Clan Balfour
Clan Balfour (Balfour Tartan)
Crest: A dexter arm in armour erect, the hand, bent, holding a baton Gules tipped
Motto: Fordward (Forward)
Origin of Name: locational name from any of the several places in the Highlands, so called from the Gaelic "bail(e)" meaning "village" plus "puir", "pasture or grass". The second element is akin to the Welsh "pawr" meaning "pasture".
Badge: A dexter arm in armour erect, the hand, bent, holding a baton Gules tipped
Lands: Whittingehame, East Lothian, Kinross and Glenrothes, Fife
Region: Lowlands
Historic Seat: Burleigh Castle, Kinross
Clan Chief: None, armigerous clan
1. Clan Balfour History
The Balfour Clan derives its name from the same location, a small community tucked away in Bonnie Fife, a section of Markinch parish, close to the confluence of the Ore and Leven rivers.
According to old legends, they once served as Fife's sheriffs, keeping the peace for many generations. Situated near the Orr river, a small tributary of the Leven, their castle, the pride of the clan, is comfortably perched on their ancient lands.
Speaking of names, some say that "Bal-orr," as the ancient manuscripts called them, was the origin of it all. Whether it comes from Gaelic roots like "Baile Fuar," which means the chilly spot, or "Bal foidh," which means the town at the foot of the Orr (with that silent "dh" in "foidh"), is up for debate.
The roots of the Balfour clan are deeply ingrained in our dear homelands!
Among these proud people are the Balfours of Burleigh, Fernie, Dunbog, Denmylne, Grange, Forret, Randerston, Radernie, Northhank, Balbirnie, Halbeath, Lawlethan, and Banktown. We have a good dozen or more of these people. Oh, and don't forget about Boghall and Torry, Kinloch—those are also Balfour lands!
The Balfour family, according to Sibbald's "Memoria Balfouriana," is like a strong tree with many branches. The main branches holding it down are the Balgarvie crew, the Mountwhanney bunch, the Denmylne clan, the Ballovy crew, the Carriston squad, and the Kirkton gang.
THE BALFOURS OF STRATHOR AND MUNQUHANNY
A powerful Dane by the name of Siward, Earl of Northumbria, made the decision to leave Northumbria and travel north during the reign of Duncan I. Siward had a son named Osulf and was quite the character. In response, Osulf called his son Siward II in honor of his father.
Now, back in 1097, King Edgar was feeling particularly giving and chose to give young Siward II the valley of Orr, which is now known as Strathor and Maev (or the Isle of May to the locals). You know what he needed to accomplish to merit it? All he had to do was bring in Ottar the Dane's head. What a difficult job!
The Balfours now claim to be descended from Siward himself with pride. Furthermore, it appears that Octred, Siward's son, was also a significant person—around 1141, he even saw a charter of David the First.
According to legend, Octred was also probably the one who constructed the castle, which was later named after his lineage.
The Balfours of Monquhanny had possessed the Isles of May for numerous generations. Given that the family chose the motto "Fordward" (or "Forthward" in old Saxon), it makes sense given their location at the mouth of the powerful Firth of Forth. You see, ever since that time, all of Siwarth's legitimate heirs have proudly worn the otter's head on their arms.
the initial coat of arms? Indeed, it is thought that Siwarth II himself may have identified it. It appears that the Balfours of Denmylne may have given up the Isle of May when they decided to sell their estate to Major General George Scott in 1773. And the Isle of May may have changed hands at about the same time in 1840, when Henrietta Scott, the Duke of Portland's daughter and wife, sold off Denmylne.
Now, in the year 1196, Octred's son, Sir Michael de Balfour (also known as Balfor by some), succeeded in obtaining a charter from none other than William the Lion. Around 1229, Sir Angèlemus de Balfour, the son of Sir Michael, even held the esteemed position of sheriff of Fife. The first instance of the name "Balfour" in writing? John de Balfure, who appeared on an assize in 1304, deserves that distinction.
Another prominent Balfour, Sir William, saw a charter at the time of Alexander II that confirmed a mortification to the Aberbrothock monastery—a deed presented by Philip de Moubray.
The question of whether Sir Emmanuel Musse de Balfour was Michael's son or Henry's father is a little unclear at this point. Nevertheless, Octred made the decision to divide Sir Michael's estate among his grandsons after his death. Sir Michael de Balfor inherited Upper Strath-Orr, while Sir William de Balfor inherited Lower Strath-Orr.
Widely regarded as the Sheriff of Fife, Sir William was an important member of the family. As a gift from his beloved grandfather Octred, he was even granted authority over Balfour Castle and the lower portion of the Strath-Orr. And so started a long line of Balfours, each of them making a lasting contribution to Scottish history.
Now, let us speak of Sir Michael, the Sheriff of Fife, who lives in Upper Strath-Orr. He was seated with his friend David de Balfour as a Baron of Parliament at Ayr on April 6, 1315. Even the act of that parliament for resolving the crown business had their seals attached to it.
After Sir Michael finally died in 1344, his son John assumed leadership. It's possible that he had another son, Adam, who got married to Macduff's granddaughter, Colbane's brother, the Earl of Fife. Through that union, Adam acquired the Pittencrieff lands. However, he tragically lost his life in the Battle of Durham in 1346, and Melrose Abbey is where he is buried.
Now, Sir John, God bless him, passed away in 1375 without having any children of his own. His job returned to the Crown because he left no heirs. But have no fear—King Robert's close friend Sir Robert de Betun, who married his sister Janet, the heiress, put an end to her worries.
This union gave rise to the present-day Bethunes of Balfour. These Bethunes left a lasting impression on Fife; descendants of them can be found in the Bethunes of Bandon, Criech, Tarvet, Blebo, Clatto, Craigfudie, and Kingask.
James Bethune, the esteemed Archbishop of Glasgow and Chancellor of Scotland, was one of the prominent members of the Bethunes of Balfour. And then there was Cardinal David Bethune, his nephew, a true trailblazer.
Having attended the universities of St Andrews and Glasgow, he was instrumental in setting up the marriages between King James V and the French court. Unfortunately, however, his story took a tragic turn when he was opposed by John Knox and was killed by Protestant reformers in the same year that they killed George Wishart.
Let's now shift gears a little. A young man involved in the assassination of Cardinal Bethune was David Balfour of Balbathy and New Grange, the third son of Sir Andrew Balfour of Monquhanny.
Speaking of the cardinal, pictures of him and his renownedly beautiful niece Mary Bethune were also present in the old Balfour house. And, hey, did you know that Mary Bethune was born in the stunning 16th-century Creich Castle? What echoes of history down through the ages!
Thus, the Chiefship of the Balfours of Strath-orr fell into the hands of his brother's descendants when Sir William de Balfor discovered he had no sons to continue the family name. As you can see, the male line of heirs inherited this barony.
Let us examine Sir Michael de Balfour of Strathor in more detail. He was a true knight. Growing up under the tutelage of his cousin Duncan, the 12th Earl of Fife, Sir Michael acquired the valuable lands of Mountwhanney, or Munquhanny, in 1353, exchanging them for the less ostentatious Patencrieff.
Following the death of his cousin Sir John de Balfour of that Ilk, Sir Michael assumed the role of head of the family and adopted their coat of arms exactly as it was.
Sir Michael also received numerous land grants from Lady Isabella, the daughter of Earl Duncan, who considered him to be her "cousin." Regretfully, her second husband's brother, the regent Albany, stepped in and grabbed the earldom when she passed away childless.
Around 1385, Sir Michael passed away, leaving his eldest son, Michael Balfour the First of Mountwhanney and Strathor, to carry on the family legacy.
Sir Lawrence, the son of this Michael, had three sons of his own: George, the next in line; John, who started the Balfour line in Denmylne, Forret, Randerston, Torry, Boghall, Kinloch, and Carraldstone (or Carriston); and David Balfour of Carraldstone.
But thanks to King James II's approval, it was James Balfour, son of Sir John Balfour of Balgarvy, who made a significant move in 1451 when he acquired the lands of Denmylne. James unfortunately met his demise shortly after the death of King James II in 1460 at the siege of Roxburgh.
Let's go back a little and meet Sir Michael Balfour, who was knighted at Holyroodhouse in 1630. Being the comptroller of Charles I's household and being knighted in the same year as his son, Sir James, made him quite the big shot.
Sir Michael was renowned for both his military valor and his diplomatic acumen. He had nine daughters and five sons, seven of whom got married into quite respectable households, and a thriving household with his wife Jane, daughter of James Durham of Pitkerrow. A family tree indeed, don't you think?
2. Clan Balfour Tartans
Balfour can only be made using a unique weaving technique because it is not a stock woven tartan. Since Perthshire and Fife District tartans are closely linked to the Balfour name, they would be the most pertinent district tartans in the absence of a specific Balfour tartan.
Balfour Modern
Balfour Blue
Perthshire District
Fife District
3. Clan Balfour Crest & Coats of Arms
3.1 Clan Balfour Crest
Worn by all of the name and ancestry
Crest Description:
A dexter arm in armour erect, the hand, bent, holding a baton Gules tipped
3.2 Clan Balfour 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. This law does not recognize the idea of a "family coat of arms."
With the above-mentioned exceptions, the arms pictured below are personal to the person who received them. The only person authorized to use these weapons is that person.
John Balfour of 1st Trenabie
THE BALFOURS of BURLEIGH
THE BALFOURS OF DENMYLNE
4. Clan Balfour Places & People
4.1 Clan Balfour Places
Nestled in bucolic Fife, close to Newburgh, Denmylne Castle is a magnificent tower house that dates back to the late 1500s. The Balfour clan held sway over these lands from approximately 1452 until 1710.
According to legend, Denmylne's James Balfour met his demise during the siege of Roxburgh in 1460, and his young son John Balfour followed him into the annals of history following the Battle of Flodden in 1513. Though it has seen better days, a good portion of the castle still stands despite the effects of time.
4.2 Clan Balfour People
4.2.1 Arthur James Balfour, 1st Earl of Balfour (25 July 1848 – 19 March 1930)
An important person in British politics is Arthur Balfour. As the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1902 to 1905, he was a devout Conservative.
Speaking for the entire cabinet, he wrote something important known as the Balfour Declaration in 1917 while serving as Foreign Secretary in the Lloyd George ministry. Really quite the powerful man!
4.2.2 Sir James Balfour (1600-1657) - Historian and Lord Lyon King-of-Arms
A famous person in Scottish history is Sir James, 1st Baronet of Denmilne and Kinnaird. His parents were Sir Michael Balfour and Joanna Durham, and he was born in Denmilne, Fife.
Sir James was a pretty well-connected young man now. He was friendly with William Dugdale and Sir William Segar, even lending a hand at Dugdale's Monasticon. In 1630, he received a knighthood from King Charles I and was named Lord Lyon King of Arms in the same year.
An actual honor, in fact! He was also made a baronet of Kinnaird in 1633. But sadly, during those turbulent times, old Oliver Cromwell ended his reign as Lord Lyon. In 1657, Sir James passed away.
Among the many written works he left behind are now kept in the Advocates' Library in Edinburgh.
His letters, which James Haig expertly collected into Balfour's Annales of Scotland over the course of four volumes from 1824 to 1825, are among these priceless possessions. James Maidment also perused this compilation, removing articles for printing.