Clan Bell
Clan Bell (Bell Tartan)
Crest: A hand holding a dagger, paleways, Proper
Motto: I Beir the Bel
Historic Seat: Middlebie, Dumfires & Galloway
Clan Chief: None, armigerous clan
1. Clan Bell History
The name Bell rings out through the Scottish Borders, echoing a tale of heritage and history. Possibly stemming from the French ‘Bel’ or ‘Belle’, it's a name found predominantly in the lush lands of Dumfriesshire. With variations like Bel, Bellis, Belle, Beal, and Bale, the family's roots run deep.
Settling in Middlebie Parish around the 11th century, the Bells made their mark on Dumfriesshire. Their lineage traces back to a loyal Norman follower of David I, with Gilbert Le Fitzbel tending lands in Dumfries as early evidence.
Living amidst the border strife, many Bells turned to reiving for survival. By the 15th and 16th centuries, their actions caused enough chaos that even the Crown took notice. The Act of 1587 aimed to tame the turbulent Borders, listing clans like the Bells.
The Bells weren't just survivors; they were allies too. The Douglases, famed for their might, granted lands to William Bell at Kirkconnel in Annandale. There, William erected a sturdy tower, proudly displaying the clan crest still cherished today.
But time wears on even the proudest clans. The last Chief, William Bell, known as Redcloak, passed in 1628. Though their home, Blackethouse, fell to English raiders in 1547, the Bell legacy endured.
Now, after centuries of slumber, the clan stirs once more, recognized anew by the Lord Lyon, ready to embrace a new Chief.
After the 17th century, the family spread its wings far and wide, with kinfolk setting sail for distant shores like America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand.
But there's more to the Bell legacy than meets the eye. Within the clan MacMillan lies a separate sept of Bells, hailing from Glen Shira near Loch Fyne's misty shores.
Bells didn't just wander; they excelled. Surgeons adorned with royal accolades, presidents of esteemed colleges, sheriffs upholding the law, and scholars wielding quills with might.
Famous faces among the Bells stand tall. General Sir John Bell, the valiant warrior of Napoleonic fame and comrade to the Duke of Wellington.
George Joseph Bell, penning the "Principals of the Law of Scotland" for posterity. Dr. Joseph Bell, the famed surgeon whose deductive prowess inspired none other than Sherlock Holmes.
And let's not forget Alexander Graham Bell, the mastermind behind the world's first practical telephone.
2. Clan Bell Tartans
The Bell of the Borders tartan was privately held by Col Bell for several years before its public release. Its colors symbolize various aspects:
Black represents the Border region and serves as a tribute to those who have passed.
Blue signifies the skies above and the vast oceans across which they traveled.
Green embodies the natural beauty of the Borders and the promise it holds.
Red symbolizes the bloodshed, courage, and unity of the clan.
Yellow represents the radiant sunburst, adding a touch of warmth and vitality.
Threadcount Y/6 LB8 Y8 LB76 K8 LB8 K32 G8 R/12
Bell of the Borders
3. Clan Bell Crest & Coats of Arms
3.1 Clan Bell Crest
Worn by all of the name and ancestry
Crest Description:
A hand holding a dagger, paleways, Proper
3.2 Clan Bell Coat of Arms
A note on Coats of Arms:
Under Scottish heraldic law, a coat of arms is awarded to an individual (excluding civic or corporate arms). There is no concept of a "family coat of arms." The arms depicted below are personal and unique to the individual granted them, except in cases of civic or corporate arms. Only the person bestowed with these arms has the authority to use them.
BELL of Blackethouse
Azure, three bells, Or
An Elizabethan oak over-mantel carved with the coat of arms of Sir Robert Bell
4. Clan Bell Places & People
4.1 Clan Bell Places
The Ancestral Home of the Bell Clan, Blacket-House, or as some call it, Blackwood House, stands proud amidst the rolling hills of Middlebie parish, Dumfriesshire. Adorning its weathered stones is the year 1404 and the initials W.B., marking its legacy. Legend has it that within these ancient walls dwelled a Bell, whose tale intertwines with the tragic saga of "fair Helen of Kirkconnel Lea."
Records whisper of a certain John Bell of Blackwoodhouse, who set roots in Middlebie's embrace at the dawn of the 15th century. The Tower itself, a sentinel of times gone by, is said to have risen in the latter half of the 16th century, standing as a silent witness to the clan's storied past.
4.2 Clan Bell People
4.2.1 Alexander Graham Bell
Born on March 3, 1847, in the heart of Edinburgh, Bell stands tall as one of Scotland's most iconic figures. While he's famed for birthing the telephone, his brilliance extended far beyond mere communication devices.
A true inventor at heart, Bell's mind birthed ideas like an air-cooling system, a method for desalinating sea-water, and even a nifty contraption for sorting punch-coded census cards.
His lineage was steeped in innovation too; his father, Alexander Melville Bell, paved the way with Visible Speech, a groundbreaking method for teaching speech to the deaf. This legacy of innovation reached beyond family ties, as Bell found himself mentoring the young Helen Keller, propelling her toward her own remarkable journey.
While others tinkered with the notion of transmitting speech through wires, Bell's ingenuity soared above the rest.
Building upon the foundations laid by predecessors, his "harmonic telegraph" pushed the boundaries, enabling multiple messages to dance along a single telegraph wire. In a stroke of genius, Bell realized the potential to capture the essence of human voice through this concept.
In 1875, the world listened in awe as the first recognizable voice traversed the wires, marking the dawn of a new era. Bell's brainchild, the telephone, cemented its place in history when it was patented on March 7, 1876, forever altering the landscape of human communication.
5. Associated Names
The following names are considered septs or associated names of Clan Bell: Baeill, Bail, Baill, Bails, Bale, Bales, Ball, Bayle, Bayles, Beal, Beale, Beales, Beall, Bealles, Bealls, Beals, Beel, Beele, Beeles, Beels, Behel, Beil, Beill, Beils, Bel, Bell, Belle, Bellis, Biehl, Biel, Biels, Bile, Biles, and Bill.