Clan Oliphant History

The armorial bearings, or shield, of the Clan Oliphant are three crescents, argent on a field, gules. Crest, on an open-barred helm in profile and wreath, argent and gules, a unicorn's head and mantling gules, lining ermine. Motto, over the ahcievement, "A tout pouvoir," or "Provide for all."

The progenitor of the House of Oliphant was David Holifard who in the 12th century was granted lands in Roxburghshire by the Earl of Huntingdon, later to become David I of Scotland. David Holifard was David I's godson and was even named after him.

A descendant of the above David was Sir William Oliphant who played an important role in the struggle for Scottish independance. He defended Stirling Castle against Edward I during the wars and in 1320, after being set free, signed the Declaration of Arbroath, a letter from Scottish barons to maintain Scottish independance and support Robert I.

His son Sir Walter Oliphant of Aberdalgy married the Princess Elizabeth youngest daughter of Robert the Bruce as appears by a charter of David II erecting the lands of Gask in Perthshire. His descendant Sir Lawrence Oliphant of Aberdalgy was the first Lord Oliphant. He had three sons, John the 2nd Lord Oliphant, William from whom descended the Oliphants of Gask and George who was styled of Bachilton.

The heir was killed at Flodden in 1523 and the 3rd Lord Oliphant was taken prisoner at Solway Moss in 1542 and ransomed. The 4th Lord Oliphant was a loyal supporter of Queen Mary of Scots and was one of those who acquitted Bothwell of the murder of Darnley and later signed the bond for Bothwells marriage with the Queen. He also fought at her final defeat at the Battle of Langside in 1568.

The heir was involved in the Raid of Ruthven in 1582 when James VI was kidnapped. He was banished and never seen again. His son succeeded and dissipated the entire estates barring Gask, which was already in the hands of a cadet branch.

The title was not passed onto his daughter, but decided by Charles I to go to a cousin, Patrick. The Oliphants of Gask the cadet branch continued the line and were noted for their strong Jacobite sentiments. They were "out" in 1715 and in 1745 when the house was routed by English troops after Culloden. After the defeat at Culloden, Lord Oliphant fled to Sweden and later took refuge in France.

The Scottish poetess, Carolina Oliphant, Lady Nairne, was born in 1766 of the family of Gask. Her celebrated poems include "Charlie is my Darling" and "Will ye no come back again." The principal seat of the Oliphant family is the historic Ardblair Castle near Blairgowrie in Perthshire.

The name Oliphant is from the word "elephant," denoting great strength. Clan Oliphant has two badges, one depicting a unicorn couped argent, crined and armed; another depicting a reversed crescent.

Clan Oliphant therefore has two mottos. The one belonging to the motto on the clan badge depicting the unicorn is "A tout pouvoir" which when translated from the French means "Provide for all." The second motto corresponds to the clan badge depicting the crescent moon – "What was may be."

Another great link with pictures is:

http://www.geocities.com/clanoliphant/index.html