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Stewart

Crest: A pelican Argent, winged Or, in her nest feeding her young, Proper.
Motto: Virecit Vulnere Virtus [from Latin: "Courage grows strong at a wound"]
Badge: oak or Thistle
 
Stewart is a Scottish surname and the name is found spelt in two ways, Stewart or Stuart; the reason for this is in the French language there was no “w”. It is derived from the Old English word Steward, a person who tended domestic animals. In Scotland it is the term used to mean magistrate or person appointed by the King to administer lands hence a  “stewartry”. It became a surname in the seventeenth century.  
 
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The family came from Brittany acquiring lands in England after the Norman conquest, and moved to Scotland when David I (1124-1153) ascended to the throne of Scotland. They were granted (1141) extensive estates in Renfrewshire and in East Lothian with the office of High Steward of Scotland were made hereditary to the family. The result was the family became powerful.

Through marriage and royal patronage it acquired lands and influence with the major families/clans. Examples would be Stewarts/Stuart of, Atholl, Barclye, Buchan, Bute, Rothesay and others.

Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward by marrying Marjorie Bruce, daughter of Robert the Bruce founded the Royal  House of Stewart which came to the throne with Robert II (1371). It ended in 1707 on the Act of Union in Queen nn’s reign.  The Jacobite uprisings in the 18th century, the “Fifteen” and the “Forty Five”, were lead by Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie). He was the exiled claimant to the throne.

Stewarts fought mostly for the Jacobites many of them having their estates forfeited. Today the Stewart clan does not have a clan chief . The Earls of Galloway are now considered to be the principal Stewart branch, their crest, motto and arms are used by the clan. Of the other two  'Stewart' clans that are recognised, Stuart of Bute and Stewart of Appin, the former is the only one with a recognised chief.  The Queen is the chief of Chiefs and as a result the Royal Stewart and the Hunting Stewart tartans are seen as "universal" tartans so are used by anyone without clans or a tartan.  

Choose from one of the Stewart tartans listed below: