Clan Ainslie
Clan Ainslie (Ainslie Tartan)
1. Clan Ainslie History
Probably originating in Annesley, a small English town in Nottinghamshire, is the surname Ainslie. Another possible source is Ansley, Warwickshire, which is listed as "Hanslei" in the Domesday Book of 1086. The name comes from the Old English words "ansetl," which means hermitage, and "leah," which means a narrow glade, clearing, or wood.
Named "Aneslei" in the Domesday Book, Annesley means "the lonely clearing," derived from the Old English "an," which means one, and the previously mentioned word "leah." Its origins are therefore most likely in Nottinghamshire.
Although the surname Ainslie is most common in Scotland's border regions, it was also quite common in England prior to the Norman Conquest. Ainslie, Ainsley, Aynsley, and Ainslee are examples of contemporary variations.
John de Annesley (1292, York), Johan de Anesleye (1296, Roxburghshire), and Thomas de Aneslei (1221, Glasgow) are the first people with the surname Ainlie or one of its variants that are known to exist.
Huge estates belonged to the Saxon lords of Nottinghamshire's Annesley. But as William the Conqueror's army advanced, they fled, and under Malcolm III's rule, they were welcomed and given safety in Scotland.
The growing Ainslie family soon discovered that Dolphinstone's surrounding countryside was their home. About 1208, Glasgow Cathedral canon William de Ainslie attested to a charter issued by Glasgow Bishop Walter. As one of the mediators assigned to settle a conflict between the bishopric of Glasgow and the monks of Kelso in 1221, Thomas de Ainslie was crucial.
A Borders-born knight named Sir Aymer de Aynesley set out on a diplomatic mission in 1249 to bargain with the English to end the marches. The family is listed as John de Anesleye from Roxburghshire and Johan de Anesley from Cruwfurt in Laarkshire on the Ragman Roll of 1296, which listed those who submitted to Edward I of England.
Between 1248 and 1254, Robert de Ainslie, the Baron of Dolphinstone, traveled to the Holy Land as a companion to his kinsman Patrick, the Earl of Dungar and March. It is possible that the crusader John's son was the Laird of Dolphinstone, who swore allegiance to Edward I.
During Robert the Bruce's quest for the Scottish Crown, the Ainslies found themselves at odds with him, which led to the loss of their estates. But things changed for the better when William de Ainslie, who was married to Helen Kerr (who was descended from the current Duke of Roxburgh), gained favor with Robert II. William de Ainslie took back the Dolphinstone estates in 1377.
Strategic marriage alliances with other powerful Borders families, such as the Douglases, Pringles, Homes, and Kerrs, allowed the Ainslies to protect their wealth.
John Ainslie's daughter Marjory married Mark Kerr of Cessford, a fierce fighter known as the Terror of the Borders. In 1547, his bravery came to an end at the Battle of Pinkie.
Born on January 13, 1766, Robert Ainslie was a handsome lawyer who enjoyed doing Scottish scribbles and writing letters home to the bard Robert Burns.
When he met the poet for the first time in Edinburgh in the spring of 1787, they galloped through the Borders, where Burns' relatives graciously welcomed Ainslie into their homestead. Subsequently, he visited Burns at Ellisland, where he was given a handwritten copy of Tam o' Shanter, a gift he gave to Sir Walter Scott, the scribe.
A relative of his, Sir Whitelaw Ainslie, brought his medical expertise to India, where he held a prominent position as the chief medical officer in the Southern Division and wrote a substantial book on indigenous Indian medicine.
Robert, who was affectionately called Robbie, enjoyed writing plays and doing sketches for the Edinburgh Magazine. Another of his kind, Sir Robert Ainslie, served as the British envoy in Constantinople during the Ottoman Empire's rule from 1776 to 1792.
In 1804, he ventured into politics as a Member of Parliament and was bestowed with the title of baronet. These days, his three large books filled with intricate drawings and sketches of Egypt are what people most remember him for.
The Ainslie family honors their valiant acts during the Crusades with pride by displaying their heraldic symbols. However, their bravery remained unwavering as they went on to excel in the military.
During the Battle of Balaclave in 1854, General Charles de Ainslie commanded the renowned 93rd Highland Regiment, which became known as the "Thin Red Line."
In addition to their military prowess, the Ainslies had a distinguished legal family history. Costerton resident David Ainslie died in 1900, leaving a sizeable estate amassed over his legal career.
The Astley Ainslie Hospital was built with this wealth in the center of Edinburgh.
A memorial to the illustrious Ainslie family stands tall on the walls of the South Leith parish church, honoring their legacy.
2. Clan Ainslie Tartans
The Ainslie Tartan can only be made through unique weaving arrangements and is not commonly accessible as a standard woven tartan. Kindly contact us to arrange for its acquisition if you're interested.
The best choices are district tartans because they depict the name's etymology. Please get in touch with us if you need any more help.
Ainslie Tartan
Roxburgh District
Roxburgh Ancient
Roxburgh Muted
3. Clan Ainslie Crest & Coats of Arms
3.1 Clan Ainslie Crest
Worn by all of the name and ancestry
Crest Description:
Issuing out of a cap of maintenance a naked arm embowed grasping a scymitar, all Proper
3.2 Clan Ainslie Coats of Arms
A note on Coats of Arms:
A person is granted a coat of arms under Scottish heraldic law, with the exception of civic or corporate arms. A "family coat of arms" is an imaginary notion. With the aforementioned exclusions, the arms pictured are private and unique to the person who received them. The only person authorized to use these arms is the one who has been given them.
ARMS
Or, a cross flory Gules
ON COMPARTMENT
Pro patria saepe pro rege semper (For country often, for King always)
SUPPORTERS
Two knights wearing full chain armor are shown on a base of thistles with a tree stump supporting the shield. One knight has his helmet visor raised and is leaning on a gold shield with a red cross and fleur-de-lis ends, while the other knight is wearing a skull cap and holding a spear with a blue pennon that displays the described crest within a silver canton.
Ainslie of Great Torrington, baronets
Ainslie of Great Torrington, baronets
4. Clan Ainslie People & Places
4.1 Clan Ainslie People
4.1.1 Colonel Sir Philip Ainslie (1728-1802), KT., of Pilton
Edinburgh-born Philip Ainslie was born in 1728 into a distinguished family. He came from a wealthy family as the second son of George Ainslie and Jane/Jean, the daughter of Sir Philip Anstruther, KT.
After completing his education at Westminster School, Philip enlisted in the army in 1754. As he advanced through the ranks, he proved his mettle on the battlefield by becoming colonel of the 7th Dragoons. His bravery brought him to Portugal, where he assisted Prince Charles of Mecklenberg as aide-de-camp and as a lieutenant colonel in the cavalry.
On February 25, 1778, Philip Ainslie received a knighthood from King George III as a thank you for his service. He served with distinction for eight years before retiring in 1786. He spent his later years in Edinburgh, where he died in 1802 at the age of 74.
Philip exchanged vows with the Hon. Elizabeth, daughter of John, 11th Lord Gray, in Edinburgh on March 15, 1772. Several children, including the distinguished General George Robert Ainslie, were born into their union.
Their daughter Margaret Jane Ainslie also married Francis Stuart, 10th Earl of Moray, in 1801, which resulted in the addition of three grandchildren to their aristocratic family.
4.1.2 Reverend George Ainslie (1804-1875)
During the 1800s, George Ainslie was an Anglican minister. At the age of 71, he passed away on May 14, 1875.
5. Septs of Clan Ainslie
Ainslie is a sept of Clan MacLeod so would wear the MacLeod tartans.
Ainslie, which is located in the Roxburgh district, lacks a distinctive tartan. Consequently, the MacLeod or Roxburgh tartans are thought to be the most relevant choices.
AINSLIE represents just one variation of a name with approximately 200 different spellings, with prominent variants including AYNSLEY, AINSLEY, ANNESLEY, AINLEY, and ANSLEY.