Cairnbulg Castle

Clan Fraser

The Frasers probably came from Anjou in France, and the name probably derives from Fresel or Freseau. Some have suggested that they descend from the tribe called Friselii in Roman Gaul, whose badge was a strawberry plant. The truth of these stories is unknown, but it is generally believed that the name Fraser traces its origins to the French provinces of Anjou and Normandy. The French word for Strawberry is fraise and the plants are called fraisiers. The Fraser arms are silver strawberry flowers on a field of blue.

They first appear in Scotland around 1160 when Simon Fraser made a gift of a church at Keith in East Lothian to the monks at Kelso Abbey. These lands eventually passed to a family who became Earls Marischal of Scotland, after adopting Keith as their name. The Frasers moved into Tweed-dale in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and from there into the counties of Stirling, Angus, Inverness and Aberdeen. About five generations later, Sir Simon Fraser (the Patriot) was captured fighting for Robert the Bruce, and executed with great cruelty by Edward I in 1306. The Patriot's line ended in two co-heiresses: the elder daughter married Sir Hugh Hay, ancestor of the Earls of Tweeddale, and the younger daughter married Sir Patrick Fleming, ancestor of the Earls of Wigton. ..... more

• A1. Udard Fraser;
  • B1. Sir Gilbert Fraser of Oliver Castle, lvd:1200/1260, m. Christian Lascelles;
    • C1. John Fraser, m. Alicia de Conigburg;
      • D1. Sir Richard;
        • E1. Andrew Fraser, Sheriff of Stirling, m. Beatrix le Chen;  ==>  Clan Cheyne
          • F1. Sir Simon Fraser of Brotherton, d:1333, Halidon Hill, m. Margaret, of of Caithness;
            • G1. Alexander Fraser of Lovat;
              • H1. Hugh Fraser of Lovat;
                • I1. Hugh Fraser of Lovat;
                  • J1. Elizabeth Fraser, m. Sir William Leslie;  <==  Clan Leslie
          • F2. James Fraser, d:1333, Halidon Hill, m. Margaret, heiress of Frendraught;
            • G1. Sir James Fraser;
              • H1. Sir James Fraser of Frendraught;
                • I1. Matilda Fraser, m. Alexander Dunbar;  <==  Clan Dunbar
          • F3. Sir Alexander Fraser, Lord Chamberlain, d:1336, m. Mary Bruce;  ==>  House of Bruce
            • G1. John Fraser of Touchfraser;
              • H1. Margaret Fraser, m. Sir William Keith;  ==>  Clan Keith
            • G2. Sir William Fraser of Cowie, d:1346, m. Margaret Moray;  ==>  Clan Moray
              • H1. Sir Alexander Fraser, Sheriff of Aberdeen, m. Joanna Ross;  ==>  Clan Ross
                <==========
  • I1. Sir William Fraser of Cowie, m. Elinor Douglas;
    • J1. Agnes Fraser, m. Sir William Forbes;  ==>  Clan Forbes
    • J2. Sir Alexander Fraser of Cowie, d:1486, m. Marjorie Menzies;
      • K1. Alexander Fraser, 4th of Philorth, m. Margaret Hay;  ==>  Clan Hay
        • L1. George Fraser;
          • M1. Janet Fraser, d:1558, m. George Baird;  <==  Clan Baird
        • L2. Sir William Fraser, 6th of Philorth, lvd:1473/1513, m. Elizabeth Keith;
          • M1. Alexander Fraser, 7th of Philorth, lvd:1473/1513, m. Catharine Menzies;
            • N1. Alexander Fraser, m. Beatrice Keith;  ==>  Clan Keith
              • O1. Sir Alexander Fraser, d:1623, m. Magdalen Ogilvy;  ==>  Clan Ogilvy
                • P1. Sir Alexander Fraser, m. Margaret Abernethy;  ==>  Clan Abernethy
                  • Q1. Anne Fraser, m. George Baird;  <==  Clan Baird