, from
James Logan's
The Clans of the Scottish Highlands Origins of the clan The lands of Ogilvy are in
Angus and the name is derived from the
Brittonic "Ocel-fa" which means "high plain". In 1391 Sir Walter Ogilvy, Sheriff of Angus, led Clan Ogilvy in battle against
Alexander Stewart, Earl of Buchan (the Wolf of Badenoch) during the
Raid of Angus.
14th and 15th centuries Ogilvys fought at the
Battle of Harlaw in 1411. Sir Patrick Ogilvy commanded the Scottish forces that fought alongside
Joan of Arc against the English, and he was styled ''Viscomte d'Angus''. In 1425 Sir Walter Ogilvy, younger son of Ogilvy of Wester Powrie, was appointed
High Treasurer of Scotland. He was also an ambassador to
England in 1430 and four years later he attended Princess Margaret on her marriage to the Dauphin, heir to the throne of
France. Sir Walter had numerous sons, including another Walter who became the ancestor of the
Earls of Seafield. His eldest son was Sir John Ogilvy of Lintrathern who received a charter for
Airlie Castle and its lands in 1459. In 1491 Sir John's son, Sir James Ogilvy of Airlie was appointed ambassador to
Denmark. and Lord Chief Baron of Scotland
16th century and the Anglo-Scottish wars James Ogilvy, the eldest son of the fourth Lord was killed at the
Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547.
17th century and the Civil War In 1615,
Saint John Ogilvie was hanged at Glasgow Cross. In 1639 the seventh Lord Ogilvy was created
Earl of Airlie. The earl and his sons joined
James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose to oppose enemies of
Charles I of England. The earl fought with distinction at the
Battle of Kilsyth, where Montrose was victorious. Sir Thomas Ogilvy, the earl's second son raised his own regiment to fight for the royalists but he was killed at the
Battle of Inverlochy (1645), which was another victory for Montrose. The earl's eldest son, Lord Ogilvy fought at the
Battle of Philiphaugh in February 1645, where Montrose was taken by surprise by a strong force of
Covenanter cavalry under General
David Leslie, Lord Newark. Montrose escaped, but Ogilvy was captured. Ogilvy awaited execution in
St Andrews Castle however when his sister visited she exchanged clothes with him and he passed unnoticed by the guards. Ogilvy lived to see the
Restoration.
18th century and the Jacobite risings The Clan Ogilvy supported the Stuart cause and joined the
Earl of Mar in the
Jacobite rising of 1715. Lord Ogilvy was attained but was allowed to return home in 1725, although his titles were not restored. When he died in 1730 his younger brother, John Ogilvy, assumed the style
Earl of Airlie. During the
Jacobite rising of 1745 his son, David Ogilvy, raised a regiment that was composed mostly of Ogilvys to fight for Prince Charles Edward Stuart. In 1746 the regiment fought at the
Battle of Culloden. After the defeat at Culloden Ogilvy escaped to
France. There he entered royal service and obtained the rank of general. The earldom of Airlie was not restored until an Act of Parliament in 1896 when it was confirmed to David Ogilvy, sixth earl. The Ogilvy
Earl of Seafield had in fact supported the
Acts of Union 1707. ==Extant clan==