Clan Leslie

The Founder of the family of Leslie was Bartholomew (or Bartolf), a Hungarian nobleman, who came to Scotland in 1067, in the retinue of Princess Agatha, mother of Edgar the Atheling and his sister, Margaret, soon to become Queen to Malcolm Canmore lll. Bartholomew was the Queen's Chamberlain and found great favour with the King who appointed him Governor of Edinburgh Castle and granted him lands in Fife, Angus and the Mearns in Aberdeenshire. In 1070 Bartholomew married the King's sister, Beatrix, and thus founded the family of Leslie.

As the Queen's Chamberlain it was Bartholomew's duty to carry the Queen on his own horse, with her riding pillion on a pad behind the saddle with a belt round his waist for her to hold. Tradition has it that one day while riding in this fashion they were crossing a swollen stream when the horse stumbled and the Queen fearing she would fall off cried "Gin the buckle bide?" (Will the buckle hold?), Bartholomew, urging his horse to the other side answered crying "Grip Fast!" and they reached the other side safely. This incident so alarmed Bartholomew that he had two more buckles added to his belt, so three buckles on a belt became the Arms of the Leslies and "Grip Fast!" became the motto. .... Clan Leslie Charitable Trust
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Leslie clan crest

• A1. Bertolf (Bertalan), lvd:1067, m. Princess Beatrix;  ==>  House of Dunkeld
  • B1. Malcolm;
    • C1. Norman;
      • D1. Norman;
        • E1. Sir Norman of Leslie, lvd:1320, m. Elisabeth Leith;
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  • F1. Sir Andrew of Leslie, lvd:1313, m. Mary Abernethy;  ==>  Clan Abernethy
    • G1. John of Rothes;
      • H1. Sir George of Rothes, m. Elisabeth Hay;  ==>  Clan Hay
        • I1. Sir Norman of Rothes and Fythkill, lvd:1380/1439, m. Christian De Seton;  ==>  Clan Seton
          • J1. Sir George, Earl of Rothes, lvd:1418/1489, m. Christian Halyburton;
            • K1. Christian Leslie, lvd:1439/1500, m. William Sinclair;  <==  Clan Sinclair
    • G2. Sir Andrew Leslie;
      • H1. Margaret Leslie, m. David Abercrombie;  <==  Clan Abercrombie
    • G3. George Leslie, 1st of Balquhain, m. Elisabeth Keith;
      • H1. Hamelin Leslie, d:1378, m. Ann Maxwell;  ==>  Clan Maxwell
        • I1. Sir Andrew Leslie, 2nd of Balquhain, d:1420, m. Isabel Mortimer;  ==>  Mortimer family
          • J1. Alexander Leslie;
            • K1. Elizabeth Leslie of Pitcaple, m. Alexander Abercrombie;  <==  Clan Abercrombie
          • J2. Sir William Leslie, 3rd of Balquhain, d: 1467, m. Elisabeth Fraser;  ==>  Clan Fraser
            • K1. Alexander Leslie, d:1472, m. Janet Gordon;
              • L1. Patrick Leslie, d:1496, m. Muriel Grant;
                • M1. William Leslie, d:1545, m. Elisabeth Ogilvy;  ==>  Clan Ogilvy
                  • N1. John Leslie, d:1561, m. Elisabeth Leslie;
                    • O1. William Leslie, Sheriff Of Aberdeen, lvd:1550/1566, m. Janet Forbes;  ==>  Clan Forbes
                      • P1. Margaret Leslie, b:1535, m. Alexander Abercrombie;  <==  Clan Abercrombie