Clan Watson is a Scottish clan that is recognised as such by the Lord Lyon King of Arms.Register of the Lyon Court (Vol. 2, Folio 178, 1818) - Available via ScotlandsPeople.gov.uk The clan does not currently have a

chief Chief may refer to: Title or rank Military and law enforcement * Chief master sergeant, the ninth, and highest, enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Space Force * Chief of police, the head of a police department * Chief of the boa ...

recognised by the

Court of the Lord Lyon The Court of the Lord Lyon (the Lyon Court) is a standing court of law, based in New Register House in Edinburgh, which regulates heraldry in Scotland. The Lyon Court maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All A ...

. The name Watson is derived from Watt, a diminutive form of the personal name Walter, with the addition of the patronymic suffix " -son". The name Watson is believed to have been introduced to Scotland in the early 11th century, during the reign of

Edward the Confessor Edward the Confessor ; la, Eduardus Confessor , ; ( 1003 – 5 January 1066) was one of the last Anglo-Saxon English kings. Usually considered the last king of the House of Wessex, he ruled from 1042 to 1066. Edward was the son of Æth ...

. However, being wide spread and patronymic, has no single origin. According to the National Records of Scotland in 2021, Watson is the 19th most common surname in Scotland.

Origins and history

Watson of Cranston

In 1384 Robert II re-granted the lands of Cranstonriddel to William Watson with an entail to his heirs male, failing which to the heirs of Alexander de Moravia. In 1407, William Watson of Cranston obtained a Crown charter of the estates of Traquair and Shillinglaw having purchased them from the

Maitlands Maitlands is one of the suburbs of Nelson, New Zealand. It lies to the east of Stoke, immediately to the west of Enner Glynn.Wise's Nelson-Blenheim "Easyread" Map Geography Maitlands covers an area of 0.77 km². History The estimated popul ...

. in 1409 the Maitlands granted annual-rents of Griestoun in

Peeblesshire Peeblesshire ( gd, Siorrachd nam Pùballan), the County of Peebles or Tweeddale is a historic county of Scotland. Its county town is Peebles, and it borders Midlothian to the north, Selkirkshire to the east, Dumfriesshire to the south, and Lan ...

, to Marion de Craigie and her son William Watson. A John Watson is recorded owning lands in Edinburgh in 1392. Early Scottish records note that Thomas Watson of Stenhous was party to an

inquest An inquest is a judicial inquiry in common law jurisdictions, particularly one held to determine the cause of a person's death. Conducted by a judge, jury, or government official, an inquest may or may not require an autopsy carried out by a coro ...

near

Falkirk Falkirk ( gd, An Eaglais Bhreac, sco, Fawkirk) is a large town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland, historically within the county of Stirlingshire. It lies in the Forth Valley, northwest of Edinburgh and northeast of Glasgow. Falkirk had a ...

in 1426.

Moray Moray () gd, Moireibh or ') is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland. It lies in the north-east of the country, with a coastline on the Moray Firth, and borders the council areas of Aberdeenshire and Highland. Between 1975 ...

records refer to "Sir Donald Watsone" in 1493.

The Watson of Saughton

The chiefly line of Watson in Scotland were the Watsons of Saughton. Richard Watson is recorded owning the property of Saughton House in 1537. David Watson of Saughton (1637-1685) was admitted to The Society of Writers to Her Majesty's Signet on 1 June 1655, having been apprenticed to Harry Osburn, and served as Treasurer of the society between 1662-1682. The last known Clan Chief recognised by Lord Lyon King of Arms was James Watson Esq. of Saughton (1781-1823) who matriculated arms in 1818, within which was stated as being "Chief of the name in Scotland" and "descended in the direct male line from Richard Watson of Saughton, proprietor of those lands in A.D. 1537". The father of James Watson Esq. of Saughton, Charles Watson of Saughton was stated as being "Chief of the name in Scotland" within the contemporary publication "Antient and Modern State of the Parish of Cramond" written by John Philip Wood and published 10 years before the death of Charles Watson in 1794. The direct line of James Watson Esq. of Saughton ended when his daughter Helen Watson married Sholto John Douglas, 18th Earl of Morton. By the 19th Century Watsons were considerable landowners around the Edinburgh and Midlothian area.

The Watsons as a Sept

The name Watson is recognised as a sept of both Clan Buchanan and Clan Forbes. The association to Clan Buchanan is through the MacWatties of Luss, who were a cadet branch of the Buchanans of Leny, and the association with the Forbeses is due to the historical presence of a large Watt kin group in Forbes lands in Aberdeenshire.

Historic seat

The historic seat of Clan Watson is Saughton,

Midlothian Midlothian (; gd, Meadhan Lodainn) is a historic county, registration county, lieutenancy area and one of 32 council areas of Scotland used for local government. Midlothian lies in the east-central Lowlands, bordering the City of Edinburgh, ...

. The name 'Saughton' (referred to anciently as 'Salectuna'The Scottish Historical Review
Vol. XIV, No. 56 (Published 1917) p.312) most likely comes from the Scots word 'Sauch' which in turn may derive from the

Gaelic Gaelic is an adjective that means "pertaining to the Gaels". As a noun it refers to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the languages individually. Gaelic languages are spoken in Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man, and Ca ...

word 'Saileach' which means willow. Sauchton first appears in the records with the formation of

Holyrood Abbey Holyrood Abbey is a ruined abbey of the Canons Regular in Edinburgh, Scotland. The abbey was founded in 1128 by David I of Scotland. During the 15th century, the abbey guesthouse was developed into a royal residence, and after the Scottish Ref ...

in 1128, being amongst the lands given by

King David I of Scotland David I or Dauíd mac Maíl Choluim (Modern: ''Daibhidh I mac haoilChaluim''; – 24 May 1153) was a 12th-century ruler who was Prince of the Cumbrians from 1113 to 1124 and later King of Scotland from 1124 to 1153. The youngest son of Malco ...

to the Abbey as "the town of Sauchton and its several divisions". Robert, Commendator of Holyrood Abbey, granted a charter of feu farm of six oxengates of the town and lands of Saughton, in the Regality of Broughton, in favour of Janet Stenhope relict (widow) of Richard Watson of Saughton, in liferent, and his son James Watson in fee, in the year 1537, having resumed ownership of the lands after the family had been dispossessed of them for a hundred years. Saughton House (Old Saughton House) was located 1 mile South of Corstorphine and was passed down through the descendants of Richard Watson until James Watson (Grandfather of the last known Chief of the Watson Clan) who purchased Cammo House in 1741 for £4252, 10s and changed the name to "New Saughton". Mr. W. Traquair Dickson, a solicitor, who later owned Old Saughton House stated, "A good many alterations on the house were made, evidently about the end of the seventeenth or early in the eighteenth century. The Watsons of Saughton were then wealthy and prominent people." In 1918 the house was destroyed by fire and was later demolished to be replaced with a school and today is now a housing estate. File:Old Saughton House.jpg, Old Saughton House 1888 File:Old-suaghton-house-daily-record-2-feb-1918.jpg, Old Saughton House following fire in 1918

Notable individuals associated with Clan Watson

Major-General David Watson

Major-general David Watson (1704–1761) was a Scottish Officer of the British Army, serving in the

Royal Engineers The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually called the Royal Engineers (RE), and commonly known as the ''Sappers'', is a corps of the British Army. It provides military engineering and other technical support to the British Armed Forces and is heade ...

. He was the son of Robert Watson of Muirhouse, descendants of the ancient family of Saughton. David fought in multiple battles during the War of the Austrian Succession and the Jacobite Rising, including the

Battle of Culloden The Battle of Culloden (; gd, Blàr Chùil Lodair) was the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745. On 16 April 1746, the Jacobite army of Charles Edward Stuart was decisively defeated by a British government force under Prince Wi ...

. However is most noted for his contributions to the first Ordinance Surveys of Great Britain File:Paul Sandby - Col. David Watson c.1750.jpg, Col. David Watson by Paul Sandby () File:Genl David Watson obit 1762.png, General David Watson by

Andrea Soldi Andrea Soldi (1703–1771) was an Italian portraitist active in Britain. Life The only remaining source for this painter's early years is George Vertue, who in 1738 stated he was "about thirty-five or rather more", had been born in Florence ...

Captain (Royal Navy) Charles Hope Watson

Charles Hope Watson (1786-1836) was the son of Charles Watson Esq. of Saughton, and younger brother of the last known Chief of Clan Watson, James Watson Esq. of Saughton. He is listed within The Trafalgar Roll, having served as an 18 year old

Midshipman A midshipman is an officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Canada (Naval Cadet), Australia, Bangladesh, Namibia, New Zealand, South Afr ...

aboard HMS Defence during the Battle of Trafalgar under the command of Capt. George Johnstone Hope. Charles also served upon

frigate A frigate () is a type of warship. In different eras, the roles and capabilities of ships classified as frigates have varied somewhat. The name frigate in the 17th to early 18th centuries was given to any full-rigged ship built for speed and ...

HMS Unité as a Lieutenant, under the command of Captain Patrick Campbell during the capture of three Italian brigs in the Adriatic in 1808, and upon promotion to the rank of

Captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

in the Royal Navy captained both HMS Arachne, an 18 gun

Cruiser A cruiser is a type of warship. Modern cruisers are generally the largest ships in a fleet after aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships, and can usually perform several roles. The term "cruiser", which has been in use for several hu ...

, and

HMS_Talbot_(1824) HMS ''Talbot'' was a 28-gun sixth-rate frigate built for the Royal Navy during the 1820s. Description ''Talbot'' had a length at the gundeck of and at the keel. She had a beam of , a draught of and a depth of hold of . The ship's tonna ...

a 28-gun, Atholl-class frigate.

Clan Watson Tartan

The Watson tartan was designed in 1932 by Rev. Mhuir Watson, and is registered with the Scottish Register of Tartans. File:WatsonModernTartan.jpg, Watson tartan, 1932 Watson of Saughton coat of arms v2

Watson
Heraldry Heraldry is a discipline relating to the design, display and study of armorial bearings (known as armory), as well as related disciplines, such as vexillology, together with the study of ceremony, rank and pedigree. Armory, the best-known branch ...
and Clan Branches

David Watson of Saughton first recorded the chiefly arms in 1672, being "argent, an oak-tree growing out of a mount in base proper, surmounted of a fess azure." Later, in 1818, his descendent, James Watson of Saughton recorded the arms with

Supporter In heraldry, supporters, sometimes referred to as ''attendants'', are figures or objects usually placed on either side of the shield and depicted holding it up. Early forms of supporters are found in medieval seals. However, unlike the coro ...

s. The Arms of John Watson are those of David's second brother. File:Watson of Saughton arms.svg, Watson of Saughton File:Arms of John Watson, Scotland.svg, Arms of John Watson Five other early arms were recorded between 1672–75, those of the Watsons of Croslatt, the Watsons of Glentarkie (near

Strathmiglo Strathmiglo ( gd, Srath Mioglach) (Ordnance Survey ) is a village and parish in Fife, Scotland on the River Eden. It lies on the old A91 road from Milnathort to Cupar and St. Andrews but was bypassed by a new road to the north in the 1970s. N ...

), Alexander Watson

Bailie A bailie or baillie is a civic officer in the local government of Scotland. The position arose in the burghs, where bailies formerly held a post similar to that of an alderman or magistrate (see bailiff). Baillies appointed the high constables i ...

of Dundee; Andrew Watson, a merchant in Aberdeen; and Andrew Watson, merchant in Peterhead. File:Watson of Croslatt arms.svg, Watson of Croslatt File:Watson of Glentarkie arms.svg, Watson of Glentarkie File:Alex Watson Bailie of Dundee arms.svg, Alexander Watson,

of Dundee File:Arms of Andrew Watson, Aberdeen.svg, Andrew Watson, Aberdeen File:Arms of Andrew Watson, Peterhead.svg, Andrew Watson, Peterhead The Arms of the Watsons of Muirehouse were registered in 1722. They were the Watsons of Damhead before they purchased the barony of Muirhouse from the Hunters some time after 1697. Muirhouse was later sold by Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Watson to William Davidson in 1776. Major-General David Watson was Robert Watson of Muirhouse's son. The arms of George Watson, a merchant in Edinburgh, were registered in 1739. George Watson was a

philanthropist Philanthropy is a form of altruism that consists of "private initiatives, for the Public good (economics), public good, focusing on quality of life". Philanthropy contrasts with business initiatives, which are private initiatives for private goo ...

and the founder of George Watson's College, Edinburgh. Recent research has revealed that part of his fortune was acquired in the transatlantic slave trade. File:Watson of Muirhouse arms.svg, Watson of Muirhouse, 1722 File:Arms of George Watson Edinburgh 1739.svg, George Watson, Edinburgh, 1739 The Watsons of Neilsland registered their arms in 1871 and in 1895 John Watson of Neilsland became the first baronet of Earnock. Sir John was a coal tycoon and amassed considerable wealth, purchasing and combining the estates of Neilsland and Earnock in 1871 and 1873 respectively into an estate of about 2000 acres. The arms of Sir James Watson of Broomknowe were registered in 1872. Sir James was Glasgow's first stock broker, the Lord Provost of Glasgow from 1871 to 1874 and was

knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...

in 1874. The arms of

William Watson, Lord Watson William Watson, Baron Watson, (25 August 1827 – 14 September 1899) was a Scottish lawyer and Conservative Party politician. He was Lord Advocate, the most senior Law Officer in Scotland, from 1876 to 1880, and was then appointed a Lord of ...

, were registered in 1880, at the same time he has ennobled as Baron Watson of Thankerton. Lord Watson was a conservative member of parliament for Glasgow and Aberdeen Universities 1876–1880, Solicitor General for Scotland 1874–1876 , Lord Advocate 1876–1880, appointed to the

Privy Council A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a state, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the mon ...

in 1878 sat on the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council. The arms of the Watsons of Langley House were registered in Scotland in 1881. In 1881 James Watson, of Langley House became High Sheriff of Buckinghamshire. The arms of the Watsons of Shielhill and Terpersy were possibly registered some time before 1855. The seat of this branch was Shielhill House near Kirriemui,

Angus Angus may refer to: Media * ''Angus'' (film), a 1995 film * ''Angus Og'' (comics), in the ''Daily Record'' Places Australia * Angus, New South Wales Canada * Angus, Ontario, a community in Essa, Ontario * East Angus, Quebec Scotland * Angu ...

. This branch are also of the Watsons of Tipperty (near Aberdeen) and was notably represented by

Lieutenant-General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

Archibald Watson, Colonel of the 1st Bengal Cavalry, H.E.I.C.S. File:Watson Baronets of Earnock arms.svg, Watson Baronets of Earnock, also known as Watson of Neilsland File:Arms of James Watson of Broomknowe, Lord Provost of Glasgow.svg, James Watson of Broomknowe, Lord Provost of Glasgow File:Lord Watson, William Watson Lord Advocate.svg, Lord William Watson, Baron Watson, Lord Advocate File:Watson of Langley House arms.svg, Watson of Langley House, near

Slough Slough () is a town and unparished area in the unitary authority of the same name in Berkshire, England, bordering west London. It lies in the Thames Valley, west of central London and north-east of Reading, at the intersection of the M4 ...

, 1881 File:Watson of Shielhill arms.svg, Watson of Shielhill and Terpersy The arms of William Livingstone Watson were registered in 1887. William joined the East India merchants and was an astronomer. He purchased the estate of Ayton House in

Perthshire Perthshire (locally: ; gd, Siorrachd Pheairt), officially the County of Perth, is a historic county and registration county in central Scotland. Geographically it extends from Strathmore in the east, to the Pass of Drumochter in the north, ...

. The arms of the Watson of Braco Castle,

were registered in 1903. Sir Remy Watson of Braco Castle acquired the

Rembrandt Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn (, ; 15 July 1606 – 4 October 1669), usually simply known as Rembrandt, was a Dutch Golden Age painter, printmaker and draughtsman. An innovative and prolific master in three media, he is generally consid ...

painting Anna and the Blind Tobit which his son, Denis Watson, sold to the National Gallery in 1926. The arms of Alan Watson,

were registered in the early 2000s. Alan Watson was regius professor of

forensic medicine Forensic medicine is a broad term used to describe a group of medical specialties which deal with the examination and diagnosis of individuals who have been injured by or who have died because of external or unnatural causes such as poisoning, assa ...

at Glasgow University. His arms offer an insight into how modern heraldry incorporates the identity of a person: the hourglass refers to his professional body, the Faculty of Actuaries, and the " fess brettessed the crenelles semicircular" (the purple buttressed line crossing the oak) represents the binding between stamps and his philatelic interests. File:Arms of William Livingstone Watson, London 1887.svg, Arms of William Livingstone Watson, London 1887 File:Watson of Braco Castle arms.svg, Watson of Braco Castle File:Arms of Alan Watson, Falkirk.svg, Arms of Professor Alan Watson, Falkirk; Reg. early 2000s

The Watson Mazer

The Watson Mazer is the earliest in the sequence of Scottish standing mazers, featuring the coat of arms of David Watson of Saughton. A hallmark may relate to the goldsmith Adam Leys. Chemical analysis places it in the early 16th century. It is constructed of a maple wood bowl with a silver-gilt band, resting on a silver stem and an inscribed trumpet-shaped foot. On the foot of mazer is the inscription "TYNE GEIR TYNE LITIL TYNE HONOVR TYNE MUCKIL TYNE HART TYNE AL" which translates to "Lost wealth lost little, lost honour lost much, lost heart lost all". The Watson Mazer is on display as part of the Silver Treasury, level 5 of the Scotland Galleries in Edinburgh. File:The Watson Mazer.jpg, The earliest in a series of Scottish Standing Mazers from the early 16th Century. File:Watson-crest-on-mazer.jpg, Engraved centre with the arms and initials of David Watson of Saughton.

Clan Watson Today

The Clan Watson Society has started a campaign to find the surviving heirs of the Watsons of Saughton, and has been working closely with both Clan Buchanan society and Clan Forbes in regards to their use of Watson as a sept.

Notes and references

External links

Clan Watson Society

Clan Forbes Society
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson Scottish clans Armigerous clans