Clan Stewart
The Clan Stewart
The Stewarts: Scotland's Famous Occupational Name
The Stewart name originated from the office of steward, which comes from the Old English words stig, meaning house, and weard, meaning keeper. William Fitz Alain, a Norman knight, became the hereditary Great Steward of Scotland during the reign of King David I and was granted lands in Renfrewshire and East Lothian. His descendants, using the name Stewart, acquired estates in Kintyre, Arran, Cowal, and Bute. Other branches of the family were established in Strathearn and Atholl in Perthshire, Appin in Argyll, and Strathspey.
Walter, the 6th High Steward, married Marjory, daughter of Robert the Bruce. When Bruce's son, King David II, died without an heir, Bruce's grandson, Robert Stewart, through Marjory, became King Robert II in 1371. This event marked the start of the Stewart Dynasty, which lasted until Queen Anne's death in 1714. The royal male line of Stewarts likely ended with the death of Bonnie Prince Charlie, although illegitimate descendants continued into the 20th century. Currently, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, is the High Steward of Scotland, being the female-line descendant of Walter Fitz Alan.
The Stuart spelling came about because French did not have a letter w. Mary Queen of Scots, in particular, became Mary Stuart following her marriage to the Dauphin of France, later King Francis II.
The Stewart clan motto is Virescit vulnere virtus, which means Courage grows strong at a wound.
Some surnames are considered septs or sub-branches of the Stewart clan, including Cook, Cruickshanks, Duilach, France, Francis, Garrow, Jameson, Jamieson, Lombard, Lorne, MacCamie, MacCloy, MacCombich, MacGlashan, MacKirdy, MacLae, MacLea, MacLeay, MacMichael, MacMunn, MacMutrie, Moodie, Munn, and Sharp.
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