ANDERSON
ASSOCIATION
ASSOCIATION
ANDERSON
ASSOCIATION
ASSOCIATION
HERALDRY
A number of scions have sprung from this family and although the main line took up residence in southern Ireland in the late 17th century, they remain to this day, one of Scotland’s premier families of the name.
Another carved stone showing arms of both Anderson & Douglas can be seen on the frontage to Drummuir Castle at Botriphnie (see right), which may have come from the old house at Ardbrake which is close by. The Laird of Ardbrake registered his arms at the Court of the Lord Lyon sometime between 1673-1675 (Vol. 1, fol. 239), probably handled by his brother Alexander, who was in practice as an Advocate in Edinburgh. With an option to register both arms and crest, the absence of a crest may well have presented Alexander Anderson with a dilemma and it is difficult to resist the assumption that he used a signet from his wife’s family, the Forrests of Rousland, whose arms and crest were oak trees. Thus, the Laird of Ardbrake became the lawful owner of the oak tree crest that has for Andersons the world over, become their clansman’s crest badge (see right). However, it should not go un-noticed that Andersons in Northumberland had used oak tree devices in their arms a century earlier. The remains of their house at Westerton in Banffshire, bears a carved armorial stone dated 1664 (see left).
The descendants of Alexander Anderson, Advocate brother to the Laird, retained the saltire but with different tinctures (see left), settling in 1691 at Kinneddar in the Laich o’ Moray near Elgin.
On registering arms in 1780, Anderson of Newbigging & Kingask, Fife, claimed to be descendants of the Ardbrake line, yet the arms (known to have been used as early as 1665 - see carved stone and arms to the right), has a chevron rather than a saltire.
On registering arms in 1780, Anderson of Newbigging & Kingask, Fife, claimed to be descendants of the Ardbrake line, yet the arms (known to have been used as early as 1665 -
The stone and arms to the left are those of Anderson of Candacraig in Strathdon, a family in residence there for ten generations. Although there is no known connection, the motto “Stand Sure” and the oak tree crest are the same as that for the house of Ardbrake.
