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Clan Strachan

Strachan is a Kincardineshire name, taken from lands in the north-east. The Thornton and Monboddo baronets carried it through the centuries, and no chief is currently listed.

History

The name Strachan comes from lands in Kincardineshire, in the north-east. The earliest records are charters. Around 1200 a man called Walderus de Stratheihen granted land to the church of St Andrews. Later, John, son of Rudolph de Strachane, gave land to Dunfermline Abbey, a gift Alexander III confirmed in 1278.

The family's early fortunes were uneven. Through a marriage into the Keith family, the barony of Strachan and the Fetteresso lands left Strachan hands, according to Electric Scotland. One page dates this to about 1316 and another to David II's reign, so the detail is not settled. Older tales of the Strachans losing their lands after Bannockburn, in the Comyn cause, are repeated online, but we found no firm source for them and leave them aside.

The line that lasted came through Sir James Strachan of Monboddo, who, Electric Scotland says, acquired Thornton by marrying Agneta de Thornton. His elder son, Duncan, kept Monboddo. The younger, Sir John, took Thornton, received a knighthood from Robert II in 1375, and saw his charters confirmed the following year. This gave two branches, Monboddo and Thornton, and both matter to the later story.

Charles I made Sir Alexander Strachan of Thornton a baronet of Nova Scotia in 1625. Electric Scotland says a great seal charter of 1663 then moved the baronetcy to the senior Monboddo line. From then on the baronets were the nearest thing the name had to a head, although a baronetcy is not a chiefship.

The best-known baronet was Admiral Sir Richard Strachan, the sixth. On 2 November 1805 his squadron caught four French ships of the line that had slipped away after Trafalgar, and captured every one. He was made a Knight of the Bath in January 1806 and a full admiral in July 1821. He died on 3 February 1828. The title then lay dormant until October 1841, when Sir John Strachan of Cliffden succeeded as seventh baronet. It went dormant again when the eighth baronet died without issue in January 1854.

Today the name has no chief on the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, and COSCA names no chief or commander. The Strachan clan society's own website says a family convention under the Lord Lyon led to a commander being recognised in 2014, with the commandership extended in 2019. We could not open the society's pages ourselves, and we found no confirmation of the position after 2024, so we name no holder. We therefore treat the clan as armigerous.

Clan Strachan tartans

Names and reference numbers follow the Scottish Register of Tartans. Mills sell most setts in modern, ancient and weathered colourways. The pattern is the same; only the shades change.

Get the kilt

When you order a kilt, ask for the tartan by its full name — for example “Strachan” — and say which colourway you want. “Modern” is dark and strong, “ancient” is lighter, “weathered” is muted. The sett is the same in each.

We are choosing retailers we trust and will list them here soon.

Wear the colours

Our own Strachan range is on its way: the name, the tartan and the motto on a heavyweight tee, a hoodie and a mug. About the shop.

Surnames

The clan name and its spellings

  • Strachan
  • Straugan
  • Strahin
  • Straughan
  • Straughn
  • Straun
  • Strahan

Names associated with Clan Strachan

  • Struan
  • Strain
  • Strang
  • Strange
  • Strong
  • Stronge
  • Stranahan
  • Stracon
  • Straghan
  • Strawhun
  • Strane
  • Strawn
  • Struan: Listed by COSCA. Also the name of a place and other families.
  • Strain: Listed by COSCA. May have other origins.
  • Strang: Listed by COSCA. May have other origins.
  • Strange: Listed by COSCA. May have other origins.
  • Strong: Listed by COSCA. May have other origins.
  • Stronge: Listed by COSCA. May have other origins.
  • Stranahan: Listed by COSCA.
  • Stracon: Listed by COSCA.
  • Straghan: Listed by COSCA.
  • Strawhun: Listed by COSCA.
  • Strane: Listed by COSCA.
  • Strawn: Listed by COSCA.

“Associated” means the name appears in published sept lists for this clan. It does not prove descent, and many names are linked to more than one clan. Where your family lived is often the better clue.

Questions people ask

What is the Strachan tartan?

The Scottish Register of Tartans lists Strachan, ref. 3973, dated 1999. It was designed in 1987 by A G Murray, and the Register says it can now be regarded as for all of the name.

What is the Strachan motto?

COSCA gives the motto as 'Non timeo sed caveo', meaning 'I fear not but I am cautious'.

Which surnames are linked to Strachan?

COSCA lists many spellings, including Straughan, Straun and Strahan. It also lists names such as Struan, Strang and Strong, which may have other origins. We treat those as associated.

Where is Strachan from?

Kincardineshire, in north-east Scotland. Electric Scotland says the surname comes from the lands of Strachan there, and later branches held Monboddo and Thornton.

Sources

  1. Strachan — COSCA - Council of Scottish Clans & Associations
  2. Strachan — Electric Scotland
  3. Strachan, a surname — Electric Scotland
  4. Commander of Clan Strachan — Clan Strachan Society
  5. Members — Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs
  6. Strachan (ref. 3973) — Scottish Register of Tartans

Clan histories are contested and sources disagree. If you can correct something here with a source, write to hello@tartanflag.com. Last updated 10 November 2026.