The established history of
Clan Lyon states that the family is of French origin, with the original name
de Leonne, but
James Balfour Paul, in his
Scots Peerage, states that the family is likely of
Celtic origin. The family's earliest recorded possessions, the
thanages of Glamis, Glamis, Tannadyce and Belhelvies, were in a Celtic stronghold, while government positions held by family chiefs would have required fluency in
Gaelic. The first recorded family member,
John Lyon, Lord of Glamis, was a courtier and diplomat, who was appointed
Keeper of the Privy Seal in 1371 on the accession of
Robert II. He acquired significant lands, and on 18 March 1372, Robert II granted him "the free barony of Glamuyss in the sheriffdom of Forfar." Glamis has remained the seat of the family ever since.
Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother (1900–2002) was the daughter of the
14th Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorne, and the sister of
the 15th Earl. The family seat is
Glamis Castle, in
Angus, Scotland. Other family seats were
Gibside, near
Burnopfield,
County Durham and
Streatlam Castle, near
Barnard Castle in
County Durham. The traditional burial place of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne is in an aisle of
Glamis parish church. ==Thanes of Glamis (1372)==