Ogilvie Clan

Ogilvie Clan Crest: A lady, from the waist upwards, holding a portcullis Gules.

Ogilvie Clan Motto: A Fin (To the end).

Ogilvie Clan History: This Clan descends from Gilliebide, second son of Ghillechriost, Earl of Angus, who acquired the Barony of Ogilvy in the Parish of Glamis in the mid-12th century. Sir Patrick de Ogilvy received the lands of Kettins in Angus, and his descendant, Sir Walter Ogilvy of Wester Powrie and Auchterhouse, was appointed Hereditary Sheriff of Angus. In 1296, Sir Patrick de Ogilvy rendered homage to Edward I of England, although his two sons later rallied to fight for Robert the Bruce.

Sir James Ogilvy, Scottish Ambassador to Denmark, was created 1st Lord Ogilvy of Airlie and died in 1504.  James, 7th Lord Ogilvy, was a supporter of Charles I and in 1639 was created Earl of Airlie. His eldest son, Lord Ogilvy, was a close confidant of the Marquis of Montrose. He was taken prisoner at the Battle of Philiphaugh in 1644 and sentenced to death. However, he escaped from his prison wearing his sister's clothes.

The Ogilvys  continued to support the Stuart cause. In 1715, Lord Ogilvy was attainted for supporting the Old Pretender.  His son, David Ogilvy, raised a regiment in support of Prince Charles Edward Stuart and fought at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Afterwards, he escaped to France and it was not until over a century and a half had passed, that the Airlie titles were restored.

Both the 9th and 10th Earls of Airlie served as Lord Chamberlain to HM The Queen. In 1963, the 10th Earl's brother, Angus Ogilvy (1928-2004), married HRH Princess Alexandra, daughter of HRH the Duke of Kent.

The Ogilvys also held two other earldoms, Findlater and Seafield. In 1638, James, Lord Ogilvy was created Earl of Findlater. As he had no male heir, he acquired a Patent that the earldom should pass to his son-in-law, Patrick Ogilvy of Inchmartine, who shared a common ancestor in Sir Walter Ogilvy of Auchterhouse. The earldom of Seafield was acquired in 1701 by James Ogilvy, a younger son of the 3rd Earl of Findlater, a staunch supporter of the 1707 Act of Union between the parliaments of Scotland and England. He also inherited his father's title of Findlater. However, on the death of the 4th Earl of Seafield, the Findlater title became dormant, although, in 1811, the Seafield earldom was successfully claimed by Sir Lewis Grant, who assumed the surname Grant-Ogilvie.

Marion Ogilvie (d.1575) was the mistress of Cardinal Beaton , and the mother of several of his children. John Ogilvie (1580-1615) was a Jesuit priest and martyr hanged at Glasgow Cross for his support of the spiritual supremacy of the Pope. He was Canonised in 1976. Sir George Ogilvie of Barras (d.1679) defended Dunottar Castle against Oliver Cromwell's army and was instrumental in saving the Scottish Regalia which had been taken there for safekeeping.  William Ogilvie (1736-1819), son of Laird of Pittensear, near Elgin, was Professor of Philosophy at King's College, Aberdeen. He wrote: The Right of Property in Land.

Branches of the extended Ogilvy Family include the Ogilvys of Inverquharity in Forfarshire, a Nova Scotia baronetcy today held by the Ogilvys of Winton House in East Lothian.

Surname distribution in Scotland: The highest concentrations of the Ogilvie name occur in Perth and Kinross, Dundee City, Angus, Stirlingshire, Edinburgh City and the Lothians.

Places of Interest: Airlie lands included Glenisla, Glenprosen and Glenclova in Angus. From 1430, Airlie Castle at Kirriemuir, was the Ogilvy stronghold, but it was superseded by a mansion house in 1763. Cortachy Castle, north of Kirriemuir, has been held by the Ogilvys of Airlie since the 17th century.  Forter Castle in Glenshee was built as an Ogilvy stronghold, but in the 17th century it was destroyed by fire. It was restored during the 1990s, and is currently leased out for conferences and weddings.
Winton House, at Pencaitland, in East Lothian was acquired in 1888 by the Ogilvys of Inverquharity through marriage into the Hamilton-Nisbett Family.  Originally known as Winton Castle, it was built in the 12th century for the future and now dormant Seton earls of Winton. Findlater Castle, near Sandend, Aberdeenshire, ruined 15th century Ogilvie castle, perched dramatically above the sea, visit with care.

Associated family names (Septs): Airlie, Findlater, Futhie, Gilchrist, MacGilchrist, Ogilby, Ogilvy, Richardson, Storey, Storrie.

Ogilvie Clan membership display certificates.