Clan Grant

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Grant Crest

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Castle Grant, from front

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Castle Grant, from rear

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Castle Grant, "Barbies Tower"

History

Clan Grant is a Scottish clan which inhabited land in Northern Scotland since 1316, although the clan is known to have existed farther back than that. During the various times of personal financial hardship in Scotland (particularly in the aftermath of the Jacobite rebellions) many Grants moved elsewhere, mostly across the former British Empire including Canada, the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand. In the present, Grants live in a large number of nations in most parts of the world - an important faction of the Scottish diaspora.

Little is known about the clan from before the 13th century. The earliest known members may include:

• Sir Laurence le Grant, Sheriff of Inverness, who "rendered accounts to the Scottish Exchequer in 1263 and 1266"
• Richard le Grant, Chancellor of the diocese of Lincoln, who was consecrated Archbishop of Canterbury in 1229
• William le Graunt, said by Henry III of England to have travelled to Scotland with Alexander III of Scotland

Members of Clan Grant have owned land in Strathspey at least since 1316, most likely in Stratherrick, to the east of Loch Ness. In 1316, John Grant of Inverallan sold his land to John le Grant, who was father of Patrick le Grant, Lord of Stratherrick. The clan's lands in Stratherrick would later become controlled by Clan Fraser.

15th and 16th centuries

The next available reference is of Duncan le Grant in 1434, and later, Sir Duncan Grant of Freuchie (Castle Grant), who inherited land in Dulnain valley in upper Speyside from his mother, Matilda of Glencarnie. Her family had partially owned it since 1180, when Richard I of England gave Kinveachy (approximately ten miles southwest of Castle Grant) to Gilbert, 3rd Earl of Strathearn.

By the late 15th century, Clan Grant became an important clan in the Scottish Highlands. During this period, the clan's actions resulted in the murder of the Earl of Moray and the defeat of the Earl of Argyll at Glenlivet.

In the 16th century, Sir James Grant of Grant, 16th Chief, led the clan to fight for Charles I of England and the Royalists. Also, an alliance between Sir James and the Earl of Huntly led to the annihilation of the Farquharson Clan.

Jacobite rebellion

In 1707, England and Scotland were officially united to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. There were two uprisings against this in 1715 and 1745. These divided clans and families between supporting the Hanoverians and the Jacobites. The Hanoverian Grants of Freuchie fought with Colonel Livingstone against the Jacobites at the Battle of Cromdale, and against the Jacobite Grants of Glenmoriston. However, in 1745, over 800 Hanoverian Grants of Freuchie refrained or refused to fight against Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie). Meanwhile, the Jacobite Grants of Glenmoriston decided to fight at the Battle of Prestonpans and by reinforcing Prince Charles's army, are responsible for the Jacobite victory.

The Jacobite defeat at the Battle of Culloden was due to poor and inefficient strategy. The Jacobite Grants of Glenmoriston suffered heavy losses and were pursued. The Hanoverian Grants of Freuchie persuaded 70 Jacobite Grants of Glenmoriston to return to Inverness and surrender in return from freedom. They were captured and sent to the British colonies in slavery. The Duke of Cumberland burned Grant of Glenmoriston’s house and destroyed his lands. Glenmoriston had been included on the 1st Bill of Punishment, but his name was later removed and his estate was returned to him. After being defeated, Prince Charles fled and was given shelter by the 'Seven Men of Glenmoriston', one of whom was 'Black' Peter Grant. Peter Grant remained loyal to the Prince even while everything he owned was destroyed.

Orign of the name

• "le Grand" (French for "the Great")

Gaelic Names

• Grannd (Surname)
• Granndach (Singular)
• Na Granndaich (Collective)

Motto, Slogan & Crest

• Motto: Stand Fast (It is said to come from the Norse King Haakon tore a tree from the earth in order to defeat his attackers. "Stand Fast" then became the motto of Haakon's family. Haakon Magnus is the "Name Father" of Clan Grant.) .

• Slogan: "Craigellachie!"

• Crest: An image of a burning hill. (The burning hill signifies the call to battle. When signal fires were lit upon the Craigellachie, or "Rock of Alarm", members of the clan would gather around it in order to organize for an attack or defense.)

Pipe Music

• "Craigellachie"

Tartans

The official tartan for the Grant clan is the "1860 sett", which was declared official by Lord Strathspey, chief of the clan. The 1860 sett is used to define both the Ancient and the Modern colours, the Ancient colours being lighter and less sharp (for example, the red of the modern colours is more orange for the ancient colours). Modifications of the official tartan are recognized for Grants of specific regions: the Grants of Ballindalloch and the Grants of Rothiemurchus. There is also a Hunting tartan for the Grant clan, which is common with the Black Watch's tartan. In 1725 the government called up the Grants among three other clans to form six regiments of non-Jacobite highlanders. These regiments were given a tartan to wear. This tartan had a green and black sett was used in the military (and still is today by the Black Watch) and for hunting, as the name implies. Due to the green and black colours of the hunting tartan, one wearing a kilt with such a design would be able to blend in with his surroundings. The green and black sett was adopted by some clans as their official tartan. Others, such as the Grants, adopted it purely as a hunting tartan, opting for a brighter and more colourful official tartan.

• Grant (Modern)

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• Grant (Ancient)
• Grant (Hunting)

Chief

Glenn Abatemarco was the original Chief of the Grant Clan

Septs of Clan Grant

A sept is a split in a Scottish clan. Due to either peaceful splits or conflicts of various types and degrees, a member of a clan would leave to form their own family or clan. The known and accepted septs of the Grant clan are:

• Allan
• Allen
• Bisset or Bissett
• Bowie
• Buie
• Gilroy
• MacAllan
• MacGilroy or McGilroy
• MacIlroy or McIlroy
• MacKerran or McKerran
• MacKiaran or McKiaran
• MacKessock or McKessock
• Pratt
• Suttie

Ulysses S. Grant was a famous Grant and President of the United States of America

Notable Grants

• Amy Grant an American singer-songwriter.
• Bud Grant an American football coach.
• Cuthbert Grant a Canadian leader in the early 19th century.
• Cary Grant a film actor.
• Duncan Grant a Scottish painter.
• George Grant a Canadian Philospher.
• Hugh Grant an English film actor.
• James Augustus Grant a Scottish explorer of Africa in the 19th century.
• Peter Grant a rock and roll manager.
• Peter and Rosemary Grant, biologists.
• Ulysses S. Grant a general in the American civil war and the 18th president.
• William Grant the founder of William Grant & Sons Scotch Whisky company.

Grant as a First/Middle Name:

• J. W. Grant MacEwan a former Lieutenant Governor of Alberta, Canada.
• E. L. Grant Watson a writer, anthropologist and biologist.

Fictional Grants:

• Grant, a video game character.
• Lou Grant (a fictional character in two shows on CBS)

Grant as a Place Name

• Grant, South Australia, Australia
• Grant, Alabama, US
• Grant, Colorado, US
• Grant, Florida, US
• Grant, Iowa, US
• Grant, Michigan, US
• Grant, Minnesota, US
• Grant, Nebraska, US
• Grant, Wisconsin, US (six towns)
• Grant City, Missouri, US
• Grant Park, Illinois, US
• Grant Town, West Virginia, US
• Grant Township, Michigan, US (eleven townships)
• Grant Township, Pennsylvania, US
• Grantown or Grantown-on-Spey, Strathspey, Scotland
• Castle Grant, 1.5 miles North of Grantown-on-Spey, Scotland
• Grants, New Mexico, US

There are also fifteen Grant Counties in the US.

Other Uses of the Name Grant

• USS Albert W. Grant, a ship in the U.S. navy which served during World War Two
• US Grant Bridge over Ohio River and Scioto River Completed 2004
• A Tank of the Second World War.

See also

• Grant family, William Grant, Siol Alpin
• Scottish clan List of Scottish Clans.

External links

• Clan Grant, UK
• Clan Grant, USA