Clan Carruthers: Current list of Scottish Clan Chiefs and Commanders.

As far as we are led to believe, the list below is accurate for Chiefs as of March 2020.

These Chiefs are recognised by the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs and the Lord Lyon, and all Commanders have been commissioned, again by the Lord Lyon. It obviously does not include armigerous clans.

It is also worth noting that in the case of the heads of large branches of very large clans, a Chief will be recognised, but will fall under the auspices of a High Chief of that Clan. We understand that this structure is only used by large Highland Clans, and is not seen or used in the Lowlands or Borders of Scotland

These branch Chiefs would be the closest thing Scottish Clans have to recognised Chieftains, and some may choose to class them as such. They would also carry a territorial designation with their names suggesting they are not Chiefs of the whole clan, but of a substantial branch.

A typical example of the use of chiefs with territorial designations would be branches of Clan Donald where the MacDonalds of Clanranald, MacDonalds of Sleat, Macdonalds of Keppoch, and in fact the MacDonells of Glengarry, have recognised Chiefs in their own right. However, the High Chief of all MacDonalds and all branches of the same is Lord Macdonald (MacDonald of MacDonald)

The only other obvious case which springs to mind is Clan Leod, where Macleod of Macleod is recognised as High Chief, while Macleod of Rassey and Macleod of Lewes as major branches, again have Chiefs recognised.

The Chiefs of these large clan branches may still sit on the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs in their own capacity.

Clan Chiefs are entitled to, and are granted supporters on their coat of arms. This reflects their ‘high dignity’ and status as chiefs of a Scottish clan or family. A requirement of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs for membership is that an applicant chief must demonstrate a right to hereditary supporters, as in the case of Bruce, Buchanan, Campbell, Carruthers, Elliot, Irving of Bonshaw, Fraser etc.

A chief without supporters would only be permitted to serve on the Council for their lifetime, and each successive heir would have to be re-elected in the same manner.

* signifies branches of Clan Donald and their High Chief

** signifies branches of Clan Leod and their High Chief.

---

Reading through the list of names below, there remains a strong sense of ancient Scottish history. From the Isles to the Highlands, to the Lowlands and the Borders, the names of our past still reflect our proud culture and heritage to this very day.

Chiefs accepted by the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, the list includes Commanders holding commissions from the Lord Lyon (who cannot join the Council).

Clan/Family	Chief (Commanders commisioned by the lord Lyon)
Agnew	Sir Crispin Agnew of Locknaw Bt
Allardice	Richard Allardice of Allardice
Anstruther	Toby Anstruther of that Ilk
Arbuthnott	Keith, Viscount Atbuthnott
Arthur	John MacArthur of that Ilk
Bannerman	Sir David Bannerman of Elsick Bt.
Barclay	Peter Barclay of that Ilk
Borthwick	John, Lord Borthwick
Boyle	Patrick,  Earl of Glasgow
Brodie	Alexander Brodie of Brodie
Broun	Sir Wayne Broun of Colstoun Bt.
Bruce	Andrew, Earl of Elgin & Kincardine
Buchan	Charles Buchan of Auchmacoy
Buchanan	John Michael Baillie-Hamilton Buchanan
Burnett	James Burnett of Leys
Cameron	Donald Cameron of Lochiel
Campbell	Torquhil, Duke of Argyll
Carmichael	Richard Carmichael of Carmichael
Carnegie	David, Duke of Fife
Carruthers	Simon Peter Carruthers of Holmains
Cathcart	Chales, Earl Cathcart
Charteris	James,  Earl of Wemyss And March
Chattan	John Mackintosh of Mackintosh
Chisholm	Hamish Chisholm of Chisholm
Cochrane	Ian, Earl of Dundonald
Colville	Charles, Viscount Corville of Culross
Colquhoun	Sir Malcolm Colquhoun of Luss Bt.
Cranstoun	David Cranston of that Ilk
Cumming	Sir Alexander Penrose Gordon Cumming of Altyre Bt
Cunningham	Sir John Cunninghame of that Ilk and Corsehill
Currie	Robert Currie (Commander)
Dalrymple	John, Earl of Stair
Davidson	Alister Davidson of Davidston
Dewar	Michael Kenneth Dewar of that Ilk and Vogrie
Drummond	John, Earl of Perth
Dunbar	Sir James Dunbar of Mochrum Bt.
Dundas	David Dundas of Dundas
Durie	Andrew Durie of Durie
Elliot	Madam Margaret Elliot of Redheugh
Elphinstone	Alexander, Lord Elphinstone
Erskine	James, Earl of Mar And Kellie
Ewen	Sir John McEwen Bt. (Commander)
Ewing	Thor Ewing (Commander)
Farquharson	Alwyne Farquharson of Invercauld
Fergusson	Sir Charles Fergusson of Kilkerran Bt
Forbes	Nigel, Lord Gorbes
Forsyth	Alistair Forsyth of that ilk
Fraser	Flora, Lady Saltoun
Fraser of Lovat	Simon, the Lord Lovat
Grierson	Madam Sarah Grierson of Lag
Gordon	Granville, Marquess of Huntly
Graham	James, Duke of Montrose
Grant	James Patrick Trevor Grant of Grant,
Gunn	Iain Gunn of Gunn
Guthrie	Alexander Guthrie of Guthrie
Haig	Alexander, Earl Haig
Haldane	Martin Haldane of Gleneagles
Hannay	David Hannay of Kirkdale and of that Ilk
Hay	Merlin, Earl of Erroll
Henderson	Alistair Henderson of Fordell
Hope	Sir Alexander Hope of Craighall Bt.
Hunter	Madam Pauline Hunter of Hunterson
Irvine	Alexander Irvine of Drum
Irving of Bonshaw	Robert Irving of Bonshaw
Jardine	Sir William Jardine of Applegirth Bt.
Johnstone	Patrick, Earl of Annandale And Hartfell
Keith	James, Earl of Kintore
Kennedy	David, Marquess of Ailsa
Kerr	Michael, Marquess of Lothian
Kincaid	Madam Arabella Kincaid of Kincaid
Lamont	Peter Noel Lamont of that Ilk
Leask	Jonathan Leask of that Ilk
Leslie	James, Earl of Rothes and Lord of Leslie
Lennox	Edward Lennox of that Ilk
Lindsay	Robert, Earl of Crawford and Balcarres
Lockhart	Ranald Lockhart of The Lee
Lumsden	Gillem Lumsden of that Ilk
Macalister	William MacAlester of Loup and Kennox
MacAlpine	Michael T. McAlpin (Commander)
MacBain	James McBain of McBain
*MacDonald of Clanranald	Ranald Alexander MacDonald of Clanranald
*MacDonald of Keppoch	Ranald MacDonald of Keppoch
*MacDonald of MacDonald	Godfrey, Lord MacDonald, (High Chief of Clan Donald)
*MacDonald of Sleat	Sir Ian MacDonald of Sleat Bt.
*MacDonell of Glengarry	Ranald Euan MacDonell of Glengarry
MacDougall	Morag MacDougall of MacDougall
MacDowall	Fergus Macdowall of Garthland
MacPhie	Ian Morris MacPhie (Commander)
MacGillivray	Iain MacGillivray (Commander)
MacGregor	Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor Bt.
MacIntyre	Donald Russell MacIntyre of Glenoe
Machlachlan	Euan Maclachlan of Maclachlan
MacKay	Aeneas, Lord Reay
MacKenzie	John, Earl of Cromartie
MacLaine	Lorne Maclaine of Lochbuie
MacLaren	Donald MacLaren of MacLaren
Maclea/Livingstone	Niall Livingstone of Bachuil, Baron the Bachuil
MacLean	Sir Lachlan MacLean of Duart and Morvern Bt.
MacLennan	Ruairidh MacLennan of MacLennan
*Macleod of Macleod	Hugh, Macleod of Macleod, (High Chief of Clan Leod)
*Macleod of Raasay	John Macleod of Raasay
*Macleod of the Lewes	Torquhil Macleod of the Lewes
Macmillan	George MacMillan of MacMillan and Knap
Macnab	Jamie Macnab of Macnab
MacNaghten	Sir Malcolm Francis MacNaghten of MacNaghten Bt
Macneacail	John Macneacail of Macneacail & Scorrabreac
Macneil	Roderick Macneil of Barra
Macpherson	Sir William Macpherson of Cluny
MacTavish	Steven MacTavish of Dunardry
MacThomas	Andrew MacThomas of Finegand
Maitland	Ian, Earl of Lauderdale
Makgill	Ian, Viscount Oxfuird
Malcolm	Robin Malcolm of Poltalloch
Mar	Margaret, Countess of Mar
Marjoribanks	Andrew Marjoribanks of that Ilk
Matheson	Sir Alexander Matheson of Matheson, Bt
McBain	James McBain of McBain
Menzies	David Ronald Stuart Menzies of that Ilk
Moffat	Madam Jean Moffat of that Ilk
Moncreiffe	Peregrine Moncreiffe of that Ilk
Montgomery	Archibald,  Earl of Eglinton & Winton
Morrison	John Ruairdh Morrison of Ruchdi
Munro	Hector Munro of Foulis
Murray	Bruce, Duke of Atholl
Napier	Francis, Lord Napier and Ettrick
Nesbitt	Mark Nesbitt of that Ilk
Ogilvy	David, Earl of Airlie
Oliphant	Richard Oliphant of that Ilk
Pringle	Sir Norman Pringle of that Ilk and Stichil Bt
Ramsay	Simon, Earl of Dalhousie
Riddell	Sir Walter John Buchanan Riddell Bt
Robertson	Gilbert Robertson of Struan
Rollo	David, Lord Rollo
Rose	David Rose of Kilravock
Ross	David Ross of Ross and Balnagowan
Ruthven	Alexander, Earl of Gowrie
Sempill	James, Lord Sempill
Scott	Richard, Duke of Buccleuch
Scrymgeour	Alexander, Earl of Dundee
Shaw of Tordarroch	Iain Shaw of Tordarroch
Sinclair	Sinclair, Earl of Caithness
Skene	Dugald Skene of Skene
Stirling	Fraser Stirling of Cader
Strachan	Rob Strachan (Commander)
Strange	Timothy Strange of Balcaskie
Sutherland	Alistair, Earl of Sutherland
Swinton	John Swinton of that Ilk
Trotter	Alexander Trotter of Mortonhall
Urquhart	Wilkins Urquhart of Urquhart
Wallace	Andrew Wallace of that Ilk
Wedderburn	David, Lord Scrymgeour
Wemyss	Michael Wemyss of Wemyss
Wood	Joseph John Hugh Fawcett Wood of Largo

 -To be or not to be, or when is a ‘chief’ not a Chief-  

Q: So when is a claim of being a Scottish Chief not recognised?

A: If the claim is not recognised by the Lord Lyon and the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, then an individual is not recognised as holding any credibility or legality in that title.

Heads of clan societies, whether Presidents, Convenors or Chairpersons only lead the society and do not lead a Scottish clan or family, nor do any title holders inferred by the same.

If no chief exists, e.g. the clan or family is armigerous, a gathering in Scotland under the auspices of the Lord Lyon may take place. If the derbhfine is successful, a Clan Commander (not a Chief or Chieftain) is commissioned to lead the clan in the absence of a chief for a period of time designated by the Lord Lyon. This is usually up to 10 years, and can be repeated.

This position of Commander exists while the hereditary line of the original Chief is investigated. If no living members of that line are found or choose not to come forward, the Commander may be accepted in due course as the Chief of that clan or family.

The clan or family remains armigerous until a chief is confirmed through the granting of the right to bear the chiefly arms by the Lord Lyon. At this stage supporters are either granted or not, along with other such designations as Chief of the Name and Arms or of that Ilk. At this point, an invitation to sit on the Council of Standing Chiefs would be appropriate.

---

Therefore, in the same vein as all other Border families and clans, Carruthers do not have anyone who legally holds the title ‘Chieftain’ and our Chief, recognised by both the Lord Lyon King of Arms and the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs is Dr Simon Peter Carruthers of Holmains, Chief of the Name and Arms of Carruthers.

All other claims relating to our Name/Clan/Family are simply inaccurate, misinformed, deliberately fraudulent and/or self-seeking.

Membership of our Society, which is recognised by the Clan Chief, can be found here:

https://clancarrutherssociety.org/membership/

---