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FRASER |  |
There are many stories about the origin of the name Fraser. According to Clan Fraser: A history celebrating over 800 years of the Family in Scotland [1997] by Flora Marjory Fraser, 20th Lady Saltoun: 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 strawberry is "fraise" and growers 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 Tweeddale in the 12th and 13th centuries and from there into the counties of Stirling, 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.
[The above information and all images were taken from the Clan Fraser website]
(1) Richard
Fraser, born in Touch Fraser, Stirling, Scotland, died after
1307. Father of:
(2) Andrew
Fraser, born about 1228 in Touch Fraser, Stirling, Scotland,
died before 1306. He married Beatrix Cheyne.
Children:
- Alexander, mentioned below
- James, died about 1333
- Simon, born about 1529 in Lovat, Inverness, Scotland, died 19 July 1333 at the Battle of Hallidon Hill. He married married Lady Margaret Sinclair, daughter of the Earl of Caithness, and they are the progenitors of what is probably the most well-known branch of the Fraser Clan -- the Frasers of Lovat.
(3)
Alexander Fraser, Chamberlain of Scotland,
and progenitor of the Frasers
of Philorth,
Lords Saltoun, was born between 1252 and 1270, and died 12 August 1332
in Dupplin, Scotland. Aboyt 1312, he married Robert the Bruce's widowed
sister Mary Bruce, born about 1272,
died before 22 September 1323, a daughter of Robert
Bruce VII, Earl of Carrick, and Marjorie/Margaret
of Carrick, the daughter of Neil/Nigel
of Carrick, Earl of Carrick. Lady Mary's first husband was Neil Campbell,
born about 1270, died 1315, by whom she had four children. Mary was
imprisoned in a cage by King Edward I of England after her first husband's
death. Alexander and Mary were parents of:
(4) John Fraser, born about 1317 probably in Aberbothnot, Scotland; married Mary. Parents of:
- Margaret, born about 1340, died about 1407; married William Keith, Grand Marischal, born in Dunottar, Kincaid, Perthshire, Scotland, died about 1407.