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There are many stories about the origin of the
name Fraser. According to Clan Fraser - A history celebrating more than 800 years of the
family in Scotland [1997] by Flora Marjory Fraser, 20th Lady Saltoun, Chief of Clan
Fraser: 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 strawberry plants are called fraisiers. The Fraser arms are silver
strawberry flowers on a field of blue. Only the Chief is entitled to use these arms plain
and undifferenced.
The Frasers 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. The Frasers moved into Tweedale in
the 12th and 13th centuries and from there to the counties of Sterling, 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 with two co-heiresses. Sir Andrew Fraser of Touch-Fraser, cousin
of the patriot, was the father of Sir Alexander Fraser of Cowie [ancestor of the Frasers
of Philorth], Sir Simon Fraser [ancestor of the Frasers of Lovat], Sir Andrew Fraser and
Sir James Fraser of Frendraught.
Frasers
of Philorth (Lords Saltoun)
The senior line is descended from Sir Alexander Fraser, who married Robert the
Bruce’s widowed sister, Lady Mary, who had been imprisoned in a cage by Edward I. His
grandson, Sir Alexander Fraser of Cowie, acquired the Castle (now Cairnbulg) and lands of
Philorth by marriage with Lady Joanna, younger daughter and co-heiress of The Earl of Ross
in 1375. Eight generations later, Sir Alexander Fraser, 8th laird of Philorth, founded
Fraser’s Burgh by royal charters obtained in 1592, and also built Fraserburgh Castle,
now Kinnaird Head Lighthouse Museum. His son, the 9th laird, married the heiress of the
Abernethies, Lord Saltoun, and in 1669 their son, Alexander Fraser became the 10th Lord
Saltoun. The present Chief of the Name of Fraser is Flora Marjory Fraser, 20th Lady
Saltoun, who is an active member of the House of Lords. The Family seat is Fraserburgh,
Aberdeenshire.
Frasers of Lovat (Lords Lovat)
The Frasers of Lovat descend from Sir Simon Fraser (younger brother of Sir Alexander
Fraser, the Chamberlain), who married Lady Margaret, sister of The Earl of Caithness.
Documents dated 12th September 1367, connect a Fraser with the lands of Lovat and the
Aird. Among the lands acquired by the Lovat Frasers, the prominent ones were in
Stratherrick, which was very dear to the hearts of the Lovat Chiefs, the church lands of
Beauly Priory in Inverness-shire, part of the south shore of Beauly Firth, and the whole
of Bisset, who also built Lovat Castle. About 1460 Hugh Fraser, 6th laird of Lovat, became
the first Lord Lovat. The 11th Lord Lovat was beheaded on Tower Hill in London in 1747,
following which the Lovat title was attained and the estates were forfeited to the Crown.
The estates eventually passed to the nearest collateral heir-male, Thomas Alexander
Fraser, 10th laird of Strichen, Aberdeenshire, who in 1837 was created Baron Lovat in the
Peerage of the U.K., and the attainder of the Scottish title was reversed in 1857, when he
became 14th (but for the attainder) Lord Lovat. With the death of the 17th Lord Lovat in
1995, aged 83, his eldest son and his youngest son having died the previous year, his
grandson, Simon Fraser, born in 1977, became the 18th Lord Lovat and 25th MacShimidh,
Chief of Clan Fraser of Lovat. Castle Dounie was home of the chiefs of Lovat from 1511
until it was burned following Culloden. The current Beaufort Castle, built in the 1880s,
was sold in 1995. The Lovat family seat is Beauly, Inverness-shire. |
