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| Clan Heron | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Motto | Par Valeur (By Bravery) | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Borders | ||
| District | Galloway,BerwickNorthumberland | ||
| Pipe music | Here is the Glen | ||
| Clan Heron no longer has a chief, and is anarmigerous clan | |||
| Historic seat | Heron, Kirkcudbrightshire | ||
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TheClan Heron was a lowland Scottish clan. One branch of the clan wereborder reivers who made a living byrustling cattle along the Anglo-Scottish border. Another branch were a landed family with their seat in Kirkcudbright.
The clan claims descent from the Herons ofChipchase Castle inNorthumberland, in the English Middle-march. In a survey made of the Border in 1522, it was reported that: "Chipchase was the most convenient house for the keeper of Tynedale" and the Herons were described as "A hot tempered race, regularly in trouble with the authorities".[1] It is known that they had feuds with Clan Tate and Clan Kerr.
The name Heron is from the namede Heron, a habitational name fromHeron nearRouen in Normandy. The progenitor of the clan, Tihel de Heron, was a Norman who arrived in England with William the Conqueror in 1066 and is found on theBattle Abbey Roll and the Falaise Roll. He was granted land in Essex and his descendants spread to Northumberland, Hertfordshire, Scotland and Ireland.
The Clan Heron was one of the lesserBorder reiving clans, a people who practised raiding and cattle rustling along the Anglo-Scottish border.[2] However one of the clan's branches were a landed family with their seat in Kirkcudbrightshire.
Members of the clan held many positions of power on the borders and throughout Scotland and England. Walter Heron was the clerk toWilliam the Lion.[3] William Heron was the keeper ofBamburgh Castle in 1248; the keeper ofScarborough Castle in 1255; and the Sheriff of Northumberland between 1246 and 1247.[4] Chipchase Castle in the English Middle-march was held by the Heron family for almost 300 years. The Herons also owned Ford Castle in Northumberland. In 1300, Gerald Heron fought on the side ofRobert the Bruce, and he was awarded the rich lands ofKirroughtree where a branch of the clan resided for 400 years. The clan was in possession of Kirroughtree until 1889 (whenJohn Heron-Maxwell sold Kirroughtree to Major Arthur Armitage.)[5] A border lord, Sir Gerard Heron, put one thousand men in the saddle to attackWilliam Wallace after he captured Kinclaven Castle.[6] Roger Heron was a charter witness in 1321 in Langton, Berwick.[7]
Like other Border families, many Herons were transported to theUlster Plantation during James's "pacification" of the Borders.
