Lamont Clan

Lamont Clan Crest: A dexter hand coupled at the wrist.

Lamont Clan Motto: Ne Parcas Nec Spernas (Neither spare nor dispose).

Lamont Clan History:
Although it is thought that the family originated from Ulster, the surname derives from the Old Norse meaning 'Lawman,' The Clan at one stage occupied the greater part of Cowal, but in company with the Macdougalls, supported the Comyns in opposing the rise of Robert the Bruce and suffered for their mistake. However, a century later John Lamond  of that Ilk secured a Charter from James III and his Seat became Toward Castle, located south of Dunoon in Argyll.

During the 17th century, Sir James Lamont of Inveryne was a supporter of the Royalist Cause under the Marquis of Montrose, which brought him into direct conflict with his neighbours, the Campbells of Argyll. Both Toward Castle, and Ascog Castle on Bute, were totally destroyed by the Campbells and, despite being given assurances of safe-conduct, the occupants were slaughtered, “the whole gentlemen of the name Lamont.”

Following the Stuart Restoration, the Lamont Massacre was one of the charges brought against the 8th Earl and 1st Marquess of Argyll at his trial for treason in 1661. Thereafter, the Lamont Chiefs moved to live  at Ardlamont in Cowal. In 1893, the Clan lands were sold and the Chiefship passed to a Cadet branch which emigrated to Australia. A Clan Lamont Society was formed in 1895 and currently has over 200 members.

Johanne Von Lamont (1805-79) became a member of the Munich Academy of Sciences and was Astronomer to the King of Bavaria.

Places of Interest:
Ascog Castle, Isle of Bute. This was a Lamont stronghold which was destroyed by the Campbells in 1646. Today it is a ruin.

Dunoon, Argyll. There is a memorial to murdered Lamonts at Castle Hill.

Toward Castle, near Inellan, Argyll. Fifteenth century ruin. It was destroyed by the Marquis of Argyll in 1646. Two hundred prisoners were brought to Dunoon and murdered.

Lamont Monument, Inverie, Argyll. Memorial to Johanne Von Lamont (1805-79), astronomer to the King of Bavaria.

Surname distribution in Scotland: The Lamont name is most commonly found in the Highland (includes the historic counties of Caithness, Inverness-shire, Nairnshire, Ross and Cromarty and Sutherland), Dumfries and Galloway (Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire and Wigtownshire), Perth and Kinross (Perthshire and Kinross-shire), Ayrshire, Renfrewshire and Argyll and Bute.

Associated family names (Septs): Black, Blackie, Blaik, Blaikie, Blake, Broun, Brown, Burden, Burdon, Clement, Douglas, Forsyth, Lamb, Lambie, Lammie, Lamond, Lamondson, Lemmon, Lemond, Limond, Limont, Lucas, Luck, Luckie, Luke, MacAldowie, MacAlduie, MacClement, MacClymont, MacEaracher, MacErchar, MacErracher, MacFarquhar, MacGilledow, MacGorrie, MacIldowie, MacIlwhom, MacKerchar, MacKerracher, MacLamond, MacLemon, MacLucas, MacLuckie, MacLuke, MacLymont, MacMunn, MacPatrick, MacPhun, MacSorley, Meikleham, Meiklem, Munn, Paterson, Patrick, Sorley, Toward, Towart, Turner, White, Whyte.

Clan Lamont membership certificate.