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Blair Clan
Blair Crest: A stag lodged, proper.
Blair Clan Motto: Amo Probos (I Love the Virtuous)
Blair Clan History: The Blair surname comes from the Gaelic word, "Blar" meaning field or plain. Blair as a place name element is found in over two hundred instances throughout Scotland, Blairduff and Blairmore in Aberdeenshire, being two examples.
Blair as a surname in Scotland is first recorded in the early 1200’s. There were two principal Blair families in Scotland, Blair of Blair from Ayrshire, and Blair of Balthayock from Perthshire. There is no evidence to suggest that the two families shared a common ancestor.
Alexander de Blare is mentioned as witnessing an agreement between the burgh of Irvine and Brice de Eglunstone in 1205. Alexander was probably of the Barony of Blair in Ayrshire, granted by King William “the Lion” in the 12th century.
Stephen de Blare held lands within the parish of Blair, Gowrie (now Blairgowrie). He witnessed a charter on the lands of Balgillo, Angus, by Dovenald the Abbot of Brechin to the monastery at Arbroath between 1204 and 1211.
William de Blare, was knighted by Alexander II, and was made Steward of Fife in 1235.
Sir Bryce de Blare was knighted by Alexander III but supported William Wallace and was executed by the English at Ayr in 1296. Bryce’s nephew, Roger de Blare was knighted by Robert the Bruce after the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.
Blair House at Dalry, Ayrshire was the seat of the Blair’s of that Ilk for 800 years. Once called Blair castle, the house is the one of the oldest continuously inhabited baronial mansions in Scotland. In the early 13th century a Norman keep, moat and drawbridge were built. Above the drawbridge, carved on a stone arch, was the stag of the Blair crest. The vaulted ceiling, tower, guard room, and large fireplace from the original castle remain to this day. The last Blair to inhabit Blair House died in 1978.
Balthayock Castle in the parish of Kinnoul, Perthshire was the seat of the Blair of Balthayock family for over 500 years. The original castle on the site dated from the 13th century with a modern portion added in the 1500’s. All that remains of the castle today are the thick walled keep and parts of the foundations.
The Blair of Balthayock male line ended in the early 1700’s when John Blair of Balthayock died, leaving a daughter as sole heir of his estate.
Click here for Blair Tartan.
Click here for Blair Clan crests and gifts.
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