Clan Maxwell

The name Maxwell originates from Maccus, a Norse chief and son of Undweyn, who gave his name to Maccuswell, a pool of the river Tweed near Kelso bridge. A grandson of Maccus, John Maxwell, became chamberlain of Scotland before dying in 1241, to be succeeded by his brother Aylmer. From Aylmer sprang many branches of the family throughout the south-west of Scotland.

Sir Herbert Maxwell won great fame by defending his Caerlaverock Castle against King Edward I of England in 1300. During the Wars of Scottish Independence the Clan Maxwell supported King Robert the Bruce and fought at his side at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, under the clan chief of Eustace Maxwell. Herbert, the succeeding clan chief was knighted by King James I of Scotland for his services to the crown. Another Sir Herbert Maxwell was made a lord of the Scottish parliament before 1445.

His great-grandson John, 3rd Lord Maxwell, was killed at the Battle of Flodden Field fighting against the English in 1513 during the Anglo-Scottish Wars. The fifth Lord Maxwell intrigued with King Henry VII of England, although by 1542 King James V of Scotland had appointed him warden of the marches and an Extraordinary Lord of Session. Maxwell was captured by the English at the Battle of Solway Moss in the same year. The Clan Maxwell fought on the side of Mary, Queen of Scots at the Battle of Langside in 1568. .... more


Caerlaverock Castle is near Dumfries, where in 1306 Robert the Bruce killed John "the Red Comyn" in the Church of the Grey Friars

  • A1. Undweyn;
    • B1. Maccus, lvd:1116;
      • C1. Hugo de Macuswell;
        • D1. Herbert de Macuswell, Sheriff of Teviotdale;
          • E1. Aymer de Macuswell, Chamberlain, Justiciar, lvd:1264, m. Mary McGeachen;
            • F1. Sir John de Maxwell of Pollock;
              • G1. Sir Robert de Maxwell of Pollock;
                • H1. Sir John de Maxwell of Pollock;
                  • I1. Sir John de Maxwell of Pollock, lvd:1388, m. Elizabeth Lindsay;  ==>  Clan Lindsay
                    • J1. Agnes Maxwell, m. Sir Gilbert Kennedy;  <==  Clan Kennedy
                    • J2. Robert Maxwell of Calderwood, m. Elizabeth Denniston;
                      • K1. Mariota Maxwell, m. Sir Robert Boyd;  <==  Clan Boyd
            • F2. Sir Herbert de Maxwell of Carlaverock, d:1298;
              • G1. Sir John de Maxwell of Carlaverock, d:1310;
                • H1. Sir John de Maxwell of Carlaverock;
                  • I1. Sir John de Maxwell of Carlaverock, d:1373;
                    • J1. Ann Maxwell, m. Hamelin Leslie;  <==  Clan Leslie
                    • J2. Elizabeth Maxwell, m. Hugh de Dacre;  <==  Dacre family
                    • J3. Sir Robert de Maxwell of Carlaverock;
                      • K1. Sir Herbert de Maxwell of Carlaverock, m. Katherine Stewart;  ==>  Clan Stewart
                        • L1. Margaret Maxwell, m. Sir John Montgomery;  <==  Clan Montgomery
                        • L2. Sir Herbert Maxwell, 1st Lord of Carlaverock, m. N. Herries;
                          • M1. Katherine Maxwell, m. Sir Gilbert Kennedy;  <==  Clan Kennedy

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Caerlaverock Castle.
The history of its builders can be traced to Undwin and his son Maccus in the eleventh century; his grandson, John de Maccuswell, was first Lord Maxwell of Caerlaverock. The Baronies of Maxwell and Caerlaverock then passed down through the male line, sometimes collaterally. Robert de Maxwell of Maxwell, Caerlaverock and Mearns (d.1409) rebuilt Caerlaverock castle and was succeeded by Herbert Maxwell of Caerlaverock (d.1420) who married Katherine Stewart.
Being very close to the border with England, it had to be defended several times against English forces. One such occasion was the Siege of Caerlaverock of 1300 by Edward I of England who had eighty seven of the most illustrious Barons of England in his host, including knights of Bretagne and Lorraine.
The Maxwells, under their gallant chief, made a vigorous defence, showering upon their assailants such heavy missiles that they retired time end again; but in the end the garrison were compelled to surrender, when it was found that there were only sixty men all told, and that they had defied the whole English army for a considerable period