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It is claimed that the first record of the
family in Scotland was Walter Fitz-Gilbert from whom is
descended the Dukes of Hamilton. Walter witnessed a charter in
1294 conferring on the monastery of Paisley the privilege of
herring fishing in the Clyde. He was governor of Bothwell Castle for the English
during part of the time of the Scottish War of
Independence, but later joined Robert the Bruce
from whom he received the Barony of Cadzow.
A close association with the
royal house began in about 1474 when James, 1st
Lord Hamilton, married Princess Mary, daughter of
James II, King of Scots. For over a century
thereafter a Hamilton stood next in succession to
the crown, while during much of this period the
King was a minor. The son of the 1st Lord
Hamilton and Princess Mary was created Earl of
Arran, the Gaelic-speaking island in the Forth of
Clyde on which from 1503, the family made their
Highland home at Brodick Castle.
James, 3rd Marquis, was
created Duke of Hamilton in 1643, and William,
2nd Duke, died from wounds received at the Battle
of Worcester in 1651. The latter was succeeded by
his niece, Anne, Duchess of Hamilton, who married
Lord William Douglas, and through whom the
Hamilton titles passed to the Douglas family.
Alfred, 13th Duke, after the
demolition of Hamilton Palace, removed the seat
of the chiefs to Dungavel in their Lordship of
Avon.
Other principal families of
the name of Hamilton were those of Raploch, of
Dalserf, of Preston, East Lothian, of Airdrie, of
Silvertonhill, Lanarkshire and the Earls of
Haddington.
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Hamilton
