Clan Calder is a Highland Scottish clan.[Way, George and Squire, Romily. (1994). Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs). pp. 369.] The clan is recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms but as it does not currently have a clan chief it is therefore considered an armigerous clan.
History
Origins of the Clan
The name 'Calder' is thought to come from the early
Common Brittonic, meaning 'hard or violent water' (the modern Welsh word for hard is "caled"),
or possibly 'stony river'.
It is found as a place name throughout Scotland.
For example,
East Calder and
West Calder that are both near
Edinburgh, and also Calderwood near
Glasgow.
Historian William Anderson asserted that the name came to prominence in Scotland through a French knight called Hugo de Cadella, who was created Thane of Calder, later known as Cawdor.
15th and 16th centuries
The substantial tower that stands at the heart of
Cawdor Castle was built by the Calders in about 1454.
The Calders inter-married with other local families such as the powerful chiefs of
Clan Rose, Barons of Kilravock.
The Calder's ascendency however came to an end when Archibald Campbell, 2nd Earl of Argyll and chief of
Clan Campbell was, along with Hugh Rose of Kilravock, appointed guardian to the infant Muriel Calder who was the female heir to the Calder family.
Campbell was determined to remove the child to
Inveraray Castle so that she could be educated as part of his family.
However, he was opposed by Murial's uncles, Alexander and Hugh Calder, who pursued the child and her Campbell escort into
Strathnairn.
The girl was safely delivered to Inverary but not without considerable loss of life:
Campbell of Inverliver who led the kidnapping lost all six of his sons in the fighting as the Calders gave chase to recover the girl.
[Coventry, Martin. (2008). Castles of the Clans: The Strongholds and Seats of 750 Scottish Families and Clans. pp. 72 - 73. .] Murial was the last of the Calder chief's family in the direct line.
She was brought up as a Campbell and married Sir John Campbell, son of the Earl of Argyll.
Murial died in about 1575 but her descendant, John Campbell of Cawdor, was raised to the peerage as Lord Cawdor in 1796, and his son was created the first
Earl Cawdor in 1827.
The present Earl Cawdor still lives in Cawdor Castle, seat of his Calder ancestors.
The name of Calder did not disappear and the Calders of Asswanly received lands near Elgin in 1440.
Modern history
During World War II Sir James Calder was an advisor to the Ministry of Supply.
Calders are still found around Inverness today, for example Douglas Calder was President of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland and was also appointed director of planning for the newly created Highland Region in 1974.
Castles
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Cawdor Castle, five miles south-west of Nairn.
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Nairn dated from the twelfth century and was built by William the Lion.
-
Asloun Castle, two miles south-west of Alford, Aberdeenshire, was a Z-plan tower house of the sixteenth century but little remains.
-
Aswanley House, seven miles west of Huntly, was held by the Calders from 1440 and was sold in 1768 to the Clan MacDuff of Braco because of debt.
See also
External links
