| Clan Anstruther | |
|---|---|
 Crest: Two arms in armour holding a pole-axe with both hands gauntleted Proper | |
| Motto | Periissem ni periissem (I would have perished had I not persisted) |
| Profile | |
| Region | Lowlands |
| District | Fife |
| Chief | |
 | |
| Tobias Alexander Anstruther of that Ilk[1] | |
| Chief of the Name and Arms of Anstruther | |
| Seat | Balcaskie House.[2] |
Clan Anstruther is aScottish clan.[3]
The clan originated from the town ofAnstruther, which was adopted as a familial name. The name is Gaelic in origin: "an" (the) + "sruthair" (little stream).[citation needed]
Alexander I of Scotland granted the lands of Anstruther to William de Candela in the early 12th century.[3] There are a number of suggested origins for William but research points to theNormans inItaly.[3] It is known thatWilliam I of England sought assistance from William, Count of Candela, who sent his son.[3] It is likely that this son was William de Candela, who received the grant of land from Alexander.[3]
William de Candela's son, also William, was a benefactor to the monks ofBalmerino Abbey.[3] The site now occupied by theScottish Fisheries Museum in Anstruther was a gift from William.[3] The next generation of the family, Henry, no longer styled himself, de Candela, being described as 'Henricus de Aynstrother dominus ejusdem' in a charter confirming grants of land to Balmerino Abbey.[3]
Henry Anstruther accompaniedLouis IX of France to thecrusades and swore fealty to KingEdward I of England in 1292 and again in 1296.[3]
In 1483, Andrew Anstruther of Anstruther confirmed the right to a barony and fought against the English at theBattle of Flodden in 1513 during theAnglo-Scottish Wars.[3] Andrew Anstruther married Christina Sandilands who was descended from Princess Jean or Joanna, daughter ofRobert II of Scotland.[3] His second son, David, fought at theBattle of Pavia in 1520 in the service ofFrancis I of France in the French Scots Regiment.[3] This line ended with the death of the last Baron d'Anstrude in 1928.[3]
Andrew's great-great-grandson, SirJames Anstruther was chosen as a companion to the youngJames VI of Scotland, who appointed himHereditary Grand Carver,[4][5] a title still held by the head of the family today.[3] In 1595 he became Master of the Household.[4]
William, the elder son of Sir James Anstruther, accompanied Sir James toLondon following theUnion of the Crowns in 1603 where he was made a Knight of theOrder of the Bath.[3] Sir James's second son,Sir Robert, served as a diplomat for both James I and Charles I.[6]
Sir Phillip Anstruther, the second son of Sir Robert fought as aroyalist during the civil war, and receivedCharles II at Dreel Castle after his coronation at Scone in 1651.[3] Phillip Anstruther was later taken prisoner after theBattle of Worcester in 1651.[3][6] He was excluded fromCromwell's Act of Grace and his estates were confiscated. They were restored to him after therestoration of the monarchy byCharles II.[7] Phillip's brother Sir Alexander Anstruther married the Hon. Jean Leslie, daughter of the GeneralDavid Leslie, Lord Newark.[3]
The Chief of Clan Anstruther is Tobias Alexander Campbell Anstruther of that Ilk and of Balcaskie, younger son of SirIan Anstruther.[1][8]
The clan chief'sseat remains atBalcaskie inFife which was probably built in around 1670 bySir William Bruce.[3] Airdrie House andNewark Castle in Fife also belong to the Anstruthers.
