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The name Wemyss derives
from the lands of Wemyss in Fife and the family of Wemyss claim descent from a younger son
of the Pictish MacDuff, Earl of Fife who obtained the lands from his father about 1160.
The name is a corruption of the Gaelic Uamh, meaning cave and indeed below the ruins of
the old castle at East Wemyss known as MacDuffs Castle can be found caves containing
drawings dating from Pictish times. The first of the name was Michael de Wemyss who
supported Robert Bruce's rebellion. From then on the family sprung many cadet branches,
Sir John Wemyss of Reres and Kincaldrum living in 1373 had three sons; David who
succeeded, Duncan from whom descended the Wemyss of Reres and Alexander ancestor of the
Wemyss of Kilmany. The grandson of David, Sir John Wemyss had four sons, the eldest Sir
David fell at Flodden in 1513 and the youngest son Thomas was ancestor of the Wemyss of
Wintbank. Sir David also left three sons, two who founded the houses of Caskieberry and
Lathfisk. His great grandson was created a baronet in 1625 and Lord Wemyss of Elcho in
1628 and Earl of Wemyss, Lord Elcho and Methil in 1633. His brothers founded other
branches including Fingask, Foodie, Rumgay and Craighill. Eventually the Wemyss family
emerged as the senior line descending from the old MacDuff Earls of Fife and bear the
shield of the red lion on gold of the MacDuffs. The 2nd Earl of Wemyss died in 1679 and
was succeeded by his daughter, Margaret, who became the Countess. She married James Wemyss
of Caskieberry who was created Lord Burntisland in 1672, their son married the eldest
daughter of the Duke of Queensberry (The 8th Earl of Wemyss succeeded in 1810 to the
Earldom of March). During the Jacobite Rising of 1745 the Earl's eldest son Lord Elcho
raised a cavalry regiment in support of Bonnie Prince Charlie and hence attained the
peerage and the estates. His younger brother, Francis took the name and estates but
changed his name to Charteris of Arnisfield on inheriting a fortune from his maternal
grandfather. Although Charteris is kept by the Earls of Wemyss, the chiefship of Clan
MacDuff passed to the younger son of the 5th Earl and it was this line that continued to
live in the Castle of Wemyss on the Firth of Forth.
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