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Clan Strachan Feudal Baronetcies

By the 1100's, the feudal system had taken hold in the highlands, and the Strachan District was transformed into a feudal barony. 

In 1308, the barons ‘de Strachan’ were important local nobles until this time, when they backed the Earls of Buchan and Comyn at the Battle of Inverurie, to whom they were related, against Robert the Bruce, by whom they were defeated and disinherited.

Not until King David (Robert the Bruce's son) was capture by the English, did it become politically desirable to reinstate the Strachans, and other disinherited families who had previously supported King John Balliol's claim to the throne of Scotland.

Between 1345 and 1355, virtually all families that benefited from the disinherited Strachans rushed to make restitution.

·         Alexander de Strachan was granted the lands of Carmyllie in Forfarshire (1347) by Sir Henry Maule (or Mauld) of Panmure.  Also received the lands of Drummayeth, Hackmangerum, Acheyclare, and Moncur.

·         ~ 1347, King David II himself granted to Donald de Strachan and his wife Annabel very extensive lands in Forfarshire, and a barony in Aberdeenshire. 

·         1348 one Sir James Strachan of Monboddo married Agnete, heiress of the Barony of Thornton, which had been granted to her father Valentine de Thornetoun by Robert I in 1309 as reward for his service. 

·         Sir John de Strachan was granted the lands of Lenturk in Aberdeenshire (1350 possibly by the Earl of Mar, as his lands were situated quite near to the Earl of Mar's fortress, Kildrummy Castle).  In 1359, Sir John became Viscount (Sheriff) of Forfarshire.  In official documents of the time, we find him listed as a witness to the installation of John of Mar as Bishop of Aberdeen and, to another charter, as co-witness with William Keith X, the Earl Marshall.  In 1380, he granted the lands of Petgervy to his son Galfrid.  

·         Thomas de Strachan got the lands of Knock in Kincardineshire. 

·         Adam Strachan was granted lands in Aberdeenshire from William Keith   (1350).  William Keith had inherited the barony of Strachan through his mother, the daughter of Sir Alexander Fraser and niece of King Robert I.    Moreover, in 1355, Thomas, Earl of Mar, gave Margaret Mar, a relative or kinswomen (“consanguinea”), probably his niece, in marriage to Adam. 

As a result of Adam Strachan's marriage to Margaret Mar, and the subsequent grant of Glenkindie lands to Adam and his wife, the Strachans are recognized as a family (or sept) of the Tribe of Mar, and are permitted to wear the Mar tartan.

After 1355, five Strachan Houses came to rise... Thornton, Glenkindie, Lenturk, Carmyllie, and Monboddo; with Thornton and Glenkindie being the most senior. 

Unfortunately, all these Houses would eventually become extinct.  The last Chief of Clan Strachan was one Admiral Sir Richard John Strachan (Bart.), RN, who died in 1828.  As he was without male heir the baronetcy became dormant in 1854.