Clan Allardice
Clan Allardice (Allardice Tartan)
Crest: A demi-savage holding in the dexter hand a scymitar, all Proper
Motto: In The Defence Of The Distressed
Region: Lowlands
Historic Seat: Allardyce Castle, Kincardinshire
Clan Chief: Richard Christopher Barclay Allardice of Allardice
1. Clan Allardice History
Throughout Scottish history, monikers like Allardyce and Allardes have been used. All of it has its roots in the historic barony of Allardice, which is tucked away in the Kinkardineshire parish of Arbuthnott.
According to legend, a person who later took on the name of the region was given the lands of Alrethis by a charter awarded to William the Lion.
Though the name's exact origins are unknown, scholars surmise that it derives from the Middle English word "aller" (or Olde English "alor"), which means alder, combined with an unidentified second element that is thought to be the Gaelic word "deas," which means south-facing.
It is not a very common name, but those who go by it are proud to be descended from the old family who used to live on the banks of the Bervie Water.
The first record of the family name appears in the chronicles of history with Alexander de Allyrdas, who is recorded in 1294 in the "Episcopal Register of Aberdeen," under the kingship of John Balliol, who ruled Scotland from 1292 to 1296.
Around 1294, Alexander de Allyrdas witnessed the charter of Glack's lands; this person is probably the same Alisaundre de Allerdashe of Kinkardyn County who swore loyalty in 1296. In the same period, Walter de Allerdas was another person to swear loyalty.
Nestled a mile northwest of Bervie, the storied Castle of Allardice stands proud. Built by the Allardice clan as an L-plan tower house at the end of the 16th century, it sits majestically on a terrace with the meandering river encircling it on three sides.
After the castle was acquired by the Barclays of Urie through marriage in the late 1700s, it gradually changed into a farmhouse. After it was destroyed by fire in the 1970s, renowned Aberdeen architect William Cowie led the restoration effort and lived there.
The history of the castle is entwined with aristocratic marriages, as demonstrated by the marriage of John Allardyce (c. 1606) to the daughter of the 3rd Earl Marischal.
Their descendant, Sir John Allardice (1641–76), asserted a lineage back to King Robert II of Scotland by marrying a sister and co-heir of the 8th and 2nd Earls of Menteith and Airth, further solidifying the family's nobility.
Due to financial difficulties and debt that Sir George Allardyce incurred, the family's claim to these earldoms was dormant until the 19th century, despite receiving attention in the 18th century.
The House of Lords made multiple attempts between 1834 and 1907 to recover their noble birthright, but the expensive legal process ended in failure, casting doubt on those hopes.
Influential political figure Sir George Allardyce (1672–1709) held the position of Master of the Mint in Scotland in the early 1700s while also serving as a Member of Parliament.
He oversaw the castle's expansion sometime around 1695, leaving a lasting impression on its history. James Allardice, his grandson, died in 1765, leaving only a daughter and an heir.
The Allardice name and estates found a new home within the Barclay family through her union with Robert Barclay.
Their son Capt. Robert Barclay-Allardice (1779–1854) became known as 'the celebrated pedestrian' for his extraordinary walking exploits in the early 1800s. He boldly set out to pursue the family's Scottish earldoms in 1834.
Margaret Barclay-Allardice, his heiress and daughter, was born before her parents were married, but she was deemed legitimate by Scottish law because of their second marriage.
She moved to America in 1854, giving up the Barclay and Allardice family estates, but in 1870 she was still fighting for the earldoms.
Margaret's two marriages and her choice to take her maiden name following the death of each husband are testaments to her resilience and reinvention throughout her life.
Her eldest son, Robert Barclay-Allardice (b. 1841), a successful New York stockbroker who retired to Cornwall, submitted a last-ditch bid for the earldoms in 1907. His tenure as mayor of Lostwithiel, which spanned from 1898 to 1900 and again from 1904 to 1906, served to highlight his reputation within the town.
But when Robert filed for bankruptcy in 1910, his luck suddenly turned against him. Since there is no official record of his death in the UK, it is likely that he passed away soon after, perhaps overseas, even though he was still alive in 1914.
The family's English ancestry ended in 1909 with the birth of a daughter from his marriage to his housemaid, Beatrice Jeffrey.
2. Clan Allardice Tartans
People with this name are regarded as belonging to Clan Graham and are permitted to don the Graham of Montrose tartans, despite the fact that there isn't an official Allardice tartan.
Graham on Montrose Ancient
Graham of Montrose Modern
3. Clan Allardice Crest & Coats of Arms
3.1 Clan Allardice Crest
Worn by all of the name and ancestry
Crest Description:
A demi-savage holding in the dexter hand a scymitar, all Proper
3.2 Clan Allardice Coats of Arms
A note on Coats of Arms:
A person is awarded a coat of arms under Scottish heraldic law; civic or corporate arms are not granted. A "family coat of arms" is an imaginary notion. The following arms are private and unique to the person who received them, unless they are corporate or civic arms. The only person authorized to wield these arms is the one who has been given them.
Arms: The shield is silver with a wavy red band running horizontally across the center, flanked by three black boars' heads.
The Official Coat of Arms of the Chief of the Allardice Family was granted by the Lord Lyon on March 12, 2007. These are Richard's Personal Arms as Chief.
This crest, a treasured representation of Mrs. Margaret Barclay Allardice's ancestry and heritage, was quartered and matriculated with pride in 1883.
Four quarters make up the crest, each of which symbolizes a noteworthy branch of her family tree. Three black boar heads with red tongues and tusks (symbolizing Allardice of Allardice) are positioned on either side of a silver shield with a red wavy band running across the middle in the first and fourth quarters.
A blue shield with a silver chevron and three silver crosses at the top (honoring Barclay of Ury) is displayed in the second quarter.
The third quarter is split into two halves: the lower portion features a gold shield with a blue and silver checkered stripe and a red chevron, symbolizing the Graham family, the Earls of Menteith and Airth; the upper portion features a silver shield with three gold scallop shells on a black background.
The crest is surrounded by a red mantling with a silver lining, which stands for custom and honor.
There are two different crests on each side: a bishop's mitre atop the wreath on the left represents faith and hope, with the motto "In cruce spero" (for Barclay); on the right is a naked man wielding a scimitar, signifying strength and protection for the weak, and the motto "In defence of the distressed" (for Allardice).
The family's proudly displayed livery, which consists of light blue clothing with white accents, reflects their unique identity and togetherness.
Allardice of that Ilk
4. Clan Allardice People & Places
4.1 Clan Allardice Places
Allardice Castle
Situated in Aberdeenshire, close to Inverbervie, Allardice Castle is a testament to Scottish history and culture. Built in 1542, it was the stronghold of the famous Barons of Allardice, a family whose origins can be traced to a charter dated 1197.
The castle has seen many changes over its illustrious history, reflecting changing architectural trends and the demands of its various occupants.
4.2 Clan Allardice People
Capt. Robert Barclay-Allardice (1779-1854)
A well-known character in Scottish history was Robert Barclay Allardice, popularly known as Captain Barclay. He was titled the Sixth Laird of Ury and was born in 1779.
Early in the 1800s, Captain Barclay became well-known for being an exceptional walker and was dubbed "the celebrated pedestrian." His legacy endures today in Scottish culture, signifying tenacity and resolve.
5. Allardice Associated Names
The following names are recognized as septs or associated names of Clan Allardice: ALARDYCE, ALDERDICE, ALDERDYCE, ALERDYCE, ALLARDICE, ALLARDYCE, ALLERDICE, ARDES, ARDIS, and ARDYCE.
Additionally, Allardice is a sept of Clan Graham, signifying a longstanding historical connection with Clan Allardice. Those bearing the name Allardice are always welcomed and protected by the Grahams as part of their extended family.