Either action or death
The Barclay surname is of Norman origin. Originally, their name was spelt ‘de Berchelai’, which may be the Anglo-Saxon spelling of ‘beau’ (beautiful) and ‘lee’ (meadow or field). Family tradition suggests that Roger, Provost of Berkeley, Gloucestershire, had a son, John de Berchelai, who in 1076 travelled to Scotland with the train of Queen Margaret. The Barclays, through marriages and alliances soon established themselves as an influential family throughout Aberdeenshire and Banffshire.
John's de Berchelai's son, Walter is said to have been the 3rd Laird of Gartly in Strathbogie, and his Grandson, Sir Walter, was Chamberlain of Scotland 1165-1189.
Sir Walter de Berkeley, the 8th Laird of Gartley signed the Ragman Roll and did homage at Berwick 1296. In 1305 he was appointed Sheriff of Banff by King Edward I.
Andrew de Berkley, the 9th Laird of Gartley supported Robert the Bruce, and was executed by the English after raiding into Yorkshire in 1322.
Sir John de Berkeley the 10th Laird of Gartley witnessed the grant by Sir William Keith, Marischal of Scotland in 1351, of the lands of Mathers in St Cyrus, Kincardineshire, to his brother Alexander.
Sir Alexander Barclay the 13th Laird of Gartley was slain at the battle of Arbroath in 1446.
In 1516 King James V. granted Walter Berclay of Towie a charter uniting all Barclay lands into one Barony of Barclay. Towie Barclay castle was constructed in the mid-16th and was held by the Barclay family until it was sold in 1755.
Thomas the Rhymer's poem, "Towie Barclay of the glen happy to the maids, but never to the men", was said to be a curse on the males of the Barclay family. The "curse" was given a great deal of credence locally and was said to have been the reason for the sale of the castle.
Colonel David Barclay the first Laird of Urie served with distinction under Gustavus Adolphus the King of Sweden. He returned home to fight in the civil war. In 1647 he purchased the lands and barony of Urie from William, 7th Earl Marischal. His grandson, David, went on to found Barclays bank in London.
Where are they found?
The Barclay name is most commonly found in Aberdeenshire, Aberdeen City, Moray (includes large parts of historic Banffshire), Angus (Forfarshire), Fife, Ayrshire and Highland which incorporates the historic counties of Caithness, Inverness-shire, Nairnshire, Ross and Cromarty, Sutherland and small areas of Argyllshire and Morayshire.
