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Cap Badge
Kilt pin
Plaid Brooch
Tie pin
Cuff links
Sgian Dubh
The family of Maitland descends from a companion of William the Conqueror, who travelled with him and would later settle in Northumberland. In early records, the name appears as Matulant, Mautalant or Maltalant and it is believed the name meant 'bad' or 'poor wit', an alternative translation follows similar negative lines translating roughly as 'As if mutilated in war'. Sir Richard Matulant was to aquire the lands of both Blyth and Hedderwick and would later become one of the most notable of Barons in the Borders during the reign of Alexander III. Sir Richard would also receive the lands of Thirleston with his marriage to Avicia, heiress to Thomas de Thirlestane in 1250. A strong supporter of Robert the Bruce in his fight for the crown, Sir William Mautlant de Thirlestane was witness to the famous victory at Bannockburn just a year before his death. His son, Sir Robert Maitland would inherit not only his father’s lands but would also receive the rights to the lands of Lethington near Haddington in 1345. Sir Robert had three sons, John, William and Robert of Shivas. William's son, Sir Robert Maitland, is remembered for surrendering the Castle of Dunbar to the Earl of Douglas and would escape any involvement in the resulting ruin of his uncle, John, who had become involved in the conspiracies of his kinsman, George Dunbar, with the English. John Maitland of Lauderdale was to receive the earldom in 1645 and, two years later, Lauderdale was sent to Holland to persuade the Prince of Wales to join with the Scots. He fought alongside him at the Battle of Worcester, where he was captured and spent nine years in the Tower of London. After the Restoration, Lauderdale was to rise to become the single most powerful man in Scotland, ruling almost as viceroy. He was created Duke of Lauderdale in 1672; he died some years later along with his title. The Earls of Lauderdale are hereditary bearers of the Scottish national flag, which they regularly perform on State occasions. |
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