Clan membership

[Krasnyibog]

I'm a newly registered member on this forum, but I've been following the threads for some time. I live in Virginia and have a modest share of Scottish ancestry on both my mother's and father's sides of the family. Although my surname is German, I am a direct decendant of Robert "the Competitor" Bruce and also have Hendersons, Stewarts, McClains and Wattsons in the family tree. However, to the extent it even means anything given that my last known Scottish ancestor emigrated to the colonies in the 18th C, would I have any true claim of membership in any clan?

[Crofter]

Hello Krasnyibog, let me be the first to welcome a potential Royal to Scotland.com

This is the first time I have heard of anyone claiming to be directly descended from Robert the Bruce, if indeed this is who you mean by Robert “the Competitor” Bruce. If this claim can be corroborated you could possibly claim the throne of Scotland, far less membership of a clan. I would be grateful if you could post on here the evidence you have for such a claim.

Your German ancestry could also very well link you and entitle you to the English throne.

Membership of a clan is no longer possible since clans as such no longer exist. Clan Societies, however, are made up of individuals who bear that Clan Society’s name. Rules of membership and admittance may vary but contacting the Society with which you wish to be associated could be a useful first step. Most Clan Societies have web sites.

Meanwhile let me assure you that there will be many in Scotland and in the colonies who will be beside themselves with delight when they discover a descendant of The Bruce.

[ScotSites]

Originally Posted by Crofter

This is the first time I have heard of anyone claiming to be directly descended from Robert the Bruce, if indeed this is who you mean by Robert “the Competitor” Bruce.

There are many people, including some who are members of this forum, that claim to be descended from King Robert the Bruce. However, Krasnyibog is not claiming to be descended from The Bruce... instead it is from that king's grandfather who was one of the Competitors to the (then vacant) Scottish throne alongside John Balliol in the late 13th century (hence the name given by Krasnyibog).

As for clan membership, Krasnyibog you should be proud of your Scottish ancestry (especially if it is as illustrious as you are claiming) irrespective of whether the clan societies Crofter mentions allow you to be a member of their little clubs!

[Krasnyibog]

That is correct. Robert "the Competitor" would likely have been my 24th GGF. No one on this thread should be claiming descent from the most noted Robert the Bruce since his line is extinct as far as anyone can tell. My 8th GGM Margaret Bruce married into the Henderson family that immigrated via Pennsylvania to Virginia sometime before 1732. She was a direct descendant of Thomas de Bruys of Clackmannan, most likely a son of Edward Bruce, the brother of Robert (killed at Dundalk, Ireland in 1318). As for being royalty, centuries of propertyless, youngest children intermarrying with commoners in the colonies pretty much put a nail in that coffin. The recent Germans in the family are all proud peasants, no Hannoverians and not a "von" to be seen.

[Crofter]

Edward Bruce, brother of the King Robert the Bruce, was killed in the Battle of Faughart, near Dundalk, (1318), aged 38. His body was quartered and the bits sent to various Irish towns, while his head was sent to Edward II of England. He had a son named Alexander. It would appear that there is some doubt that he actually had a son called Thomas.

Sir Thomas Bruce, 1st Baron of Clackmannan. It is unlikely that this Thomas could be the one referred to above since it is claimed he was a grandson or grandnephew of the King, Robert the Bruce. If this Thomas actually was Edward’s son there would be no cause for speculation, he would have been the King’s nephew.

Most of the Bruces of today claim their descent form this Thomas of Clackmannan, including the current Chief of the Clan, Andrew Bruce, 11th Earl of Elgin. If what you know of your ancestry is correct then you would be a distant relative of the Earl of Elgin. I feel sure he would be glad to furnish you with an accurate history of your lineage, and fill in the gaps.

Robert the Bruce, the man who was King, had four legitimate children and six illegitimate children. All later Scottish monarchs, except Edward Balliol, were descended from him. All British monarchs since 1603 can claim to be descended from him. Many noble families, and some not so noble, also claim descent. The line is far from extinct.

Robert the Bruce, the man who would be King, that you claim descent from, had six children, one of which was the King’s father, and two who died without issue. On the balance of probability there is more of a chance of being descended from the King’s line. I could not find a link between this Bruce and Sir Thomas Bruce, 1st Baron of Clackmannan. This, of coarse, does not mean that there is none.

There was another Robert the Bruce in between those two, your Bruce’s son, the King’s father. He had ten children. This could offer endless possibilities for descendants.

Meanwhile, good luck with your research; it’s all very interesting stuff. Only sorry that the German line turned out to be a dead duck, you could have been guest of honour at the impending Royal wedding.

[Dorothy69]

As I said in my first post , i am from Poland and don't have much chance to have any Scottish ascentors, but a friend of mine have ascentors from MacIntosh clan. Can I have any chance to find a place where they were living?