Home Clan

Home Clan Crest: A lion's head upon a chapeau.

Home Clan Motto: A Home. A Home. A Home.

Home Clan History:
The name appears with Aidan de Home who lived in Berwickshire during the 12th century. Aidan's descendant, Geoffrey de Home  rendered homage to Edward I of England in 1296, and Geoffrey's son, Sir Thomas Home, married the heiress to the lands of Dunglass in East Lothian.

Sir Alexander Home of Dunglass was captured at the Battle of Homildon in 1402 and died in France in 1424, leaving three sons.  His eldest grandson was created Lord Home in 1473. The 2nd Lord Home became Great Chamberlain of Scotland in 1488. James, 3rd Lord Home, survived the Battle of Flodden in 1513 and later opposed the Regency of the Duke of Albany, whereupon he was accused of conspiring with the English and executed. Alexander, 5th Lord Home, opposed the marriage of Mary Queen of Scots to Lord Bothwell, but was later reconciled.  Alexander, 6th Lord Home, was created 1st Earl of Home in 1605.

The 3rd Earl of Home was a staunch Royalist and Colonel of the Berwickshire Regiment of Foot at the time of Oliver Cromwell's invasion of Scotland. The 7th Earl of Home was imprisoned in Edinburgh Castle for supporting the Jacobite Uprising of 1715, and, during the 1745 Uprising, the 8th Earl fought with the Government forces under Sir John Cope. He later became Governor of Gibraltar.

Charles, 12th Earl of Home, was ADC to Queen Victoria from 1887-97. Through marriage to the heiress of the Douglas fortune, the family acquired the lands of Douglas and Bothwell in Lanarkshire, and other estates in Angus. Since then there has been an ongoing question over the Chiefship of Douglas, but it has been categorically stated by the Lyon Court that the Chief of Home cannot also be Chief of Douglas. In 1963, the 14th Earl of Home (1903-1995) renounced his title to become British Prime Minister. He was later returned to the House of Lords as Lord Home of the Hirsel.

David Hume of Godscroft (1560-1630) wrote A History of the House of Douglas and Angus, and A History of the House of Wedderburn. John Home (1722-1808) was born in Leith, was appointed Secretary to the Earl of Bute, the British Prime, and wrote the play 'Douglas.' David Home (1711-76),  the Scottish Enlightenment philosopher and historian, spelled his name with a 'u', while his brother insisted on spelling his name with an 'o'.  Henry Home (1696-1782) was a distinguished lawyer who on being raised to the Court of Session  took the Scottish legal title of Lord Kames. William Douglas Home (1812-1992), brother of the 14th Earl of Home, was a popular playwright and wrote Now Barabbas and The Reluctant Debutante. 

Places of Interest:
Dunglass, Cockburnspath, East Lothian. A Charter for Dunglass was granted to Alexander Home in 1423. It became the Barony for his descendant Lord Home in 1489.

Fast Castle, Coldingham, Berwickshire. This was built as a Home stronghold in the 13th century. The ruins are accessible, although the cliffs can be dangerous.

Hume Castle, Greenlaw, Berwickshire. Thirteenth century ruin, semi-restored in 1794.
The Hirsel, Coldstream, Berwickshire. Seat of the earls of Home.

Associated family names (Septs): Ayton, Buncle, Bunkle, Dunbar, Eaton, Greenlaw, Haliburton, Hume, Landale, Landels, Mack, Nesbitt, Nisbet, Wedderburn.

Clan Home member certificates.