History of the Gordon Clan
Origin of the Association: History related how the Lords of Strathbogie, of the Atholl line, lost all their lands during the struggle for independence in the early fourteenth century. These lands were bestowed by King Robert the Bruce on Sir Adam Gordon Huntly who was lord of the Barony of Merse (county of Berwickshire) in the border country between Scotland and England.
This initiated the rise to power of the Gordon's in Scotland, one of the more remarkable features of Scottish history in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. Towards the end of the 14th century the Gordon's settled as unchallenged masters of the great northern domain bestowed upon them. Early in the 15th century, the first Lord Gordon was created and twenty odd years later, his son was titled the Earl of Huntly.
The extensive lands and resultant wealth placed the Earl in a dominant political position being Chief of the Gordon Clan, arguably the most powerful at the time and earning him the title "Cock of the North". The Gordon's remained a significant presence in Scotland until the 19th century when political reverses and the expanding power of England effectively ended the power of all the clans. It should be noted that through battle, marriage and much political intrigue, the Gordon's spread their influence to encompass large portions of Scotland. This fact of their starting in the lowlands and spreading over large portions of the north sets them apart from the usual Scottish Clan whose members were born, lived and died in the same glens for many generations.
A map published in 1726 shows the main roads of Scotland and the various land owners adjacent to these roads. About twenty significant properties are shown as belonging to different branches or "septs" of the Gordon's. The Chief and his council, on inauguration of the association in 1961, selected the name "The House of Gordon" to reflect this difference from other Clans. (Taken from the House of Gordon - Canada membership brochure.
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