Clan Wishart

History

Wishart is a Norman-French name, though sources differ on what it meant. Scotland.org links it to an old French word for prudent or wise. The Wishart Society sides with the Victorian writer Charles Rogers, who took it back to Guiscard, a byname for someone cunning. The herald Alexander Nisbet told of a crusading son of David, Earl of Huntingdon, who earned the name in the Holy Land. Rogers had no time for the tale and called it fiction.

The family took root in the Mearns. Around 1200, the Wishart Society notes, a William Wischard put his name as witness to a grant to Cambuskenneth Abbey. Under Alexander II a John Wischard was sheriff of Kincardine, and his sons started two lines. Conveth, now Laurencekirk, and Pittarrow near Fordoun went to one. The other began with Adam, who had lands in Angus in the 1270s, and grew into the Wisharts of Logie.

In the 13th century two Wisharts rose to lead the Church. William was chosen for Glasgow in 1270 but went to St Andrews instead; he died in 1279. Glasgow passed to Robert, who kept it until 1316. Electric Scotland calls him William's nephew or cousin, and the Wishart Society says he was Adam of Logie's son. When Alexander III died in 1286, Robert was named one of the six Guardians of Scotland. He swore fealty to Edward I but later rose against him. Robert Bruce was crowned at Scone on 27 March 1306 with the bishop officiating, and he is said to have provided the robes. He was taken prisoner after Methven. About eight years in English jails followed, and his sight failed. Release came only after Bannockburn, and he lies in Glasgow Cathedral.

George Wishart, whom the Wishart Society counts among the descendants of the Pittarrow house, is the best-known bearer of the name. Undiscovered Scotland says he was born near Montrose in 1513, while the Aberdeenshire record places his birth at Mains of Pittarrow. He taught the Greek New Testament at Montrose and fled a heresy inquiry in 1538. Back in Scotland, he preached widely from 1544, with John Knox at his side. Seized at Ormiston on Cardinal Beaton's orders, he was burned at St Andrews on 1 March 1546. Beaton was murdered in St Andrews Castle within three months.

Sir John Wishart of Pittarrow carried the family into the Reformation. He sat on the Privy Council in 1560 and fought against the Earl of Huntly at Corrichie in 1562. He opposed Queen Mary's marriage to Darnley, lost his estate in 1565 and had it back the next year. A Sir John Wishart married Jean, daughter of the 9th Earl of Angus, a link the modern tartan recalls. In 1631 James Wishart sold Pittarrow to David, Lord Carnegie, for 59,000 merks.

The name stayed prominent in the Church. Scotland.org says a later George Wishart, a fierce opponent of the Covenanters, became chaplain to the Marquess of Montrose and Bishop of Edinburgh in 1662. Today no chief of the name is recognised. The Wishart Society keeps the family history, and two Wishart tartans were recorded in 1990.