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Menzies

Motto: Vil God I zal (With Gods will, I shall)  

The name Menzies is of Norman-French origin, coming from the town of Mesnieres, Seine-Inferieure.  In most of Scotland it is pronounced ‘Meeng-us’ or ‘Mingies’.  The ‘z’ has arisen from the misinterpretation of the Gaelic G-Z.  In England the name is found in the form Manners and in Gaelic the Menzies are known collectively as ‘Meinnerarach’.  The first record of the name in Scotland was in 1214 when Artekill de Mannvers witnessed a charter by William de Veteri Ponte to the Abbery of Holyrood.  First of the actual family of Menzies is generally thought to be Robert de Meyners, created Great Chamberlain of Scotland in 1249.   

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The clan Menzies were one of the eighteen clans who fought at Bannockburn under Bruce.  However, during later periods of civil war various branches supported different sides.  It was the eighth chief, Sir Robert Menzies, who built the castle at Weem around 1488. In 1510 James IV created the free Barony of Menzies.  In 1540 James Menzies of Menzies married Barbara Stewart, daughter of the third Stewart Earl of Atholl and cousin of Lord Darnley, the future King Henry.  Despite both their Stewart and royal links, the chiefs apposed Charles I and Menzies was harried by Montrose.  

In 1688 Menzies declared for Queen Mary and her husband, William of Orange.  However clan loyalties were divided, and there were many Menzies on either side at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689.  In 1715 Menzies of Culdares rallied to the Stuarts.  Later the lands of Menzies at Glen Lyon were used to shelter refugees from Culloden, including members of the prince’s personal staff.  The Menzies baronetcy became extinct in 1910 with the death of Sir Neil Menzies of Menzies, eighth Baronet.  Menzies Castle fell into disrepair, but saved from ruin in 1957.  The more usual Menzies tartans fall into two groups; those based on the pattern that appeared in the Vestarium Scotium and those based on the Red and White Menzies included in the Cockburn Collection.