The last known Chief of Clan Ewing was Robert Ewing of Craigtoun, who is believed to have died in 1776. Since then, the line of descent has been lost, and it has not been possible to discover the heir to the chiefship by right of inheritance. However, 250 years after their last, the Clan Ewing now have an officially recognised Chief.
Yesterday evening the Lord Lyon accompanied by Rothesay Herald attended the inauguration of John Thor Ewing as Chief of the Name and Arms of Ewing at historic Riddles Court on the Royal Mile of Edinburgh. It was at this event that his Letters Patent was received.
Having been named Commander of the clan by the Lord Lyon and elected by the Ewings at their Derbhfine in 2014 and after 10 years in post, in 2024 John Thor Ewing was invited by the Lord Lyon King of Arms to petition undifferenced Arms of the Chief of the Name of Ewing.
Unlike Carruthers whose Chiefly line has still existed through Carruthers of Holmains since before the 11th century and was genealogically provable, a derbhfine/family convention had to be held by Ewing to elect a Commander under the supervision of the Lord Lyon’s representative. These conventions are always held in Scotland, although video links are acceptable to other countries.
Only the Lord Lyon King of Arms, a member of the Scottish Judiciary and the British Monarch’s representative in Scotland on all things heraldic, can grant the right for an individual to bear the arms of a Scottish Chief. Although there are the odd false claimants, one in the US springs instantly to mind, the Lord Lyon must be satisfied of their right to bear the chiefly arms of a clan or family. It is through this recognition that the clan becomes noted in Scots Law, as a ‘Noble Incorporation’ giving world-wide acceptance and credibility.
This can be either through proven genealogy of an existing Chiefly line, which always takes precedence, or a derbhfine/convention, held in Scotland where a Commander is elected under his supervision leading to the chiefship. Carruthers and Buchanan followed the former route, Ewing and Pringle the latter. It is the Letters Patent that announce a Chief of the Name and Arms of a Clan or family and the inauguration before the clan or family, showing acceptance as Chief. The inauguration of the Carruthers chief took place in our ancestral homelands in Annan, Dumfriesshire in 2024 placing the final piece of our journey on the map.
Hailing from the Highlands, Clan Ewing was historically based both in Dumbartonshire and Stirlingshire in the Lennox, and also in Cowal in Argyll. They claim patronymic descent from Ewen of Otter originating in the 14th century. In 1566 they fought alongside Mary Queen of Scots at the Battle of Langside, where she was sadly defeated.
According to Electric Scotland, in 1566, ‘William Ewin’ was summoned to the court of Mary Queen of Scots, and in the same year the Ewing coat of arms is recorded in the Workman Armorial.
The Ewing shield is ensigned with the Red Ensign of Scotland and may mark William’s appointment as Bearer of the Ensign; it is said that at the Battle of Langside, one of Queen Mary’s banners was carried by William Ewing. Another tradition relating to this battle describes a new clan banner reflecting William Ewing’s recent grant of arms. A gravestone in Bonhill churchyard once marked the grave of William Ewing and was emblazoned with the Ewing arms. Later records of the clan, in a similar vein to Carruthers, suggest the clan supported the causes of the Covenanters.
In 1685, Ewings supported the Earl of Argyll’s abortive rebellion against King James VII, and Ewing property in Cowal was forfeited. Many Ewings followed paths of exile which led them to Ulster and beyond.
Ewing Tartan
The Ewing tartan was designed and registered by John Thor Ewing, with the Scottish Register of Tartans in 2014, while the design itself reflects other historical and traditional tartans from the areas and clans among which Clan Ewing has its roots.
Clan Ewing may be reached through their Chief and UK branch or through their authorised society here.
We send our heartfelt congratulations to Clan Ewing and especially to Thor, their newly inaugurated Chief, from all the Clan and Family of Carruthers worldwide.
It is always a long haul to do things correctly and follow protocol, but well worth the effort…well done folks.
Nicely authored and very interesting! Congratulations to Clan Ewing!