Clan Charteris History and Origins

The history of Scotland is etched not only in its rugged highlands and mist-shrouded glens but also in the fertile plains and embattled borders of the Lowlands. Among the ancient families who shaped the nation’s political, martial, and spiritual destiny, Clan Charteris stands as a magnificent testament to endurance, aristocratic ambition, and dramatic survival. Historically seated in Dumfriesshire and later intertwined with the grand estates of East Lothian, this Lowland dynasty transitioned from medieval central administrative giants to fierce border reivers and, eventually, to modern noble peers.

Famous for producing two Lord High Chancellors of Scotland, battling alongside William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, engaging in bloody, multi-generational feuds, and navigating the treacherous waters of the Jacobite risings, the Charteris legacy is a captivating saga of power, betrayal, and rebirth. Whether you are a genealogy researcher tracking your family roots, a Scottish history enthusiast, or an armchair traveller, this pillar page reveals the complete, untold story of Clan Charteris.

The Origin & Name Meaning

Unlike many native Celtic clans of the Scottish Highlands, Clan Charteris is of Anglo-Norman origin, representing the wave of continental nobility that migrated to the British Isles following the Norman Conquest of 1066.

The Toponymic Journey: From Chartres to Scotland

The surname Charteris is a territorial name derived directly from the historic city of Chartres in the Eure-et-Loir department southwest of Paris, France. The progenitor of the family, William de Chartre, is said to have accompanied William the Conqueror to England in 1066. His son or grandson subsequently travelled north to Scotland during the reign of King David I (1124–1153) as part of the Davidian Revolution, a historical epoch that saw the introduction of Anglo-Norman knights and feudal institutions into the Scottish Lowlands.

Upon arriving in Scotland, the family settled in Dumfriesshire and was granted the wardship of lands that would become their ancestral home. The earliest written record of the family in Scotland appears in a charter of confirmation to the Benedictine Abbey of Kelso, granted in or before 1174. This document was witnessed by Robert de Charteris, whose name was recorded in its Latinized form, de Carnoto. Over the subsequent centuries, the name evolved from de Carnoto to Cartres (c. 1261), Charteris (c. 1286), and Chartris (c. 1300).

Refuting the Celtic Confusion

It is a common error in modern genealogical circles to conflate the Norman house of Charteris with the native Celtic family of Carruthers. While both families became prominent in Dumfriesshire, they are entirely distinct. The name Carruthers possesses a Celtic/Brythonic root derived from Caer Rydderch (meaning "the fort of Rydderch") and was established in the region long before the Norman migration. The historical separation between the two families is strictly maintained through independent heraldry, distinct ancestral seats, and entirely different chiefly lines.

Rise to Power & Key Alliances

During the high Middle Ages, the Charteris family rapidly translated their feudal land grants into formidable national influence, cementing themselves as central players in the governance of medieval Scotland.

Architectural Statesmen and Royal Advisors

In 1280, Sir Thomas de Charteris was appointed Lord High Chancellor of Scotland by King Alexander III, marking a major milestone as one of the earliest laymen to occupy this prestigious office. Sir Thomas also served on high-level diplomatic embassies, representing the Scottish Crown in negotiations with foreign powers.

When the Wars of Scottish Independence erupted in 1296 following the sudden death of Alexander III, the Charteris family found themselves at a geopolitical crossroads. Andrew de Charteris was initially compelled to swear fealty to Edward I of England, and his signature appears on the infamous Ragman Rolls of 1296. However, Andrew quickly broke this forced oath to join the patriotic rebellion led by Sir William Wallace. The English Crown retaliated by seizing Andrew’s lands, which were temporarily bestowed upon Guy de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick.

Fighting Side-by-Side with the Bruce

The family’s fortunes were thoroughly restored when Andrew’s son, William de Charteris, firmly aligned the clan with the royal house of Bruce. William was a devoted companion to Robert the Bruce and was famously by his side on February 10, 1306, when Bruce slew his rival claimant, John "Red" Comyn, at the Greyfriars Church in Dumfries—a momentous event that sparked the campaign for Scotland’s sovereignty.

The family’s military and political loyalty continued into the next generation:

• The Battle of Bannockburn (1314): Robert de Charteris (Andrew's son) fought bravely under the Bruce banner at Bannockburn, securing the family's standing in the newly independent kingdom.
• The Second Chancellorship (1342): Sir Thomas Charteris of Amisfield, a faithful subject of David II, was appointed Lord High Chancellor of Scotland in 1342. He held this office until October 17, 1346, when he was tragically killed alongside his fellow nobles at the Battle of Neville’s Cross (Battle of Durham), where King David II was captured.
• The Battle of Lochmaben (1484): Robert Charteris, 6th of Amisfield, led a localized force that successfully routed an English-backed invasion launched by the exiled Duke of Albany and the Earl of Douglas. In gratitude, King James III granted Robert the lands of Polincree in Galloway.

Strategic Marriages and Dynastic Shifts

To secure their borders, the Lairds of Amisfield forged powerful matrimonial alliances with neighboring Lowland dynasties:

1. The Maxwell Alliance: In the late 15th century, Robert Charteris married Agnes, daughter of John, 4th Lord Maxwell, initiating a long-standing alliance with the dominant house of Nithsdale.
2. The Douglas Marriage: Following a fierce rivalry, John Charteris, 9th of Amisfield, married Janet, daughter of Sir James Douglas of Drumlanrig, to restore peace between their families.
3. The Fleming Connection: Sir John Charteris, 11th of Amisfield, married Margaret Fleming, daughter of the 1st Earl of Wigtown, marrying directly into the highest echelons of the Scottish peerage.

Feuds and the Darker History

No Lowland Scottish history is complete without its share of drama, bloodshed, and bitter rivalries. The Charteris chronicles are replete with localized wars, legal trials, and colorful characters.

The Kirkpatrick Feud and the Tolbooth Trial (1526)

A long-standing and violent feud erupted between the Charteris family of Amisfield and the Kirkpatricks of Kirkmichael over the parsonage rights of the local parish church. The dispute reached a bloody peak in March 1526, when John Charteris, 7th of Amisfield, along with his brother, his sons Robert and John, and thirty-nine of their followers, were formally indicted before the Tolbooth of Edinburgh for the mutilation of Sir Alexander Kirkpatrick and the murder of his son and heir, Roger Kilpatrick.

The Spectacular Drumlanrig Duel (1530)

In 1530, a legal and personal dispute between Sir Robert Charteris, 8th Laird of Amisfield, and Sir James Douglas of Drumlanrig culminated in one of the last great chivalric contests in Scottish history. The two knights met in full armor, wielding broadswords on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. The duel was fought with such unyielding ferocity that Sir Robert’s sword broke, forcing the young King James V, who was watching from the castle walls, to send his royal guards to separate the combatants and prevent a double death.

The Provostship Crisis and the High Street Assassination (1544–1552)

A parallel feud broke out in Perthshire between the senior cadet branch, the Charterises of Kinfauns, and Clan Ruthven. In 1544, Patrick, Lord Ruthven, was elected Provost of Perth, but the powerful Catholic prelate, Cardinal David Beaton, stripped him of his office due to suspected Protestant leanings, appointing John Charteris of Kinfauns in his place.

The citizens of Perth refused to acknowledge the Charteris appointee and barred the city gates. John Charteris, supported by Lord Gray and Clan Leslie, launched an armed assault on the town. However, the Ruthvens, aided by the Moncreiffs, decisively repulsed the attack, forcing Charteris to flee. The bitter animosity of this conflict culminated in 1552, when John Charteris of Kinfauns was assassinated on the High Street of Edinburgh by the Earl of Gowrie's heir.

Civil War Devastation and the Maiden (1650)

During the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, Sir John Charteris, 12th Laird of Amisfield, supported the National Covenant of 1638 but refused to take up arms against King Charles I. His moderate stance resulted in his imprisonment in Edinburgh Castle by the Covenanter regime.

Sir John’s younger brother, Captain Alexander Charteris, served as a distinguished staff officer to the royalist commander, the Marquess of Montrose, during his ill-fated campaign in Caithness. Following their capture, Captain Alexander was executed in Edinburgh on June 21, 1650, beheaded by the "Maiden"—a primitive precursor to the guillotine. The heavy financial penalties and compounding debts accrued during the Civil War ultimately forced the family to sell their ancient barony of Amisfield to the Dalzells in 1649.

The Gambling Rake: Colonel Francis Charteris (c. 1665–1732)

The direct male line of Amisfield was represented in the early 18th century by the notorious Colonel Francis Charteris. Known across Great Britain as a professional gambler, card cheat, usurer, and rake, he accumulated a colossal fortune through extortionate lending and speculative land acquisitions. He was dismissed from the military multiple times and was twice condemned for rape, securing royal pardons both times.

Upon his death in 1732, the public's hatred of him was so intense that his funeral in Musselburgh was marred by a massive riot, with the populace attempting to tear his body out of the coffin and throwing dead dogs into his open grave. Because he left no sons, his massive estate and fortune passed to his grandson, Francis Wemyss (second son of the 5th Earl of Wemyss), who legally assumed the surname and arms of Charteris, initiating the modern chiefly line.

Clan Castles & Territories

Throughout their long history, Clan Charteris held several major strongholds across Scotland, each reflecting a different era of their regional influence.

Amisfield Tower (Dumfriesshire)

Located near Tinwald, about 5 miles north of Dumfries, Amisfield Tower is the traditional, ancestral seat of the chiefly branch of the Charteris clan. Completed in 1600 for Sir John Charteris, 10th of Amisfield, and his wife, Agnes Maxwell, the building is celebrated as one of the finest and most complete examples of Jacobean tower house architecture in Scotland.

Rising to a height of 70 feet on a square footprint, the tower features plain lower levels designed for defense, topped by an incredibly flamboyant upper level decorated with billet-and-cable corbelling, circular turrets, and corbelled gables. The building once featured the famous "Charteris Door"—a highly decorative, carved oak door displaying the coats of arms of Charteris and Herries alongside a carving of Samson wrestling a lion, which is now on display at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh.

Kinfauns Castle (Perthshire)

Perched on a raised terrace overlooking the River Tay near Perth, the original Kinfauns Castle was established in the early 14th century by the senior cadet branch of the clan. According to local legend, the first castle was built by Sir Thomas de Longueville (a French knight and reformed high-seas pirate known as the "Red Reaver"), who married the heiress of Charteris of Kinfauns after being granted these lands by Robert the Bruce in 1313.

The original medieval stronghold was completely replaced between 1822 and 1826 with a magnificent, category-A listed Gothic mansion designed by the celebrated architect Sir Robert Smirke for Francis Gray, 14th Lord Gray. The castle grounds are officially recognized on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes in Scotland.

Gosford House (East Lothian)

Situated near Longniddry in East Lothian, Gosford House is the monumental, neoclassical seat of the Earls of Wemyss and March, the chiefs of Clan Charteris. Commissioned by the 7th Earl of Wemyss (Francis Wemyss-Charteris) in the late 18th century, the house was built between 1790 and 1800 to the plans of the renowned architect Robert Adam, who passed away before its completion.

The house is situated within 5,000 acres of parkland and coast. Its magnificent South Wing remains the family home portion of the estate, while its grand interiors, including the spectacular marble hall designed by the 10th Earl in 1891, are widely celebrated as neoclassical masterpieces.

Symbols & Identifiers

For those tracking their family heritage, the traditional heraldic and visual symbols of Clan Charteris offer a tangible connection to their historic Lowland past.

• The Clan Motto:
  • Motto: "This is Our Charter".
  • Historical Meaning: This motto represents a classic borderer's heraldic pun. In medieval Scotland, a "charter" was a vital parchment document granting rights to land. For the Charteris chiefs, however, their ultimate guarantee of ownership was not paper, but the force of arms.
  • Ancient Motto: "Non Gladio sed Gratia" (Latin for "Not by the Sword, but by Grace"), which accompanied an older armorial design depicting an arm issuing from a cloud holding a sword.
• The Plant Badge:
  • Note: The provided historical sources and official registers do not document a specific, historically verified plant badge for Clan Charteris. Lowland clans did not always adopt plant badges with the same consistency as their Highland counterparts.
• The Crest:
  • Blazon: A dexter hand holding up a dagger paleways Proper.
  • Symbolism: The raised dagger is a direct reference to the clan's warrior heritage. It is widely believed to commemorate William Charteris being present when Robert the Bruce slew John "Red" Comyn at Greyfriars Church in 1306—a bold, violent act of rebellion that secured Scotland's path to independence.
• The Clan Tartan:
  • The Traditional Roxburgh Tartan: Because a historically designated "Charteris" tartan was traditionally unavailable for milling, Charteris descendants traditionally wear the Roxburgh district tartan (also shared with Haig, Riddell, and Rutherford), reflecting the clan's deep Borders roots.
  • The Guild Tartan: In 2016, designer Brian Wilton registered "The Guild" tartan in the official Scottish Register of Tartans to commemorate the 1877 founding of the Church of Scotland Guild by the Rev. Dr. Archibald Hamilton Charteris. This corporate tartan incorporates a square blue and red block from the 1842 Hamilton tartan (his mother’s family), grey from the 1831 Clergy tartan, and a Christian cross representing the Church of Scotland.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Charteris a Highland or Lowland clan?
Charteris is historically recognized as a Lowland Scottish clan with its primary territorial seat established in Dumfriesshire.

Who is the current Chief of Clan Charteris?
The modern Chief of the Name and Arms of Charteris is The Right Honourable James Donald Charteris, 13th Earl of Wemyss and March, who succeeded his father, David, in 2008.

Is Charteris a variation of the surname Carruthers?
No. Charteris is a distinct family of Norman-French origin derived from the city of Chartres. Carruthers is a separate Celtic/Brythonic family derived from Caer Rydderch.

What is the historical significance of the Charteris sword?
A massive, five-foot-nine-inch two-handed sword, traditionally belonging to the first Lord of Kinfauns, Sir Thomas de Longueville (the "Red Rover"), was preserved at Kinfauns Castle for centuries as a symbol of the clan's martial origins.

References

Anderson, W. (1863). The Scottish Nation; or, The Surnames, Families, Literature, Honours, and Biographical History of the People of Scotland. Edinburgh: A. Fullarton & Co..

Coventry, M. (2001). The Castles of Scotland (3rd ed.). Musselburgh: Goblinshead.

Gordon, A. (1912). The Life of Archibald Hamilton Charteris, D.D., LL.D. London: Hodder and Stoughton.

Millar, A. H. (1890). The Historical Castles and Mansions of Scotland: Perthshire and Forfarshire. Paisley: A. Gardner.

Way, G., & Squire, R. (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. Glasgow: HarperCollins (for the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs).

Do you have Charteris ancestry? Are you planning a visit to the historic Amisfield Tower or Gosford House? Let us know in the comments below, or share this page with a fellow history enthusiast!