CLAN STEWART OF APPIN

Clan Stewart of Appin are direct cousins of the Royal Stewarts.

They share the same great-grandfathers since all time and up to Alexander the 4th High Steward of Scotland and therefore also
since the inception of the surname Stewart.
The surname Stewart was derived from the venerable office of being Great or High Steward of Scotland.
In the 12th century King David I of Scotland first gave the title to Walter fitz Alan, a nobleman from Brittany, whose
descendants were given the surname “Steward” by King David 1st, which was changed to “Stewart” and founded the royal House of Stewart. 

Origins and the Office of the Steward

Root word: The name comes from the Old English word stiweard, meaning a house guardian or household manager.

The Seneschal role: After the Norman Conquest, this job became known as a seneschal, meaning an administrator or manager of an estate.

Breton roots: The family descended from a Breton knight named Alan fitz Flaad. His son, Walter fitz Alan, went to Scotland in the 12th century.

High Steward title: King David I of Scotland made Walter the first High Steward of the King of Scots.

Adopting the surname: Walter’s descendants stopped using “fitz Alan” and used their job title as their family name. Walter’s grandson, Walter, the 3rd High Steward, helped make it a fixed surname around 1241 AD.

The “D” to “T” spelling: The spelling shifted from Steward to Stewart because of Scottish pronunciation and phonetic spelling by early scribes.

The French “Stuart” variant: The spelling changed to Stuart later because Mary, Queen of Scots, lived in France. The French alphabet did not have a “w” sound, so they used a “u” instead.

Royal dynasty: Robert II was the first of the House of Stewart to take the Scottish throne in 1371

THE APPIN ORIGIN

Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland had 2 sons; James and John. James being the firstborn, became the 5th High Steward of Scotland and his son Walter became the 6th. Walter married King Robert the Bruce’s daughter, and their son Robert Stewart, being the 7th High Steward of Scotland, inherited the throne of Scotland via his mother and became King Robert II of Scotland, the first Stewart Monarch. This is when the title or office of High Steward of Scotland merged into the Crown.

2nd born son Sir John Stewart was a Scottish knight and military commander during the First Scottish War of Independence. 

Sir John was therefore Walter’s uncle. Sir John’s offspring who form the Stewart’s of Appin clan are Walter’s cousins and therefore cousins of his offspring, including Robert 2nd and of course the beloved Bonnie Prince Charlie.

MOTTO: Scottish Gaelic: “Quhidder Will Zie” is pronounced, Whither Will Ye? ….. and means directly, in what do you choose? War or Peace?
Standing in defence of the Royal Stewart Clan and against attacks on Scotland from England.

Clan Stewart of Appin led or joined many Jacobite rebellions and fought in the Wars of Independence, including Culloden, where 91 clansmen died.