The Origin of the Stewarts in Scotland

The Surname Stewart

The name Stewart is an occupational surname originating from the hereditary High Stewards of Scotland. It comes from the occupational title of “steward”. A steward is a person who is responsible for looking after someone else’s property. In the case of a large estate, the steward would essentially be the estate manager. The steward is responsible for overseeing all the daily functions of the house and property and supervising all the staff.

The Stewarts in Scotland descend from a family line who were hereditary High Stewards of Scotland — thus instead of being stewards of a household or an estate, they were stewards of the entire country of Scotland. The political office of High Steward was arguably the most powerful position in the country next to the king. Over time this hereditary office title was adopted by the family as a surname.

Because the Gaelic ‘d’ is pronounced hard like a ‘t’, the surname became “Stewart.” It is also found spelled as “Stuart” or “Steuart”. The “Stuart” spelling originated with Mary Stuart, later Queen of Scots, who was raised in France. The early French alphabet did not contain the letter “w”, so the name was spelled “Stuart.” Several Stewart families emulated her spelling at the time as it became fashionable. You will find descendants of the Stewarts of Balquhidder using all three of these spellings, sometimes interchangeably. 

Dol de Bretagne (source: Pinterest)

Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland

The primary seat of the High Stewards of Scotland was at Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, where Walter Fitz-Alan, the first Steward, established a priory dedicated to St. James, which later grew into Paisley Abbey. Most of the High Stewards are buried at Paisley Abbey.

Sir Walter Fitz-Alan, Steward to the King of Scots

Sir Walter Fitz-Alan, Steward of the King of Scots,   b. Abt 1106, Shropshire, England ,   d. Abt 1177, Melrose, Roxburghshire, Scotland.  

Walter Fitz-Alan was the second son of Alan Fitz-Flaad. About 1136 he accompanied King David I of Scots to Scotland and served faithfully under him. As a reward for his loyalty David appointed Walter as Steward of the King of Scots. It was not until Walter’s son that the title would be broadened to High Steward of Scotland. Walter was founder of Paisley Abbey, and he married Eschyna de Molle, daughter of Thomas de Londoniis. Her exact origins are unclear. Walter died in 1177 having retired to Melrose Abbey.

English Land Holdings

Walter was a minor English landholder. He held North Stoke, north of Arundel, in West Sussex, England, by way of a grant from his brother, William. There is reason to suspect that Walter also held Manhood, south of Chichester. He also held land at “Conelon” or “Couten”, a place that possibly refers to Cound in Shropshire.

Walter’s Arrival in Scotland

Walter appears to have arrived in Scotland in about 1136, during the reign of David I, King of Scots. Following King Henry of England‘s death in 1135, the Fitz-Alans evidently sided with David in his support of the contested English royal claims of Henry’s daughter, Matilda. Certainly, both William and Walter witnessed acts of Matilda in 1141. In any event, the date of Walter’s introduction into Scotland may be marked by the original part of the so-called “foundation charter” of Melrose Abbey, which records Walter as a witness.

Walter, along with several other Norman/Breton lords including Robert de Brus, were enticed to Scotland by significant land grants by King David. As a result of their tenure in high office, and their dominating regional influence, these provincial lords were equal to the native Scottish earls in all but rank.

The commonality of surnames between Renfrewshire and Shropshire indicate that it is likely that Walter enticed many lesser families to move with him from Shropshire and settle in Renfrewshire, perhaps as a pacifying strategy. Some knights that are believed to have accompanied Walter include: Grimketil, Adam of Kent, Ralph of Kent, Hugh of Biggar, Ralph de Lyle, Roland of Mearns, Peter and Robert who were sons of Fulbert, Robert Montgomery, Reginald of Cathcart, and Robert de Croc. (Paisley Live)

Personal Steward to King David I

Walter served as David’s dapifer or senescallus (steward). He served in this capacity for three successive Scottish kings: David, Malcolm IV, and William I “The Lion”. Walter is increasingly attested by royal charters from about 1150, and it is possible that it was at about this time that David granted him the stewardship to be held heritably. As the king’s steward, Walter would have been responsible for the day-to-day running of the king’s household. Whilst the chamberlain was responsible for the king’s sleeping compartments, the steward oversaw the king’s hall. Walter’s ancestors were stewards to the Breton lords of Dol. In fact, his elder brother, Jordan, inherited this stewardship from their father, and held this office at the time of Walter’s own establishment in Scotland. As such, it is probable that Walter possessed a degree of experience in the profession.

Personal Steward to King Malcolm IV

In 1161/62, following the death of King David I, King Malcolm IV confirmed Walter’s stewardship, and confirmed David’s grants of Renfrew, Paisley, Pollock, “Talahret”, Cathcart, Dripps, Mearns, Eaglesham, Lochwinnoch and Innerwick. He also granted Walter West Partick, Inchinnan, Stenton, Hassenden, Legerwood and Birkenside, as well as a toft with twenty acres in every burgh and demesne in the realm. For this grant, Walter owed his sovereign the service of five knights.

Walter still held lands worth two knights fees in Shropshire, England, but the majority of his land holdings were in Scotland.

In the 1160s, during the reign of Malcolm IV, there was an uprising in Galloway, led by Fergus of Galloway, which was put down. It is likely that Walter was part of Malcolm’s army that suppressed the uprising. This was followed by an invasion by Somerled, Lord of the Isles, against Walter’s lands in Renfrew. Walter was one of three commanders of the King’s forces that repelled Somerled’s army and led to the death of Somerled. (Fergus and Somerled were both ancestors of the Stewarts of Balquhidder.)

Paisley Priory Founded and Dedicated to St. James

In 1163, Walter founded Paisley Priory (later Paisley Abbey), dedicated to the service of St. James. James was not a popular saint at this time in Scotland and the forename James was virtually unused in the land. The name seems to have become popularized by the Fitz-Alan/Stewart family. (Wikipedia)

Several sources mistakenly show Walter Fitz-Alan as having a son named Simon, whereas it appears more likely that Simon was a brother of some form. Simon’s exact relationship is disputed.

Walter was father of…

Alan Fitz-Walter, 2nd Steward of the King of Scots,   b. Abt 1126, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland ,   d. 1204, probably Scotland   (Age ~ 78 years), shown below.

Alan Fitz-Walter, 2nd Steward to the King of Scots

Alan Fitz-Walter, 2nd Steward of the King of Scots,   b. Abt 1126, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland ,   d. 1204.

Alan inherited the office of Steward of the King of Scots from his father. Alan served as Steward (dapifer) to William the Lion, King of Scots. Alan allegedly accompanied Richard the Lionheart of England on the Third Crusade, from which he returned to Scotland in July 1191. None of the references, however, can be traced back to the period.

Alan became a patron of the Knights Templar and is responsible for expanding Templar influence in Scotland. There is no evidence, however, that he joined the Order before his death. Alan seems to have been a less active steward than his father. (Wikipedia)

Wikipedia suggests that it was during Alan’s lifetime that his family acquired the Isle of Bute and that he was possibly responsible for the erection of Rothesay Castle on the island. However, it seems more likely that the marriage of his son Walter to Jean nighan Angus, Heiress of Bute and Arran is a more plausible explanation for the acquisition of Bute into the family holdings.

Alan was father of:

1. David Fitz-Walter,   b. Abt 1175, Scotland ,   d. Bef 1204, probably Scotland   (Age ~ 28 years)
2. Avelina Stewart,   b. Abt 1179, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN, probably Scotland  
3. Walter Fitz-Alan Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland,   b. Abt 1180, Scotland ,   d. 1246, probably Scotland   (Age ~ 66 years), shown below.

Walter Fitz-Alan-alias-Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland and Justiciar of Scotland

Walter Fitz-Alan Stewart, 3rd High Steward of Scotland,   b. Abt 1180, Scotland ,   d. 1246.

First to be designated High Steward of Scotland

Walter Fitz-Alan Stewart of Dundonald inherited the office of Steward to the King of Scots and was also appointed Justiciar of Scotland. Walter was the first of the Stewards to the King to be designated as High Steward of Scotland, rather than Steward to the King of Scots. While Walter was technically the first of the family to be designated as High Steward of Scotland, rather than personal Steward to the King, he is traditionally accounted as 3rd High Steward, and is thus named here to avoid confusion with other sources.

First to use the surname Stewart

Walter was also the first member of the family to begin using his occupational name, Steward/Stewart, as a surname. Walter served during the reign of King Alexander II. As High Steward and Justiciar of Scotland, he would have been a very powerful person in the kingdom.

Tradition accords that Walter Stewart married Bethoc/Beatrix, daughter of Gille Crist (Gilchrist), Earl of Angus, however Duncan Stewart (1739), supported by Scots Peerage, says, “He is said to have married Beatrix, daughter of Gilchrist, Earl of Angus, but no proof has been found of this…”.

Walter is a direct paternal ancestor of the later Stewarts of Balquhidder, but through various later marriages, every one of his children who had issue is also an ancestor of the Stewarts of Balquhidder.

Walter was father of:

1. William Stewart,   b. UNKNOWN, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
2. Isabella (Sybella) Stewart,   b. UNKNOWN, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
3. Euphemia Stewart,   b. Abt 1206, Scotland ,   d. 1267, Whittingham, East Lothian, Scotland   (Age ~ 61 years)
4. Margaret Stewart,   b. Abt 1206, Scotland ,   d. Abt 1234, Scotland   (Age ~ 28 years) 
5. Beatrix (Elizabeth) Stewart,   b. Abt 1208, Scotland ,   d. Bef 12 Mar 1251, probably Scotland   (Age ~ 43 years)
6. Daughter Stewart,   b. Abt 1210, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
7. Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland,   b. 1214, Crawford, Lanarkshire, Scotland ,   d. 1283, probably Scotland   (Age 69 years), shown below.
8. John Stewart,   b. Abt 1216, Scotland ,   d. 1249, Damietta, Egypt   (Age ~ 33 years)
9. Walter Bailloch Stewart, Earl of Menteith,   b. Abt 1218, Scotland ,   d. 1295  (Age ~ 77 years) 
10. Sir Robert Stewart, of Tarbolten and Crookston and Lord of Darnley,   b. Abt 1223, Tarbolton, Ayrshire, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 

Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland

Alexander Stewart, 4th High Steward of Scotland,   b. 1214, Crawford, Lanarkshire, Scotland ,   d. 1283.

Alexander Stewart inherited the office of High Steward of Scotland from his father. He is said to have accompanied King Louis IX of France on the Seventh Crusade (1248-1254). In 1255 he was one of the councillors of King Alexander III of Scots. He was the principal commander under King Alexander III at the Battle of Largs, on 2 October 1263, when the Scots defeated the Norwegians under Haakon IV. The Scots invaded and conquered the Isle of Man the following year, which was then, together with the whole of the Western Isles, annexed to the Crown of Scotland. (Wikipedia)

The identity of Alexander’s wife is disputed.

Alexander Stewart was father of:

1. Andrew? Stewart,   b. UNKNOWN, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
2. Sir James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland,   b. Abt 1243, Scotland ,   d. 16 Jul 1309, Scotland   (Age ~ 66 years), shown below.
3. Sir John Stewart, of Bonkyl,   b. Abt 1245, Scotland ,   d. 22 Jul 1298, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, Scotland   (Age ~ 53 years)
   • • From whom descends the Stewarts of Appin
4. Elizabeth Stewart,   b. Abt 1247, Scotland ,   d. Bef 1297, Scotland   (Age ~ 49 years)
5. Daughter Stewart,   b. Abt 1250, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
6. Hawise Stewart,   b. Abt 1255, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 

Sir James Stewart, 5th High Steward of Scotland

Service to King Alexander III & Robert I

In 1286, following the tragic death of King Alexander III, leaving only a child heir, James was chosen as one of the six Guardians of Scotland. He subsequently submitted to King Edward I of England on 9 July 1297 and was one of the auditors for the competitor, Robert Bruce, 5th Lord of Annandale. However, during the Wars of Scottish Independence he joined Sir William Wallace. After Wallace’s defeat at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, he gave his support to Robert Bruce, later King Robert I of Scotland, grandson of the competitor.

Fealty to Edward I of England

In 1302, with six other ambassadors including John Comyn, Earl of Buchan, he was sent to solicit the aid of the French king against King Edward, to whom he was once again compelled to swear fealty at Lanercost Priory on 23 October 1306. To render his oath inviolable, it was taken upon the two crosses of Scotland most esteemed for their sanctity, on the consecrated host, the holy gospels and on various relics of saints and he agreed to submit to instant excommunication if he should break his allegiance to Edward. However, convinced that his faith was primarily to his country in spite of all, he once again took up the Scottish patriotic cause and died in the service of Robert the Bruce in 1309. (Wikipedia)

According to Wikipedia, James was married firstly to Cecilia, a daughter of Patrick, Earl of Dunbar (died 1289); and secondly, apparently to Muriel (born 1244), a daughter of Malise, Earl of Strathearn (died 1271). However this second suggested marriage is difficult to reconcile with her known other marriage. James had no known children with either of these wives, so it is presumed they died young, which would explain his late start in having children with a third wife.

James had two confirmed children by Egedia de Burgh, namely Walter and Egedia. His other children’s mothers are unconfirmed.

By his two wives, James was father of:

1. Sir Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland,   b. 1293, Scotland ,   d. 9 Apr 1326, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland   (Age 33 years), shown below.
2. Egedia Stewart,   b. Abt 1295, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN 
3. Sir John Stewart,   b. Abt 1296, Scotland ,   d. 1318, Dundalk, Louth, Ireland   (Age ~ 22 years)
4. Andrew Stewart,   b. Abt 1298, Scotland ,   d. Bef 1309  (Age ~ 10 years)
5. Sir James Stewart, of Durisdeer,   b. Abt 1300, Scotland ,   d. Aft 1327, Scotland   (Age ~ 28 years)

Sir Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland

Sir Walter Stewart, 6th High Steward of Scotland,   b. 1293, Scotland ,   d. 9 Apr 1326, Bathgate, West Lothian, Scotland.  

Sir Walter Stewart inherited the office of High Steward of Scotland upon the death of his father in 1309. Sir Walter was the sixth hereditary holder of the office. Sir Walter was a first-cousin to Elizabeth de Burgh, second wife of Robert The Bruce. Sir Walter distinguished himself in his loyalty to King Robert the Bruce in the Scottish Wars of Independence. Robert The Bruce rewarded Sir Walter with the hand of his daughter, Princess Marjorie Bruce, in marriage. (Marjorie was a daughter by King Robert’s first wife, and no relation to Sir Walter Stewart.)

At the age of 21, Sir Walter Stewart fought against the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 where, according to some sources, together with Douglas, he commanded the left wing of the Scots’ army. According to other sources, because of his youth and inexperience, he was merely the nominal leader of one of the Scottish schiltrons, while the effective leader was his cousin James Douglas, Lord of Douglas. For his services at Bannockburn, Walter was appointed Warden of the Western Marches and was rewarded with a grant of the lands of Largs, which had been forfeited by King John Balliol. In 1316 Walter Stewart donated those lands to Paisley Abbey.

Following the liberation of Queen Elizabeth de Burgh and Princess Marjorie Bruce from their long captivity in England, Sir Walter Stewart was sent to receive them at the border and conduct them back home. Sir Walter was likely chosen for this important task because of the high trust King Robert placed in him, but also because he was Elizabeth’s cousin. Sir Walter later married Marjorie, receiving the Barony of Bathgate in Linlithgowshire as part of his wife’s dowry.

During the absence of King Robert the Bruce in Ireland, Sir Walter Stewart and Sir James Douglas managed government affairs and spent much time defending the Scottish Borders. Upon the recapture of Berwick-upon-Tweed back from the English in 1318, Sir Walter took command of the town which subsequently, on 24 July 1319, was besieged by King Edward II of England. Several of the siege engines were destroyed by the Scots’ garrison whereupon Sir Walter suddenly rushed in force from the walled town to drive off the enemy. In 1322, with Douglas and Thomas Randolph, he made an attempt to surprise the English king at Byland Abbey, near Malton in Yorkshire, but Edward escaped, pursued towards York by Sir Walter and 500 horsemen. (Wikipedia)

Sir Walter resided at Bathgate Castle in West Lothian, Scotland. The castle was the caput of the barony of Bathgate. The castle was part of the dowry of Marjorie Bruce, daughter of King Robert the Bruce, upon her marriage to Sir Walter Stewart, High Steward of Scotland in 1314. Sir Walter died there in 1327, and the castle appears to have been abandoned afterwards.

By three wives, Sir Walter Stewart was the father of:

1. Robert Stewart, 7th High Steward of Scotland and latterly King Robert II of Scots,   b. 2 Mar 1316, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland ,   d. 14 Apr 1390, Castle Dundonald, Ayrshire, Scotland   (Age 74 years), whose story is continued on our Stewarts of Albany page.
2. Sir John Stewart, of Ralston,   b. 1318, Scotland ,   d. 1416, Scotland   (Age 98 years)
3. Sir Andrew Stewart,   b. Abt 1320, Scotland ,   d. Bef 1413  (Age ~ 92 years)
4. Egedia Stewart,   b. Abt 1322, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN
5. Jean Stewart,   b. Abt 1325, Scotland ,   d. UNKNOWN