Clan Innes

Clan Chief:             No current chief, is an armigerous clan

Last Chief:           Sir James Innes, 6th Baronet, died 19th July 1823.

Origin of Name:     Innis is the Gaelic name for meadow or island.

Gaelic Name:         Mac Aonghuis (son of Angus)

Clan Crest:             A Boar's head

Clan Motto:            Be Traist

Lands:                     Morayshire

A Flemish nobleman by the name of Berowald was granted the land known as Innes (being all the land along the seashore between Spey and Lossie) by Malcolm IV in 1160. The land ownership was later confirmed in a charter by Alexander II in 1226, to Berowald's grandson, Walter, who first assumed the surname of Innes.

A century later, Sir Alexander Innes (son of “Good Sir Robert” 8th Laird of Innes) married Janet the heiress of the thane of Aberchirder, and thus could lay claim to the lands of her family, further expanding the Clan Innes lands. Their son Walter Innes became the chief of Clan Innes and held the position for 42 years. Further along, the son of Walter Innes, “Ill Sir Robert” became the 11th Laird of Innes and also formed the Greyfriars of Elgin. His son Sir James followed as leader and was succeeded by his son Alexander Innes.

In 1579 the Privy Council decided to recognize Clan Innes as an official Clan, and thus the family became a clan of the form it is today.

The succession of Lairds continued to this day, with the Innes Clan expanding in both size and prestige along the way. Some of the accomplishments in that time have included the building of Innes House, the construction of Coxton Tower, the appointment of Robert Innes of Blairton to lord Drpute of the Register of Arms and Bearings in Scotland, and also Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, was Lord Lyon, King of arms from 1945 to 1969, his son Sir Malcolm Innes of Edingight, became Lord Lyon, King of Arms,and keeper of the Scottish Heraldry from 1981 until 2001.

There has always been a presence of Innes Clan members in the academic society of Scotland, with the most prominent of such, being Father Thomas Innes author of “Critical Essay on the Ancient Inhabitants of Northern Parts of Britain or Scotland”; Father Lewis Innes who was the Principal of the Scots College in Paris which played a large role in keeping and preserving many historic Scottish documents; and also Cosmo Innes who was the Sheriff of Moray in 1840 and a Professor of Edinburgh University, he also played a role in the preservation of Scottish historical documents. 

The Clan Innes crest is a boar's head and the proud Innes clan motto reads "Be traist" this simple message can be both an inspiration to you in everyday life, and a reminder of the ancestry and history behind every Innes Clan member. 

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