Clan Lamont

Clan Chief:           Father Peter Lamont, 29th Chief of Clan Lamont,

                         Marayong, New South Wales Australia.

Origin of Name:   Norse, Lawman

Gaelic Name:       MacLaomainn

Clan Crest:          Right hand cut off at the wrist 

Clan Motto:         Ne parcas nec spernas (Neither spare nor dispose)

Lands:                   Argyll and Cowal

Clan Lamont is one of the most ancient Clans in Scotland, tracing its genealogy back as far as the 6th Century to the first Scottish kingdom of Dalriada. The Clan Lamont flourished through the centuries, marrying into the finest Viking families, which produced a strong Celtic-Norse bloodline. The name Lamont derives from the Norse "lagman" meaning a lawman or judge, an honoured position reserved for only the wisest of men. The earliest recorded Lamont chief is Ferchar, who lived amid the glorious splendour of the Holy Loch in 1200. It was Ferchar’s grandson, Lauman, who founded the Clan stronghold of Toward Castle at Inveryne, which is situated on the banks of Loch Fyne. Lauman headed the senior line of heriditary judges in Cowal in the mid 13th Century, nobly presiding over the many conflicts which arose in such a turbulent age.

Clan Lamonts’ influence increased down through the years by careful alliances with the most mighty Clans in Scotland. Lamonts married into the powerful Clan Donald of the Isles during the 14th and 15th Centuries, which led to the Clan Lamont expanding into the Isle of Bute. While the Clan remained firmly entrenched in Cowal, Lamonts also settled in Galloway, Ayrshire, and Fife. Clan Lamont was also favoured by the House of Stewart, who for centuries had neighboured the Lamonts on the Firth of Clyde, before they ascended to the throne. The Lamonts supported the royalist forces during the 17th Century Civil War, standing steadfast for the birthright of their Stewart king, Charles I. The Clan Lamont paid a hefty price for their loyalty, as the royalist fortunes took a turn for the worse. The infamous Clan Campbell, longtime enemies of the Lamonts, overran the Lamont territory, capturing the castles of Ascog and Toward through treacherous promises. Sir James Lamont, deeply concerned for the welfare of his people, agreed to surrender Toward Castle in return for assurances that the Clansfolk would remain unharmed. Upon taking the castle, the Campbells imprisoned the chief in terrible conditions for five long years, and executed scores of Lamonts in a display of extreme cruelty. This dark deed is remembered to the present day and a monument in memory of the dead was erected by the Clan Lamont Society in 1906.

The Clan Lamont is renowned for its contributions to Scottish culture and science. The Lamonts boast the oldest example of the ancient Celtic harp, the clarsach, which dates back to the 15th Century. This traditional musical instrument can still be viewed by the public at the Royal Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Lamonts have been just as outstanding in Scottish literature as they have been in music. The late Reverend Donald Lamont was the most prominent writer of Gaelic prose in Scotland until he passed away in 1958. However, the Lamonts’ cultural endowments were not limited to the bonnie shores of Scotland. The eminent Bavarian scientist Johann von Lamont was actually John Lamont, born in 1805, the brilliant son of a Braemar forester.

In 1893 the Clan Chief sold all the remaining clan lands excepting Knockdow and left for Australia. The 28th Chief of Clan Lamont resides in Australia, he is Rev. Father Peter Lamont, Marayong, New South Wales.

The Clan Lamont crest shows a right hand cut off at the wrist and the proud Lamont clan motto reads "Ne parcas nec spernas" meaning "Neither spare nor dispose"

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