All artwork and text copyright © Scots Connection. None of the images and text on this website are in the public domain. Images may not be hotlinked, downloaded (except through normal viewing through browser) nor copied, transmitted, altered, or stored. Non-web use in educational and charitable projects requires prior written permission.

Innes Clan

Innes Clan Crest: A boar's head.

Innes Clan Motto: Be Traist (Be faithful).

Innes Clan History:
Innis is the Gaelic name for an island, and within the traditional Clan Innes territory, which is situated in the Parish of Urquhart, in Morayshire, is an island formed by the two branches of a stream. It is from this that the Innes surname originates.

During the reign of Malcolm IV the lands of Innes were given to Berowald, a Flemish nobleman. In 1226, a Charter for the same lands was confirmed by Alexander II upon Walter de Inneys, Berowald's grandson. Thereafter the family prospered. Sir Robert, 8th Laird, had three sons. The 9th Laird married the heiress of Aberchirder; John, his brother, became Bishop of Moray and was responsible for restoring Elgin Cathedral after it was destroyed by Alexander Stewart, the Wolf of Badenoch. George, the third Innes brother, was the head of the Scottish Order of Trinitarian Friars.

Sir Robert, 11th Laird, fought at the Battle of Brechin in 1452 and founded the Greyfriars of Elgin. James, his eldest son, was appointed Armour Bearer to James IV. Alexander, 16th Laird, was executed for the murder of his kinsman Walter Innes. His brother John resigned the Chiefship to his cousin Alexander Innes of Cromney, but he too was murdered by a kinsman in 1580.

Sir Robert, 20th Chief, a staunch supporter of the Royal House of Stewart, was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1625.  Sir James, 3rd Baronet, married Lady Margaret Ker, grand daughter of the 1st Earl of Roxburghe. In 1805, Sir James, 6th Baronet, succeeded as 5th Duke of Roxburghe. The current Duke carries the compound surname of Innes-Kerr and is therefore ineligible to be recognised as Chief of Clan Innes.

Lewis Innes (1651-1738) was Vice-Principal of the Scots College in Paris. Thomas Innes (1663-1744), brother of Lewis, was Prefect of Studies at the Scots College in Paris.  Cosmo Innes (1798-1874) was born at Durris and became Professor of Constitutional Law and History at Edinburgh University.  Sir Thomas Innes of Learney was Lord Lyon King of Arms from 1945-69; His younger son, Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight, followed in his footsteps, serving as Lord Lyon from 1981-2001.

Places of Interest:
Floors Castle, Kelso, Roxburghshire. Ancestral Seat of dukes of Roxburghe, designed by Sir John Vanbrugh in 1721 and, a century later, altered by William Playfair. The castle is open to the public from May until late September.

Innes House, Innes, near Elgin in Morayshire. Lands here were granted to the Innes ancestors by Malcolm IV.

Click here to view and buy Innes tartan.

Click here to buy Innes Clan crests and gifts.

Click here for Innes Kilts and Highland Dress.