Clan Elliott

Clan Chief:           28th Chief of Clan Elliott is Madam Margaret Elliott

                         of Redheugh.

Origin of name:   The origin of the name is Hebrew, Elias.

Clan Crest:           A right hand in armour holding a cutlass.           

Clan Motto:          Fortiter et recte (Boldly and rightly)           

Lands:                  Borders

The borders of Scotland are renowned for breeding the wildest and hardiest of the Scottish Clans and the Eliotts are no exception to this pedigree. According to Eliott tradition, the Clan originated in the Highlands, at the foot of Glenshee in Angus. The Clan were granted land in Teviotdale by the great King Robert the Bruce in the early 14th Century and they travelled south to settle in their new territory. Here the Clan prospered, zealously guarding their interests in the turbulent borders. The Clan's name was originally Ellot, which changed to the current form of Eliott around 1650, although there still remain a number of different spellings.

The 10th Chief, Robert Ellott of Redheugh, consolidated the Clan's strength when he erected a strong tower on the top of a cliff overlooking Hermitage Water in 1470. At one time the Ellots controlled around 100 strong towers in Liddesdale, their Clan lands. Such fortifications were necessary in a land where the power of law stemmed from two strong hands on the hilt of a claymore. The Ellots were not adverse to raiding their neighbours on both sides of the border when they felt an urge for the beef of less bold men. On one such raid against Clan Scott, four Ellots were taken by Scott of Buccleuch and put to death. Outraged, a force of three hundred Ellots rode against the Scotts to avenge the death of their kinsmen, and made the Scotts rethink their impudence.

Clan Eliott was loyal to the Crown of Scotland, fighting for the King on many occasions. At the Battle of Flodden in 1513, Robert the 13th Chief, was slain beside his King, James IV. His descendant, Gilbert Eliott was knighted by the exiled Charles II and was made a Baronet of Nova Scotia by the King in 1666. His son George Eliott rose to be a General in the British Army, and was famed for his heroic defence of Gibraltar during the Great Siege of 1779 to 1782. Other Eliotts have risen to great heights, with members of the Clan having held the positions of Governor General of Canada, Governor General of Bengal, Viceroy of India and numerous seats in Parliament. 
The 11th Baronet and 28th Chief of Clan Eliott is Margaret Eliott of the Ilk.

The Clan Elliott crest shows a right hand in armour holding a cutlass and the proud Elliott clan motto "Fortiter et recte"  which means "Boldly and rightly" 

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