Stewarts of Balquhidder Family Index
These are all the known Stewart families in southwest Perthshire, Scotland belonging to the Stewarts of Balquhidder featured on this site. Also included are Stewart families that lived in southwest Perthshire, Scotland who were not related to the Stewarts of Balquhidder but who lived in their territory.
Principal Families
The Stewarts of Balquhidder clan comprises four major families: the Stewarts of Ardvorlich, Glenbuckie, Gartnafuaran, and Annat.
Cadet Branches
Each principal family is comprised of seven to ten cadet branches. Cadet branches are denoted with uppercase Roman numerals (I, II, III, IV…)
Lines
Each cadet branch may be comprised of several lines. Lines are denoted by Hindu-Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3…).
i.e. III.2 = Branch III, Line 2
Numbering
The numbering system we use for principal families, cadet branches, and lines approximately follows the system used in Stewarts of the South, edited for accuracy and ease of comprehension.
The Ancestors of the Stewarts of Balquhidder
The earliest ancestors of the Stewarts — from their origins in Dol, Bretagne (a Celtic-Breton territory in modern day France) to their appointment as High Stewards of Scotland.
Covering the generations between the first Stewart King (Robert II) through the Stewart Dukes of Albany to their exile in Ireland.
Our Stewarts return form exile and establishment on the estate of Baldorran and in the hereditary baillieship of Balquhidder, including the founding of all the major Balquhidder branches.
The Principal Families of the Stewarts of Balquhidder
Clan Stewart of Balquhidder is comprised of the following principal families:
The Stewarts of Ardvorlich are the senior family of Clan Stewart of Balquhidder. They descend in the senior line directly from Alexander Stewart, eldest son of James Mhor Stewart, 4th of Baldorran and Balquhidder. They acquired Ardvorlich in Comrie parish on the south shore of Loch Earn in the 16th century. Their cadet branches are presented below.
The Stewarts of Glenbuckie are the second principal family of Clan Stewart of Balquhidder. They descend from John Stewart, younger son of Sir William Stewart, 2nd of Baldorran. Glen Buckie is not a residence itself, but is the glen in which many of this family’s properties are found. Their properties are found primarily in the Braes of Balquhidder, west of the Kirkton of Balquhidder. They also had numerous properties along the north shore of Loch Katrine in Callander parish. Their cadet branches are presented below. The senior branch of this family became extinct shortly after the murder of Capt. Alexander Stewart, 10th of Glenbuckie in 1745. They were succeeded by an unrelated family of Stewarts from Clan Stewart of Appin.
The Stewarts of Gartnafuaran are the third principal family of Clan Stewart of Balquhidder. They descend from Andrew Stewart, younger son of James Beag Stewart of Albany and 1st of Baldorran. They resided for many generations at Gartnafuaran which is located in Balquhidder parish, on the River Balvaig, south of the Kirkton of Balquhidder, and northwest of the mouth of Glenbuckie.
Their cadet branches are presented below.
The Stewarts of Annat are the fourth principal family of Clan Stewart of Balquhidder. They descend from John Stewart, a younger son of James Mhor Stewart, 4th of Baldorran and Balquhidder. Annat is located in Kilmadock parish in the Braes of Doune above the village of Doune. Their cadet branches are presented below.
The Stewarts of Garchell were an early principal family of Clan Stewart of Balquhidder. However, they became extinct in the early 1600s after only five generations and left no cadet branches and no known living descendants. As such, for simplicity sake, they are not accounted among the four principle families and are listed under Early Families on our website.
Stewarts of Ardvorlich Cadet Branches and Lines
The Stewarts of Ardvorlich were, and are to this day, the senior principal family of the Stewarts of Balquhidder. They include the following seven cadet branches.
(Stewarts of the South erroneously accounts for the Stewarts of Annat as branches 8 & 9 of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich, when they do not descend from the Stewarts of Ardvorlich, but descend in parallel from the Stewarts of Baldorran.)
The first branch of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich includes the following lines:
The Stewarts of Laggan descend from Robert Stewart, 3rd of Ardvorlich, through Robert’s illegitimate son, also named Robert. His great-grandson, James, acquired the small estate of Laggan which is located in Balquhidder parish in mid-Strathyre on the west side of Loch Lubnaig.
The Stewarts in Balimeanach descend from a younger son of Alexander Stewart, 1st of Ardvorlich. Balimeanach is located in Comrie parish, next-door to Ardvorlich on the south shore of Loch Earn. They later inherited Ardvorlich and became the senior line when the original Stewarts of Ardvorlich became extinct. They are current Stewarts of Ardvorlich.
The Stewarts of Auchrig and Inchallbeg descend from Duncan Oag Stewart, the youngest son of Alexander Stewart, 1st of Ardvorlich. They resided at Auchrig in Port of Menteith parish, located south of Loch Venacher and west of Loch Rusky. They are kindred to Branch IV: The Stewarts in Letter.
Like Branch III: The Stewarts in Auchrig, the Stewarts in Letter also descend from Duncan Oag Stewart, youngest son of Alexander Stewart, 1st of Ardvorlich. They resided at Letter in Port of Menteith parish, next-door to Auchrig.
The Stewarts in Tulloch descend from the Stewarts of Ardvorlich by unknown means. Their earliest known ancestor is Robert Stewart who was residing in Tulloch in 1644. They are believed to be descended from Branch VI: The “Flint” Stewarts in Lednascriddan, and thus should be ranked lower than Branch V, but Stewarts of the South presents them ahead of Lednascriddan. Tulloch is located in Balquhidder parish on the north shore of Loch Voil, just west of the Kirkton of Balquhidder.
Lines:
The Stewarts in Lednascriddan were called “Flint Stewarts” because of the white stones on their property. They descend from Patrick Stewart, illegitimate son of James Stewart, 4th of Baldorran. Although they descend in parallel with the Stewarts of Ardvorlich from a half-brother of Alexander Stewart, 1st of Ardvorlich, they are accounted as a cadet branch of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich because of their illegitimacy. They are likely closely related to Branch V: the Stewarts in Tulloch. Lednascriddan is located in Balquhidder parish on the north shore of Loch Voil, at the west end of the village of Balquhidder.
The Stewarts in Dalveich and Ardveich descend from John Dubh Mhor Stewart, an illegitimate son of Maj. James Beag Stewart, 2nd of Ardvorlich. Dalveich and Ardveich are adjacent properties in Glen Beich on the northwest shore of Loch Earn. The parish boundary line falls along the Beich Burn, right between the two properties, so Dalveich is in Balquhidder parish and Ardveich is in Comrie parish.
Lines:
- Stewarts in Thornhill
- Stewarts in Greenloaning
- Stewarts in Ardveich, Lochearnhead, & Keip
- Stewarts in Walbeich
- Ross Stewarts in Ardveich & Stronvar
- Wright Stewarts in Ardveich
- Stewarts in Carnlia & Glentarken
- Stewarts in Cuilantogle
Stewarts of Glenbuckie Cadet Branches and Lines
The Stewarts of Glenbuckie are the second principal family of the Stewarts of Balquhidder. They include the following ten cadet branches:
The first branch of the Stewarts of Glenbuckie. They are presented in full above under “Principal Families.”
Lines:
The Stewarts of Benmore are a cadet branch of Clan Stewart of Appin. They are not related to the Stewarts of Balquhidder. After the demise of the original Stewarts of Glenbuckie, the Stewarts of Benmore acquired the Glenbuckie lands through questionable means.
The Stewarts of Ledcreich should have been the senior Glenbuckie branch. However, for reasons unknown, their founder, Patrick Stewart, eldest son of Alexander Stewart, 4th of Glenbuckie, gave up his hereditary rights to Glenbuckie and exchanged them with his younger brother, and took the lesser property of Ledcreich instead. His only known surviving descendant line, headed by a later Patrick Stewart, 5th of Ledcreich, sold the estate of Ledcreich in 1739 to the same Benmore Stewarts who later acquired Glenbuckie, and immigrated to Cape Fear, North Carolina, USA, where they prospered and had a proliferation of descendants.
As this branch emigrated prior to the writing of Stewarts of the South ca. 1815, they are not listed in that document, and are thus accounted for here as Branch Ia, rather than more properly as Branch II.
Lines:
The Stewarts in Muirlaggan and Lianach descend from John Dubh Beg Stewart, illegitimate son of Duncan Stewart, 5th of Glenbuckie. They resided primarily at Muirlaggan in Balquhidder parish, on the south shore of Loch Voil across from Tulloch and Ledcreich.
Lines:
The Stewarts in Ardcheanochdan descend from Alexander Stewart, another illegitimate son of Duncan Stewart, 5th of Glenbuckie. They resided at Ardcheanochdan in Callander parish on the north shore of Loch Achray on the site that is now the Tigh Mor luxury hotel.
The Stewarts in Craig Leven descend from Donald mac Alasdair Stewart, believed to be a son of Alexander Stewart, founder of Branch III: The Stewarts in Ardcheanochdan and Duart. Craig Leven is an extinct property, formerly located in Calander parish at the east end of Loch Katrine where the modern marina and SS SIr Walter Scott Boat Tours are located.
The Stewarts in Edraleachdan and Lorrachan descend from Donald Stewart who was believed to be a younger son of James mac Alasdair mhic Donnachaidh Stewart, 2nd of Ardcheanochdan. of Branch III. Edraleachdan is located in Callander parish on the north shore of Loch Katrine. It is known today as Edra, proabably because that’s easier to say.
The Stewarts in Strone descend from Walter “of the Ravine” Stewart, youngest lawful son of Duncan Stewart, 5th of Glenbuckie. He resided at Strongalvaltrie (abbreviated to “Strone”) in Callander parish on the north shore of Loch Katrine.
The “Gaelic Bible” Stewarts descend from the Stewarts of Glenbuckie by unknown means. They resided in the village of Killin in Strathtay. Several of their descendants were clergy. They are known as the “Gaelic Bible” Stewarts because one of them translated the Bible into Gaelic.
The Stewarts in Glentarken descend illegitimately and by unknown means from an early member of the Stewarts of Glenbuckie. Otherwise, we know very little about this family. While Stewarts of the South claims this family once lived in Glentarken, there is no record of that being so. All the later Stewarts in Glentarken belong to Ardvorlich Branch VII.
The Stewarts in Dallanlaggan descend from from the Stewarts of Glenbuckie by unknown means. Their progenitor “Old” Duncan Stewart was a subtenant at Dallanlaggan in Glenbuckie in Balquhidder parish. Dallanlaggan is known as Ballimore today.
The Stewarts of Blairchoill descend from Robert Stewart who was a descendant of an illegitimate son of Duncan Stewart, 2nd of Glenbuckie. They resided at Blairchoill, which is believed to be the same property now known as Breanachoille on the north shore of Loch Katrine in Callander parish.
Stewarts of Gartnafuaran Cadet Branches and Lines
The Stewarts of Gartnafuaran are the third principle family of the Stewarts of Balquhidder. They include the following nine cadet branches.
The Stewarts of Gartnafuaran are the third principal family of Clan Stewart of Balquhidder. They are described above under Principal Families.
The senior branch of the Stewarts of Gartnafuaran includes the following cadet line which is not listed in Stewarts of the South:
The Stewarts in Londonderry descend from Robert Stewart, a covenantor, a younger son of Walter Stewart, 7th of Gartnafuaran. They moved to Londonderry, Ireland.
The Stewarts of Blairgarry, located on the north shore of Loch Vennachar in Callander parish, were descended from John Stewart, younger son of Andrew Stewart, 1st of Gartnafuaran.
The Stewarts in Wester Ardchullarie descend from Robert Dubh Mor Stewart, son of Alexander Stewart, 5th of Gartnafuaran. They resided at Wester Ardchullarie in Strathyre on the east side of Loch Lubnaig in the parish of Balquhidder.
The Stewarts in Lower Duart and Grodich descend from Alastair Dubh Oig Stewart, a younger son of Alexander Stewart, 5th of Gartnafuaran. They resided in Lower Duart and Grodich which were located in Glen Finglas in Callander parish. Both of these properties are now submerged under Glen Finglas Reservoir.
The Stewarts in Glenogle descend by uncertain means from an early branch of the Gartnafuaran family. They were a large branch with families residing in Glenogle, Monachyle, Craig Rui and other properties in Balquhidder parish.
The Stewarts in Coille Mhor have not yet been accounted for. They are presently a work in progress. They resided at Coille Mhor on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond in the Trossachs.
The Stewarts in Portnellan descend by unknown means from the Stewats of Gartnafuaran. Portnellan is located in Callander parish on the north shore of Loch Venachar towards the east end of the loch.
The Stewarts in Torrie and Brackland descend by unknown means from the Stewarts of Gartnafuaran, possibly as a cadet of Branch III. Torrie and Brackland are both located in Callander parish, with Torrie being just south of the village of Callander and Brackland being just north of the village, up the Brackland Glen.
Stewarts of Annat Cadet Branches
The Stewarts of Annat are the fourth principal family of the Stewarts of Balquhidder. They include the three branches shown below. Stewarts of the South mistakenly accounts for the Stewarts of Annat and the Bain Stewarts in Auchnahard as being Branches VIII and IX of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich, whereas these families do not descend from the family of the Stewarts of Ardvorlich. They descend from Baldorran through a younger brother of Alexander Stewart, 1st of Ardvorlich. Stewarts of the South also accounts for the Ballachallan Stewarts as being a line of Branch VIII. We have thus “promoted” the Stewarts of Ballachallan to “branch” status to better account for them as a branch of the Stewarts of Annat.
The Stewarts of Annat are described above under Principal Families.
The Bain Stewarts in Auchnahard were a prolific cadet branch of the Stewarts of Annat descending from John Buidhe Mor Stewart (“Big Blond John”), illegitmate son of John Stewart, 2nd of Annat. They lived at the former clachan of Auchnahard in Callander parish, now submerged below Glen Finglas Reservoir.
The Stewarts of Ballachallan, and latterly of Annat, were a very prosperous cadet branch of the Stewarts of Annat, descending from Duncan Stewart, a younger son of John Stewart, 2nd of Annat. They later acquired the estate of Annat by purchase from the principal family. They later immigrated to Maryland, USA. Ballachallan is located in Callander parish on the north side of the River Teith just southeast of the village of Callander.
The Stewarts in Craigton were a short-lived cadet branch who descended from William Stewart, a younger son of John Stewart, 2nd of Annat. Craigton is located in Kilmadock parish just west of Annat.
The Stewarts of Drumvaich descend from James Stewart, a younger son of Alexander Stewart, 1st of Annat. Drumvaich is located in Kilmadock parish on the north side of the Rivert Teith midway between Doune and Callander.
The Stewarts in Norrieston descend by unknown means from the Stewarts of Annat. Norrieston is located in Kincardine parish just south of the village of Thornhill.
The Stewarts of Powblack and Rait descend by uncertain means from the Stewarts of Annat. There are conflicting accounts of the origin of this cadet branch. They were latterly one of the most prosperous of all branches of the Stewarts of Balquhidder. Powblack is located in Kilmadock parish south of the village of Thornhill, near the Fords of Frew. General Robert Stuart later acquired the estate of Rait in the Carse of Gowrie in eastern Perthshire.
The Stewarts of Ledcreich and Glassingall descend from Capt. Archibald Stewart in Annat (but not ‘of’ Annat), grandson of Archibald Stewart, son of Alexander mac Iain Stewart, 1st of Annat. Lendrick is located in Callander parish at the far west end of Loch Venachar on the north shore of the loch.
The Stewarts of Glassingall were a short-lived cadet branch of the Stewarts of Annat who were made famous by author Robert Louis Stevenson in his book Kidnapped which was later turned into a movie of the same name. They descend from Alexander Stewart, a younger son of Capt. Archibald Stewart in Annat, noted above. Glassingall is located in Kilmadock parish east of the village of Doune.
The Stewarts in Glen Finglas
Glen Finglas is a unique situation. There was no single “Stewarts in Glenfinglas” family. Glen Finglas was occuppied by branches of all four principal families as well as a line of the Stewarts of Invernahyle, who were a cadet branch of the unrelated, but same-surnamed Clan Stewarts of Appin.