Article
Livingston
Motto: Si je puis (If I can)
The name exists pre 12th century in charters as Livingston. The name Livingston is derived from lands in West Lothian thought to have been named for a Saxon called Leving. Sir William Livingston witnessed a charter of the Earl of Lennox in 1270. Sir William’s lands were received the lands of Callendar from David II in 1347. The Livingstones of Westquarter, Bonton and Dunipace Kinnaird are descended from the Calendar Livingstones.
Sir James Livingston of Callendar was created Lord Livingston in 1458. The 5th Lord, Alexander, had charge of young Queen Mary before she was removed to Inchmahome after the Battle of Pinkie. The 7th Lord, another Alexander, was raised to Earl of Linlithgow in 1600, but the family’s involvement on the Rising of 1715 led to the titles being lost. The Livingstones of Argyll claim to be descended from a physician to the Lord of the Isles MacLeay – son of a physician. The MacLeays of Appin sometimes anglicised their name as Livingstone, of whom was the celebrated missionary David Livingstone.
The Livingstones followed the Stewarts of Appin, thus their involvement at the Battle of Culloden. There, Donald Livingstone saved the banner of the Stewarts, returning it to Ballachuish. The Tartan Society records five setts with varying links to Macleay, some linking to Livingstones of Argyllshire and others to Callendar and Westquarter.
Choose from one of the Livingston tartans listed below:
