The Lindsays were prominent in both England and Scotland from the late 11th century.[1] The surname derives from the region of Lindsey in England (the name of which comes from the Old English for "island of Lincoln"), from where the family originated.[2]
In Domesday Book, Sir Baldric de Lindsey of Hemingby is recorded as holding a number of estates in Lindsey in 1086.[3] Sir Baldric's sons, Sir Walter and William de Lindsay accompanied David of Scotland, Earl of Huntingdon, to claim his throne.[1] William's son, William de Lindsay, sat in the Parliament of 1164 and was later a justiciar.[1] William Lindsay held the lands of Crawford and Luffness. The chief's premier title was later Earl of Crawford.[1] His son, Sir William Lindsay, who sat in Parliament as Baron of Luffness in East Lothian,[1] married Alice de Limesi, and from their younger son Sir William Lindsay, dapifer to the High Steward of Scotland, descends the Earl of Crawford.[4]
Sir William Lindsay's elder son was Sir David Lindsay who married a member of the royal family named Margerie.[1] David died in 1214 and was succeeded as Lord Crawford and High Justiciar of Lothian by his son who was also called David.[1] This David also inherited the estates of Limesi and Wolveray.[1] One of his cousins was another Sir David Lindsay who was Chamberlain of Scotland in 1256.[1]
Wars of Scottish Independence
The aforementioned David Lindsay's grandson was yet another David whose seal was appended to the letter of 1320 to the Pope, asserting the independence of Scotland, that was more often known as the Declaration of Arbroath.[1] His second son, Sir James Lindsay, married Egidia, daughter of Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland, and Marjory Bruce, daughter of Robert The Bruce and Isabella de Mar, and half-sister of David II of Scotland, son of Robert the Bruce and his second wife, Elizabeth de Burgh.[1]
14th, 15th and 16th centuries
In 1390, Sir David Lindsay famously took part in a tournament at London Bridge, in the presence of Richard II of England.[1] At the tournament Lindsay won the day and the admiration of the English king.[1] Lindsay was created Earl of Crawford on 21 April 1398.[1] In 1403, he was Lord High Admiral of Scotland and in 1406, he was sent as an ambassador to England.[1]
The fifth Earl of Crawford rose high in royal favour.[1] He was successively Lord High Admiral of Scotland, Master of the Royal Household, Lord Chamberlain and High Justiciary.[1] In 1488 he was created Duke of Montrose by King James III, but this was annulled after the king's death. The sixth Earl of Crawford was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513,[6] while on close attendance to King James IV.[1]
Edzell Castle was the original castle of the Chief of Clan Lindsay which they acquired in 1357 and retained ownership until 1715.[8]
Crawford Castle, to the north of the village of Crawford, South Lanarkshire, was from where the Earldom of Crawford was created and it was also known as Lindsay Tower.[8]
^Simpson, Peter. (1996). The Independent Highland Companies, 1603 – 1760. ISBN0-85976-432-X. pp. 115 – 118.
^ abcdefghCoventry, Martin (2008). Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans. Musselburgh: Goblinshead. pp. 332–336. ISBN978-1-899874-36-1.
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