Article
Scrimgeour
Motto: Dissipate (Disperse)
The name is from Middle English Skrymsher/Scrimgeour, Skirmisour, which in turn were derived from the Old French forms of Eskermisor, a fencer. The first of the name is Alexander called Schyrmeschur, described as son of Colyn, son of Carun (of Cupar) who obtained in 1293 a tack or lease of the land of Torr from Thomas de Kylmaron. In 1298 Alexander called ‘Skirmeschur’ had a charter from Sir William Wallace, Guardian of the Kingdom, of certain lands near Dundee together with the office of Constable of the Castle of Dundee.
During the Wars of Scottish Independence the Skrymshers/Scrimgeours were confirmed as banner bearers by William Wallace and Parliament on the 29 March 1298. Alexander was the first person to declare for Robert the Bruce. However he was captured and hanged at Newcastle upon the direct orders of Edward I of England in 1306. He was succeeded by another Alexander Skrymsher/Scrimgeour who in 1314 rode as the royal banner bearer at the Battle of Bannockburn.
In 1370 large amounts of land in Argyll came to the Skrymsher/Scrimgeour family when Alexander Skrymsher/Scrimgeour married Agnes, heiress to Gilbert Glassary of the Ilk. In the 15th century the Clan Skrymsher/Scrimgeour continued to prosper and the seventh constable of Dundee acquired the lands of Dudhope in 1495. There they later built Dudhope Castle.
John Skrymsher/Scrimgeour of Glassary marched from Fincharn in 1513, as the royal banner bearer, to the Battle of Flodden where he received a mortal wound. Sir James Skrymsher/Scrimgeour (d.1612) was one of the commissioners sent to Denmark to negotiate the marriage of James VI of Scotland to Princess Anne. He was also appointed as a commissioner to negotiate a political union with England in 1604.
Choose from one of the Scrimgeour tartans listed below:
