Wallace Clan

Wallace Clan Crest: Issuant from a crest coronet, a dexter arm, in armour, embowed, in hand a sword.

Wallace Clan Motto: Pro Libertate (For liberty).

History of Clan Wallace:
The surname implies that the Wallaces were “Strathclyde Britons,” inhabitants of the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde which existed until around the 10th century.  Another theory is that they were a Shropshire family who accompanied the Stewarts to Scotland. The first record of the name in Scotland is that of Richard Walensis, who witnessed a Charter from Walter, son of Alan, between 1165 and 1173. As vassals of the High Stewards of Scotland, the Wallaces held lands near Kilmarnock, and later received Elderslie and Auchinbothie in Renfrewshire.

Adam (Alan ) de Waleys of Ayrshire rendered homage to Edward I of England in 1296, but Malcolm of Elderslie, his younger brother, did not, and he and his eldest son were captured and executed by the English.  Tradition has it that Malcolm's younger son was William, who became Scotland's great freedom fighter. However, the discovery of William Wallace's Seal in 1999 identifies William as the son of Alan, which alters, but does not totally undermine, the traditional legend which was largely acquired from the writings of Blind Harry, also known as Henry the Minstrel, written almost two hundred years after Sir William's death.

Sir William Wallace, appointed Guardian of Scotland, led the Scottish revolt against English rule, but was captured and brutally executed in London eight years before Robert the Bruce's great victory at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

The Wallaces of Craigie descend from an uncle of Sir William, and acquired their lands through marriage to a daughter of Sir John Lindsay of Craigie. Hugh Wallace of Craigie became a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1669, and the 2nd Baronet became Lord Justice Clerk. Thereafter, the Chiefship passed to the Wallaces of Wolmer, then to the Walaces of Cairnhill, who had lived in Jamaica but through marriage acquired Busby and Clancaird in Ayrshire.
In 1888, Captain Henry Wallace of Busby and Clancaird was recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms as Chief of the Name.

Upon the death of his brother, Lieutenant Colonel Malcolm Robert Wallace in 1990, Ian Francis Wallace of that Ilk became 35th Chief of the Clan, Name and Family of Wallace.

Robert Wallace (1697 -1771) was a leading figure in the Scottish Enlightenment. A Scottish Presbyterian minister, his 1753 thesis that population had declined since the Ancient era was famously contested by David Hume. Sir Donald Mackenzie Wallace (1841-1919) was born in Dunbartonshire and became Foreign Correspondent of The Times newspaper. He was Private Secretary to two Viceroys of India and wrote Russia(1877). William Wallace (1860-1940) was born in Greenock and became a distinguished composer. Henry Agard Wallace (1888-1965) was born in Iowa of Scottish ancestry and in 1940 was nominated Vice President of the United States of America.

Surname distribution: The Wallace surname is widespread throughout Scotland with particularly high concentrations in Dundee City and Angus (Forfarshire), Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Clackmannanshire, Fife, Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway (Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire and Wigtownshire).

Places of Interest:
Dryburgh Abbey, Selkirkshire. In the trees to the north of the Abbey stands a huge statue of William Wallace erected in 1813.

St Mary's Church, Selkirk. This is thought to be on the spot where Sir William Wallace was elected Guardian of Scotland.

Wallace Memorial, Stirling. A Victorian monument erected in memory of Sir William Wallace stands on top of Abbey Craig.

Wallace's House, Dumfriesshire. These ruins on the Garvald Water are supposedly those of a tower garrisoned by Sir William Wallace in 1297.

Wallace Tower, High Street, Ayr.

Elderslie, Glasgow. This was the birthplace of Sir William Wallace

Wallace Clan membership certificates.