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Clan Ross - A Brief History
In the ancient Celtic tongue, a “ros” became defined as a promontory or peninsula of land, such as the fertile land between the Cromarty and Dornoch Firths in northeast Scotland. Thus the area was named “Ross” over 900 years ago and became the homeland of our Highland Clan. Today the area is still called Ross, divided into Easter & Wester Ross.
Farquhar MacTaggart (Fearchar Mac an t'Sagairt) was given the title of first Earl of Ross in the O'Beolan line of Wester Ross in 1234 by King Alexander II. Hugh of Rarichies, the first Clan Chief in 1371, took the name of the county as his surname. Thus began the first use of “Ross” as a last name. By the 16th Century, Ross was one of the most common surnames in the Highlands. The principal town of Easter Ross is Tain, Scotland’s oldest Royal Burgh, founded in 1066. Tain is the site of the Clan Ross museum.
Balnagown Castle, built in the 15th century, is south west of Tain and was the seat of the Clan until 1711. In 1972 the castle was purchased and impressively restored by Mohamed El Fayed, owner of Harrod’s Department Store. The lands around the castle are available for lodging, walking & hunting, and can be viewed at www.balnagown-estates.co.uk .
In Canada, a Ross founded the city of Victoria and is honoured with memorial stone chair. Dr. Alexander M. Ross of Belleville, ON was a world famous abolitionist who helped slaves escape to Canada. Rosses were on the first boat to settle Nova Scotia and helped start the city of Winnipeg!
Our current Clan Chief is David Ross of Ross & Balnagowan from the ancient Shandwick Rosses. This very old and distinguished family is the only Ross family that can trace their ancestry in the male line to the Earls of Ross of the 12th century. David is our 27th Clan Chief and lives in Perthshire
If you wish to read a more detailed history of Clan Ross, please read the definitive book The Great Clan Ross by Dr. John Robert Ross or visit our website at http://www.GreatClanRoss.org/cra~can3.html.
A brief history of Clan Ross - Canada may be found at http://www.GreatClanRoss.org/cra~can1.html.
Farquhar MacTaggart (Fearchar Mac an t'Sagairt) was given the title of first Earl of Ross in the O'Beolan line of Wester Ross in 1234 by King Alexander II. Hugh of Rarichies, the first Clan Chief in 1371, took the name of the county as his surname. Thus began the first use of “Ross” as a last name. By the 16th Century, Ross was one of the most common surnames in the Highlands. The principal town of Easter Ross is Tain, Scotland’s oldest Royal Burgh, founded in 1066. Tain is the site of the Clan Ross museum.
Balnagown Castle, built in the 15th century, is south west of Tain and was the seat of the Clan until 1711. In 1972 the castle was purchased and impressively restored by Mohamed El Fayed, owner of Harrod’s Department Store. The lands around the castle are available for lodging, walking & hunting, and can be viewed at www.balnagown-estates.co.uk .
In Canada, a Ross founded the city of Victoria and is honoured with memorial stone chair. Dr. Alexander M. Ross of Belleville, ON was a world famous abolitionist who helped slaves escape to Canada. Rosses were on the first boat to settle Nova Scotia and helped start the city of Winnipeg!
Our current Clan Chief is David Ross of Ross & Balnagowan from the ancient Shandwick Rosses. This very old and distinguished family is the only Ross family that can trace their ancestry in the male line to the Earls of Ross of the 12th century. David is our 27th Clan Chief and lives in Perthshire
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If you wish to read a more detailed history of Clan Ross, please read the definitive book The Great Clan Ross by Dr. John Robert Ross or visit our website at http://www.GreatClanRoss.org/cra~can3.html.
A brief history of Clan Ross - Canada may be found at http://www.GreatClanRoss.org/cra~can1.html.
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