Rose Clan

Rose Clan Crest: A harp upon a chapeau.

Rose Clan Motto: Constant And True.

History of Clan Rose:
The family of Rose appeared in Nairn in the reign of David I, and are of Norman origin, having previously been settled in England. The lands of Kilravock were acquired in the following century through the marriage of Hugo de Ros of Geddes to Marie de Bosco, whose mother was an heiress of the Bisset Family.

During the Scottish Wars of Independence, the Roses supported Robert the Bruce, and Sir William Rose was responsible for capturing Invernairn Castle for him in 1306. Later that same century, Muriel de Roys is on record as having granted a Charter in 1333, and  another William Rose appears as a Charter witness in 1380.

Hugh, 4th of Kilravock, married Janet, daughter of Sir Robert Chisholm, Constable of Urquhart Castle, from whom he received lands in Strathnairn. Unfortunately, all of the family records were lost when Elgin Cathedral, where they had been placed for safekeeping, was burned in 1390 by Robert II's renegade brother Alexander Stewart, also known as the 'Wolf of Badenoch.'  Afterwards, the family had to obtain replacement Charters from James I, the earls of Ross and the Chisholms.

Kilravock Castle was built in 1460 by Hugh Rose, 7th Laird, and despite the turbulence of the following century, the Clan remained remarkable peaceable.  Mary Queen of Scots stayed overnight at Kilravock on her way to Inverness in 1562, and afterwards corresponded with the 10th Laird.  Mary's son, James VI, also visited in 1598.

In the reign of Charles I, however, the situation changed with the 13th Laird supporting the National Covenant and in 1643 leading the Clan against the Marquis of Montrose at the Battle of Auldearn. In the 1715 Jacobite Uprising, Arthur Rose was killed while fighting with the Government forces. In 1746, on the eve of the Battle of Culloden, Hugh, 16th Laird, despite favouring the Government Cause, entertained Prince Charles Edward Stuart at Kilravock while the Duke of Cumberland was installed nearby in the Rose's town house in Nairn.

In more recent history, Lieutenant Colonel Hugh Rose, 24th Laird, commanded the Black Watch Regiment. On his death in 1946, the Chiefship passed to his daughter.

Alexander Rose (1647-1720) was born in Aberdeenshire and became Bishop of Moray in 1687 and Bishop of Edinburgh in 1688. Although he represented the Scottish Bishops when William of Orange arrived in London, he refused to give up his allegiance to James VII. George Rose (1744-1818) was born near Brechin, entered politics and became a staunch supporter of the British Prime Minister, William Pitt. Field Marshall Sir Hugh Rose(1801-85) was created Baron Strathnairn.

Surname distribution in Scotland: The highest concentrations of the Rose name can be found in Highland (includes the historic counties of Caithness, Inverness-shire, Nairnshire, Ross and Cromarty and Sutherland), Aberdeen City, Aberdeenshire (includes all of the historic counties of Aberdeenshire, Kincardineshire and part of Banffshire), Moray (including most of historic Banffshire) and Perth and Kinross (Perthshire and Kinross-shire).

Places of Interest:
Kilravock Castle, Nairn. Built in 1460 by Hugh Rose of Kilravock. The building was added to in 17th century. Prince Charles Edward Stuart was entertained here before the Battle of Culloden, while the Duke of York slept in a nearby town house. Today it is run by the Kilravock Castle Christian Trust.

Associated family names (Septs): Baron, Barron, Geddes, Ross.

Rose Clan membership certificates.