Clan Home

History

The Homes take their name from lands at Home, now Hume, in Berwickshire. Historic Environment Scotland says the family took the name in the early 13th century, after the lands came through Ada, a daughter of Patrick, 5th Earl of Dunbar. Electric Scotland also names William de Home, a donor of lands to Coldstream priory, who died in 1266. Scotland.org adds that the family is said to descend, through Cospatrick, from the Saxon princes of Northumberland. We would treat that older line as tradition.

Hume Castle stands on a rocky outcrop above the village. Historic Environment Scotland says its earliest surviving remains probably date from the early 13th century, and that a settlement is first recorded at Hume in 1138. Electric Scotland notes that Geoffrey de Home submitted to Edward I in 1296. In the reign of Robert III, Sir Thomas de Home married Nichola Pepdie, heiress of Dunglass, which brought more Berwickshire land. Alexander Home was created Lord Home on 2 August 1473.

The early 16th century was hard on the family. At Flodden in 1513 the 3rd Lord Home commanded the advance column and survived, according to Electric Scotland. On 8 October 1516 he was put to death, and his brother William met the same end on the 9th. Both heads were put on show in Edinburgh. George, 4th Lord Home, was restored to the title and estates on 12 August 1522.

Hume Castle changed hands several times during the Rough Wooing of the 1540s, according to Historic Environment Scotland. The same record says Cromwell's army besieged and largely destroyed it in 1651. Scotland.org and Electric Scotland give 1650 for Cromwell's seizure of the castle, so sources differ on the year. In the late 18th century the Earl of Marchmont had the ruin remodelled as an eye-catcher, visible from his estate. The surviving battlements belong to that rebuilding, not to the medieval castle.

Alexander, 6th Lord Home, a favourite of James VI, was created Earl of Home on 4 March 1605. Scotland.org names The Hirsel, near Coldstream, as the family's Borders estate. Electric Scotland says the 11th Earl was made Baron Douglas in 1875, and that the chief of Home could not also be chief of the Douglases. That is the page's explanation, and we have not tested it against a second source.

The most famous modern Earl was the 14th, Sir Alec Douglas-Home, who became Prime Minister in 1963. Scotland.org says he disclaimed his peerage for his lifetime, and that the earldom was revived by his heir, the 15th Earl. COSCA lists the present Earl of Home as clan chief. One caution on tartans: both registered Home setts come from 19th-century records, so they do not show what was worn in the Middle Ages.