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William de Urquhart, High Sheriff of Cromarty

Male Abt 1325 - Abt 1395  (~ 70 years)


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  • Name William de Urquhart 
    Suffix High Sheriff of Cromarty 
    Nickname William de Urchard 
    Born Abt 1325  Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Died Abt 1395 
    Notes 
    • {geni:about_me} The first of the Urquarts to be seen in the historical records. Please do not reattach him to https://www.geni.com/people/Francis-Urquhart-Fictitious/6000000052682489943?through=6000000036986729466, who was invented as part of an elaborate fake pedigree.


      Clan Urquhart is of ancient Celtic origin. Associated during most of its history with the northeast of Scotland, the Clan derives its name from Glen Urquhart and Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness. Traditional history traces the descent of the Urquharts from Conachar Mor, scion of the Royal House of Ulster, a mighty warrior and hunter who ruled over the territory around Urquhart Castle during prehistoric times. Hero of a Gaelic legend, Conachar Mor killed a wild boar of extraordinary fierceness from which no man had ever escaped. Conachar’s descendant, William de Urchard, the first Chief of the Clan whose name appears in written Scottish records, was a staunch supporter of Robert the Bruce. Adam de Urchard, second Chief, became Baron and Sheriff of Cromarty about 1358, and for over three hundred years, the Chiefs of the Clan held the Barony of Cromarty as their principal seat where they erected an imposing castle overlooking Cromarty Firth. Younger sons of the family acquired extensive land holdings of their own, establishing themselves as Lairds of Meldrum, Byth, Craigston, Craighouse, Kinbeachie, Newhall, Braelangwell, and Burdsyards.

      From 1741 until 1898, the seat of the Chief of Clan Urquhart was the Barony of Meldrum in Aberdeenshire. The last Chief of the Meldrum line was Major Beauchamp Urquhart, an officer of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, who was killed in action. The Chiefship passed to his cousin, Urquhart of Braelangwell. In 1959, Wilkins Fisk Urquhart was recognized by the Lord Lyon as Chief of the Name and Head of Clan Urquhart. He was succeeded in 1974 by his son, the 27th Chief of Clan Urquhart, Kenneth Trist Urquhart of Urquhart, who died in October 2012. The 28th Chief is his eldest son, Colonel Wilkins Fisk Urquhart of Urquhart (USAF Ret.).

      The seat of the Clan is Castle Craig, the ancient Urquhart fortress on the Cromarty Firth, which the clan hopes to preserve as a clan focal point.


      Added by; HRH Prince Kieren de Muire von Drakenberg


      Legend has it that supernatural forces created Urquhart Castle, when the nobleman Conachar Mor Mac Aoidh compelled a group of witches to raise the mighty fortress.


      https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Mackay

      Gaelic: Mac Aoidh = Son of 'Fire' (Knowledge)
    Person ID I6000000036986729466  Ancestors of Donald Ross
    Last Modified 13 Aug 2018 

    Family Lilias de Ross,   b. Abt 29 Nov 1329, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Children 
     1. Matilda Urquhart,   b. Abt 1360,   d. 1442  (Age ~ 82 years)
    Last Modified 14 Mar 2021 
    Family ID F6000000003828874317  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart