scottish World Tartan Society) it was first seen in 1999, and was registered in 2000.

The chieftenship of Clan Strachan and title of the barony of Strachan became dormant in 1854, therefore it is currently an Armigerous clan. The Clan Strachan Societyofficially recognizes Ben Strachanas current Patron of the Armigerous Clan Strachan. Ben is the proprietor of the Mill of Strachan, located on the west end of the village of Strachan, Kincardineshire.