Murray of Atholl Clan

Murray of Atholl Clan Crest: A demi-savage wreathed around the waist and head, holding a dagger in his dexter hand and a key in the sinister.

Murray of Atholl Clan Motto: Furth Fortune And Fill The Fetters.

History of Clan Murray of Atholl:
The Murrays of Tullibardine and Atholl descend from Freskin through Sir Malcolm Murray, brother of the Lord of Bothwell, who was Sheriff of Perth around 1270, and appear as the Chiefly House in the 16th century. In 1604, Sir John Murray, 12th Baron of Tullibardine, was created Lord Murray of Tullibardine, then Earl of Tullibardine in 1606. William, 2nd Earl, who rescued James VI at Perth in the Gowrie Conspiracy, married Lady Dorothea Stewart, daughter of John, 5th Stewart Earl of Atholl. The earldoms of Tullibardine and Atholl merged in 1607. In 1676, the 2nd Murray Earl of Atholl and 5th Earl of Tullibardine, was created Marquess of Atholl. In 1703, the 2nd Marquess was created Duke of Atholl, but his eldest son, who supported the Earl of Mar at the 1715 Jacobite Uprising, was attainted.

James, 2nd Duke, upon whom the family honours were settled by Act of Parliament, also succeeded to the Barony of Strange through his grandmother. This also brought him the sovereignty of the Isle of Man, which was disposed of to the British Government by the 3rd Duke for the sum of £70,000. 

On the death of the 10th Duke of Atholl in 1996, Blair Castle was placed in Trust for the Nation. The dukedom passed to a Murray kinsman in South Africa who still retains the rank of Commander-in-Chief of the Atholl Highlanders.

In 1686, the second son of the Marquess of Atholl, Master of the Horse to Queen Mary II of England, was created Earl of Dunmore.  Malcolm, 12th Earl of Dunmore, has been a pro-active leader of the Clan Murray in Tasmania and Australia.

Places of Interest:
Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, Perthshire. Seat of the dukes of Atholl, the castle dates from 1269. Mary Queen of Scots, Prince Charles Edward Stuart, and Queen Victoria visited. It was besieged by General Lord George Murray while being occupied by Hanovarian forces. The Duke of Atholl maintains the only legal private army in the UK (The Atholl Highlanders).

Dunkeld House, Blair Atholl, Perthshire. Now called Hilton Dunkeld House and a hotel. It was built in by the 7th Duke of Atholl as a holiday house for his wife.

Balvenie Castle, Dufftown, Morayshire. Also known as Mortlach Castle, it passed from the Comyns to the Douglases to the Stewarts of Atholl, then to the Murrays of Atholl. It is now a ruin maintained by Historic Scotland.

Huntingtower Castle, Perth.  Built by the Ruthven Family, but gifted to the Murrays of Tullibardine in 1643.

The Dunmore Pineapple, Dunmore Park, Airth, Stirlingshire. Built by the 5th Earl of Dunmore as a garden folly in 1761.

Amhuinnsuidhe Castle, Isle of Harris. Built in 1875 for the 7th Earl of Dunmore. It now functions as a venue for conferences.

Associated family names (Septs): Balneaves, Dinsmore, Dunbar, Dunsmore, Fleming, Moray, Murrie, Neaves, Piper, Pyper, Smail, Smale, Small, Smeal, Spalding.

Clan Murray of Atholl members display certificates.