History of the Clan Fraser Tartan

Tartan of Clan Fraser

The Frasers are not of original Gaelic descent, but their name yields to few in Scotland for antiquity, and the time of their settling there is uncertain, though MacKenzie and Martin say they are descended from Pierre Frasier, who came to Scotland in 790. Be that as it may, people of the surname had considerable possessions in the south of Scotland after the death of Malcolm III. Gilbert of Fraser is witness of a charter to the Monastery of Coldstream in the reign of Alexander I., anno 1109. Simon Fraser made many donations to the religious at Kelso in the time of David I. In the time of William the Lion, Bernard Fraser made a donation to Newbattle Abbey, anno 1178; and in the time of Alexander IL we read of Gilbert Fraser, vice comes de Traquhair, Bernard Fraser of Drew, and Thomas Fraser, 1226 et 1236. But it is difficult to connect these Frasers with each other though doubtless they came of a common stock.

[penci_blockquote style=”style-2″ align=”none” author=””]MacKenzie and Martin say they are descended from Pierre Frasier[/penci_blockquote]

The Lords

Sir Simon Fraser of Oliver Castle held a high place among the Magnates Scotia in the troubles after ;the death of Alexander III. He won the three battles of Roelin in one day in 1303, and was bakely put to death in London by Edward I. ; but his brother Alexander carried on the line of the family, and seems to have been the first Fraser who possessed estates in the Highlands. lio was killed at the battle of Dupplin. Bin grandson fell at Halidon Hill in 1333, leaving a son Hugh, first; designed of Lovat, and progenitor of the Frasers of Knock and Foyers. Hugh, sixth of the family, and second of Lovat, was made a Baron by James I. about 1460 Thomas, second Lord, lost his son, the Master, at the battle of Flodden ; and Hugh, third Lord, was slain in a battle with the MacRonalds near Lochlochy in 1544, when they and the Frasers fought with such rancour that only ten men a-side survived. Hugh, ninth Lord of this line, dying without male issue, Simon Fraser, younger, of Beaufort began to style himself Master of 1..cn at, while his father took possession of the estate honours of the family ; but eventually, after many discreditable acts, and having letters of fire and sword issued against the whole clan, Simon fled to France about 1698, while his father became Lord Lovat.
Simon eventually became eleventh Lord Lovat, and his character and fate in 1746 are prominent features In the civil war of that calamitous time. His title was attainted. It was revived as a British peerage in 1837, when Thomas Fraser of Streichen and Lovat was created Lord Lovat, and became twenty-first chief in sudcession from Simon Fraser, though the title has been subject to some dispute. Lord Lovat died in 1876, and was succeeded by his son Simon, w ho died in 1887, leaving Simon, present Lord Lovat.

clan Fraser modern tartan
Tartan of Clan Fraser

The Frasers, Baronets of Ledclune, descend from Hugh, first Lord Lovat through Alexander, his second son, and are now represented by Sir Keith, fifth Baronet. The Erasers of &Bonn are descended from William, second son of Sir Alexander Fraser of that Ilk, taken at the battle of Methven in 1308. William obtained from his father the Thanedom of Cowie and lands of Ashintnlly. Be was slain at the battle of Durham in 1346. His son Alexander fought with valour at Otterbum in 1388. His grandson William, designed Dominus de Philo•th,
died In 1441., Sir Alexander, fourth of this line, and Baron of Philorth, accompanied James, Earl of Douglas,
to the great jubilee at Rome in 1450; and Alexander, fifth Baron of Pluilorth, was in arms for James Ill. at Sanchieburn. Sir Alexander, ninth of this family, raised a regiment for the King’s service and fought at Worcester ; and on the death of his cousin, Lord Saltoun, without issue in 1669, he was served heir of line to George, Lord Abernethy of Saltoun, his grandfather, and his descendant Alexander is now eighteenth Lord Saltoun.

Source: The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans