Clan Nicolson

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
This article is about the Lowland Clan Nicolson. For the similarly named, though unrelated Highland clan, see Clan MacNeacail.

Clan Nicolson
MacNeacail
Plant badge
Sprig of juniper[1]
Chief
Adam Nicolson, 5th Baron Carnock
5th Baron Carnock

Clan Nicolson is a Lowland

Skye, petitioned the Lord Lyon King of Arms to be recognised as chief of his own clan. The Lord Lyon King of Arms accepted this man's petition on the condition he took the surname MacNeacail. In consequence there are two Scottish clans with similar names—the lowland Clan Nicolson and the highland Clan MacNeacail
.

History

Origins of the name

The

Gaelic name to Nicolson.[2]

Origins of the clan

According to the heraldry of the Clan Nicolson and the Clan MacNeacail the two clans are linked: The chiefs of both clans have a gold shield with birds of prey, with falcons for the Nicolsons and hawks for the MacNeacails.[3] However, there is little genealogical evidence to support a link between the chiefs of the two clans.[3] The In Scottish Gaelic, Nic signifies daughter.[3] The Norse raided all around the coast of Scotland as well as the north of England, and the name Nicolson can also be found throughout Tyneside and Yorkshire in England.[3]

Scottish-Norwegian War

During the

Haakon IV of Norway, sent an advance party under Anders Nicolassen who was his foster brother and one of his chief barons, to plunder the Isle of Bute before joining the main Norse fleet off the coast of Largs.[3] In the ensuing Battle of Largs the Norsemen were defeated but there is a persistent tradition that Anders Nicolassen settled in Scotland after he had been sent as an envoy from Norway to conclude the Treaty of Perth.[3] The treaty finally ceded Norwegian sovereignty of the isles over to the king of Scotland.[3]

16th and 17th centuries

The

Nicolson of that Ilk and Lasswade.[3] His titled was succeeded by his grandson who became a Commissioner of Parliament for Edinburgh in 1672.[3]

19th century

The direct male line however died out by 1826, and the titles were claimed by a descendant of the branch descending from Nicolson Bishop of Dunkeld.[3]

The title Baron of Carnock passed to another cousin Major General Sir William Nicolson, who was an only son of George Nicolson of Tarviston. The general saw service in the Americas, India, Ireland and Mauritius. He died in 1820 to be succeeded by his son, Admiral Sir Frederick Nicolson. In 1879, the admiral's eldest son, Frederick, was killed fighting the Zulus, so the title was passed to the second son, Arthur, in 1899.[3] In June 1916 Arthur was created Baron Carnock of Carnock.[4]

In the 1980s, David Nicolson, 4th Baron Carnock petitioned the Lord Lyon King of Arms to be recognised as the chief of Clan Nicolson, in virtue of his ancestor—John Nicolson of that Ilk, 1st Baronet of Lasswade (d. 1651). At around the same time another Nicolson was in the process of putting forward a petition to become chief of the Highland Nicolsons.[5] In 1985, after matriculating arms, David Nicolson, 4th Baron Carnock was recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms as chief of the name Nicolson. The position of chief of clan Nicolson is currently vacant,[6] although Adam Nicolson, 5th Lord Carnock, could legitimately claim it.[citation needed]

Heraldry

  • Baron Carnock
    Baron Carnock
  • Nicholson of that Ilk
    Nicholson of that Ilk
  • Nicholson of Clunie
    Nicholson of Clunie
  • Nicholson, Baron of Balvenie
    Nicholson, Baron of Balvenie
  • Stewart-Nicholson of Carnock
    Stewart-Nicholson of Carnock

Today members of Clan Nicolson may show allegiance to their clan and chief by wearing a

erased Gules armed Argent.[8] Note that the arms of the chiefs of the clans Nicolson and MacNeacail are very similar. In fact, the arms of the MacNeacail chief are subordinate to those borne by the Nicolson chief.[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Clan Nicolson Profile scotclans.com. Retrieved 10 December 2013.
  2. ^ "Clan History of the Nicolsons of Skye". www.clanmacnicol.org. Archived from the original on 8 December 2008. Retrieved 26 March 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Way, George and Squire, Romily. Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). Published in 1994. Pages 292 - 293.
  4. ^ "Nicolson". www.myclan.com. Archived from the original on 15 November 2003. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  5. ^ "Clan Nicolson". www.electricscotland.com. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  6. ^ The Highlander Archived 10 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine, the Magazine of Scottish heritage; April 2009; 2009 Directory; Published by Angus J. Ray Associates, Inc.; ISSN 0161-5378, USPS 579200
  7. ISBN 0-00-472501-8
    .
  8. ^ "Nicolson & Nicholson Arms". www.heraldry-online.org.uk. Retrieved 6 January 2009.
  9. Campbell of Airds, Alastair. "A Closer Look at West Highland Heraldry". Heraldry Society of Scotland
    . Retrieved 26 March 2009.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Clan_Nicolson&oldid=1168527167"