| Clan Dewar | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deòireach,[1] Mac an Deòir | |||
 | |||
| Motto | Quid non pro Patria? (Latin) "Why would we not do it for our Country?"[2] | ||
| Chief | |||
 | |||
| Michael Kenneth O’Malley Dewar of that Ilk And Vogrie | |||
| Chief of Clan Dewar | |||
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Clan Dewar is aScottish clan.[2]
As with many Scottish clans a legend exists to demonstrate physical prowess.[2] There is a tradition that a savagewolf was terrorising the district aroundHeriot and a reward was offered to the man who would despatch the beast.[2] Dewar is said to have achieved this and received his bounty.[2] However it is not known if thelands of Dewar are named after the surname or if the surname is taken from the lands.[2]
The earliest record of an organised family by the name of Dewar is in theRagman Rolls of 1296, where Thomas and Piers de Deware appear swearing fealty toEdward I of England.[2]
Lord Borthwick granted a charter for the lands of Dewar to William Dewar in 1474.[2] This Dewar family were known asof that Ilk and rose to prominence, appearing in various charters in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.[2] William Dewar sold the lands of Dewar and moved toCarrington that was nearby.[2] From this William Dewar descend the chiefly line of Clan Dewar.[2]
A derivation of the name inScottish Gaelic isDeoradh which meanspilgrim.[2] The most distinguished of five Highland families by the name Dewar were the Dewar Coigerachs who were custodians of the Staff ofSt Fillan.[2] The staff was carried at theBattle of Bannockburn in support ofRobert the Bruce in 1314.[2] The priceless artefact of the earlyCeltic church is now held in theNational Museum of Scotland inEdinburgh.[2]
A branch of the Clan Dewar, the Dewars ofCambuskenneth were established by at least the 17th century, although Dewars are recorded in nearbyStirling, which was a Royal Burgh, from as early as 1483.[2] John Dewar, son of Patrick Dewar of Cambuskenneth was fined £50 in 1710 for causingblood and riot.[2]
The chiefly line of the Clan Dewar, the Dewarsof that Ilk, became successful merchants and in 1719 purchased the barony and estate of Vogrie nearGorebridge.[2] The representation of this family had passed to James Dewar who was a nephew of William Dewarof that Ilk.[2]
The Vogrie estates were a hive of industry, and a flourishing coal mine was sited there in the mid-19th century, as well as Scotland's first gunpowder mill.[2] The fifth Laird of Vogrie lived inIndia where he was a High Court Judge.[2] He died in 1869 and was succeeded by his brother, Alexander Dewar, sixth of Vogrie who served in the Bengal cavalry.[2] The mansion house of Vogrie was built by Alexander, sixth Laird, although the estate has shrunk from 2,000 to around 250 acres (1.0 km2).[2]
Kenneth Dewar was an aide toGeorge V and commandedHMS Royal Oak (08).[2] It is from this Kenneth Dewar that the present chiefs of Clan Dewar are descended from.[2]
TheDewar family whisky business was transformed into a major Scottish company byJohn Dewar who was created Baron Forteviot of Dupplin in 1917.[2] This Dewar family's seat was atDupplin Castle which was built between 1828 and 1832, and is one of the grandest houses in Scotland.[2]
The father of the presentchief of Clan Dewar, Peter Dewarof that Ilk & Vogrie, was recognised by theLord Lyon in 1990 thus allowing the Clan to be recognised as an official Scottish clan with chief rather than anArmigerous clan without a chief. The present chief is Peter Dewar Of That Ilk And Vogrie.[3] his heir, Roderick Thomas George Dewar, will take over, after the death of, Peter Dewar.
The surname Dewar is also regarded as asept of theClan Menzies,Clan Buchanan,Clan Arthur andClan Macnab.[4]
