Clan Farquharson: A Legacy of Invercauld, Deeside and Fidelity with Fortitude
Introduction
Clan Farquharson is a historic Highland Scottish clan rooted in Aberdeenshire, Braemar, Deeside, Invercauld, Balmoral country, and the wider world of the Clan Chattan Confederation.
The clan motto is:
“Fide et Fortitudine”
“By fidelity and fortitude.”
The clan crest is:
On a chapeau, a demi-lion holding a sword in the dexter paw.
The clan plant badge is:
Scots Fir / Scots Pine.
The historic and chiefly seat is:
Invercauld House, near Braemar.
The current chief is Philip Farquharson of Invercauld, 17th of Invercauld. ScotlandShop identifies him as current Chief of Clan Farquharson, and Invercauld Estate also names Philip Farquharson of Invercauld as Chief of Clan Farquharson in a 2025 report on the new clan banner and Invercauld Highlanders.
This article explores the history, people, heritage, tartans, crest, motto, castles, battles and modern legacy of Clan Farquharson.
Chapter I: Origins of Clan Farquharson
The name Farquharson means:
Son of Farquhar.
The personal name Farquhar comes from the Gaelic Fearchar, often interpreted as meaning dear man, beloved man, or very dear one.
The Gaelic form of the clan name is often given as:
MacFhearchair
Clan Farquharson’s origins are closely connected with Clan Shaw and the wider Clan Chattan Confederation. Traditional clan history traces the Farquharsons from Farquhar, son of Alexander Ciar, 3rd Shaw of Rothiemurchus in Strathspey. The early story of Farquharson is therefore bound into the history of Clan Shaw, Clan Mackintosh and the Clan Chattan world.
Historic spellings and related forms include:
-
Farquharson
-
Farquhar
-
Farquhars
-
Farquharsons
-
MacFarquhar
-
MacFhearchair
-
Farcherson
-
Farquharsone
-
Farquharson of Invercauld
-
Farquharson of Monaltrie
-
Farquharson of Inverey
The clan’s rise was especially connected with Invercauld, near Braemar, where the Farquharsons became one of the great names of Deeside.
Chapter II: Clan Territory and Ancestral Lands
Clan Farquharson’s historic heartland includes:
-
Braemar
-
Invercauld
-
Deeside
-
Aberdeenshire
-
Balmoral country
-
Strathdee
-
Inverey
-
Monaltrie
-
Rothiemurchus
-
Strathspey
-
The eastern Highlands
The principal seat is:
Invercauld House
Invercauld lies near Braemar, in one of Scotland’s most dramatic Highland landscapes. ScotlandShop notes that the Farquharsons are thought to have come into Invercauld in the 1500s, when Donald Farquharson married Isobel Stewart, heiress of Invercauld.
Invercauld was more than a house. It was a centre of Highland power, estate management, Jacobite gathering, Deeside identity and clan memory.
Clan Farquharson’s territory was also close to Balmoral, giving the clan a later association with the royal Deeside landscape.
Chapter III: Important People of Clan Farquharson
Farquhar, Son of Alexander Ciar
The clan takes its name from Farquhar, son of Alexander Ciar, 3rd Shaw of Rothiemurchus.
This origin connects Clan Farquharson with Clan Shaw and the larger Clan Chattan Confederation, making Farquharson part of one of the most important Highland alliance systems in Scottish history.
Donald Farquharson of Invercauld
Donald Farquharson is traditionally important because of his marriage to Isobel Stewart, heiress of Invercauld. Through this marriage, the Farquharsons became established at Invercauld, which became the main seat of the clan.
Findlay Mòr Farquharson
One of the most famous early heroes of the clan was Findlay Mòr Farquharson, son of Donald Farquharson and Isobel Stewart.
He is remembered as a royal standard-bearer at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547, where he was killed. Clan summaries describe him as the son of Donald Farquharson of Invercauld and as the royal standard-bearer who died at Pinkie.
His death gave the clan a powerful martial memory.
John Farquharson, 9th of Invercauld
John Farquharson, 9th of Invercauld, was chief during the Jacobite age.
From 1694, he was laird of Invercauld and Chief of Clan Farquharson. He fought as a Jacobite in the 1715 Rising, was imprisoned afterward, and was released in 1716. In 1732, he purchased part of the Earl of Mar’s forfeited estate, including Braemar Castle and Castleton. In the 1745 Rising, he adopted a more neutral stance.
Francis Farquharson of Monaltrie
Francis Farquharson of Monaltrie, sometimes remembered as the Baron Ban, led Farquharson men during the Jacobite Rising of 1745.
He fought at Culloden, survived the battle, was imprisoned and condemned to death, but his sentence was reduced to exile. Clan summaries record him as the Farquharson leader at Culloden and note that he was spared execution but exiled.
Lady Anne Farquharson-Mackintosh — Colonel Anne
One of the most remarkable Farquharsons was Lady Anne Farquharson-Mackintosh, wife of Angus Mackintosh, chief of Clan Mackintosh.
During the 1745 Rising, her husband served in the government army, while Anne supported the Jacobites. She helped raise men for Prince Charles Edward Stuart and became known as Colonel Anne. She also played a role in the famous Rout of Moy, which helped save Prince Charles from capture.
Her story connects Farquharson history with Clan Mackintosh, Clan Chattan and the Jacobite legend.
Philip Farquharson of Invercauld
The current chief is:
Philip Farquharson of Invercauld
17th of Invercauld
Chief of Clan Farquharson
Invercauld Estate reported that Philip Farquharson welcomed King Charles III to Ballater on 12 August 2025, where the King reviewed the new Clan Farquharson banner and inspected the reconstituted Invercauld Highlanders.
Chapter IV: Castles, Houses and Historic Sites
Invercauld House
Invercauld House, near Braemar, is the great seat of Clan Farquharson.
It stands in the heart of Deeside, close to Braemar and Balmoral. Clan summaries describe Invercauld House as a castellated mansion built around an older tower house, originally held by the Stewarts and passing to the Farquharsons through the marriage of Donald Farquharson and Isobel Stewart.
Braemar Castle
Braemar Castle became connected with the Farquharsons when John Farquharson, 9th of Invercauld, purchased part of the Earl of Mar’s forfeited estate in 1732, including Braemar Castle and Castleton.
Braemar Castle is one of the great castle sites of Deeside and is strongly associated with Jacobite-era history.
Inverey Castle
Inverey Castle, west of Braemar, was associated with the Farquharsons of Inverey.
Clan summaries connect it with John Farquharson of Inverey, known as the Black Colonel, a fierce and controversial figure in local tradition.
Monaltrie
Monaltrie is important because of Francis Farquharson of Monaltrie, who led Farquharson Jacobites in the 1745 Rising.
Braemar and Deeside
The wider landscape of Braemar and Deeside is central to the clan’s identity.
This is a region of mountains, pinewoods, castles, royal connections, Highland games, Jacobite memory and deep clan heritage.
Chapter V: Battles, Wars and Clan Events
Clan Farquharson’s history includes Clan Chattan origins, 16th-century warfare, Jacobite loyalty and modern clan renewal.
Clan Chattan Confederation
Clan Farquharson is connected to the Clan Chattan Confederation through its Shaw origins.
This placed the Farquharsons within a wider alliance of Highland kindreds, including Mackintosh, Macpherson, Davidson, MacBean, MacGillivray, Shaw and others. The clan’s older symbolic connections with Clan Chattan explain why some references confuse the Farquharson plant badge with Red Whortleberry, which belongs properly to Clan Chattan.
Battle of Pinkie Cleugh — 1547
Findlay Mòr Farquharson was killed at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547, where he served as royal standard-bearer.
Pinkie was one of the disastrous Scottish defeats of the Rough Wooing, when English forces attempted to force a marriage alliance between Edward VI of England and Mary, Queen of Scots. Clan summaries preserve Findlay Mòr’s death as a major Farquharson event.
Jacobite Rising of 1715
John Farquharson, 9th of Invercauld, fought as a Jacobite in the 1715 Rising.
After the rising failed, he was imprisoned but released in 1716. His later purchase of Mar lands, including Braemar Castle, helped strengthen Invercauld’s local position.
Jacobite Rising of 1745
In 1745, John Farquharson of Invercauld adopted a neutral stance, but many Farquharsons supported the Jacobite cause.
Duncan Forbes estimated the clan’s strength at about 500 in 1745. Clan summaries state that 300 Farquharson men fought as Jacobites at the Battle of Inverurie on 23 December 1745, where the Jacobites won.
Battle of Culloden — 1746
At Culloden, Farquharson men served in the Jacobite army under Francis Farquharson of Monaltrie.
After the defeat, Francis was captured, condemned to death, but eventually exiled rather than executed.
Colonel Anne and the Rout of Moy
Lady Anne Farquharson-Mackintosh, known as Colonel Anne, became one of the most celebrated women of the Jacobite rising.
She supported Prince Charles Edward Stuart, raised men for the Jacobite cause, and helped save him during the Rout of Moy. After Culloden, she was imprisoned for six weeks.
Modern Invercauld Highlanders
In modern times, the Invercauld Highlanders have been reconstituted under Philip Farquharson of Invercauld.
In 2025, King Charles III reviewed the new Clan Farquharson banner and inspected a guard of honour of the Invercauld Highlanders in Ballater.
Chapter VI: Clan Crest, Motto and Badge
Clan Crest
The Farquharson crest is:
On a chapeau, a demi-lion holding a sword in the dexter paw.
The lion suggests:
-
Courage
-
Nobility
-
Strength
-
Authority
-
Highland leadership
The sword suggests:
-
Readiness
-
Defence
-
Honour
-
Martial courage
ScotsConnection gives the Farquharson crest as a demi-lion holding a sword in the right paw.
Clan Motto
The clan motto is:
“Fide et Fortitudine”
This means:
“By fidelity and fortitude.”
The motto captures two central qualities:
Fidelity — loyalty, faithfulness, trust and honour.
Fortitude — courage, endurance and strength under hardship.
ScotsConnection gives the motto as Fide et Fortitudine, translated as By fidelity and fortitude.
Clan Badge
The plant badge of Clan Farquharson is:
Scots Fir / Scots Pine
The Clan Farquharson USA history page states that the chief of Clan Farquharson wears Scots Fir as the plant badge and clarifies that Red Whortleberry is sometimes listed incorrectly for Farquharson because it is properly the badge of Clan Chattan.
This is important for accuracy.
For Farquharson, the strongest plant symbol is Scots Fir, fitting for a Deeside clan rooted in pine country.
Chapter VII: Clan Tartans
Clan Farquharson has several tartan traditions.
Farquharson Tartan
The Farquharson tartan is recorded by the Scottish Register of Tartans as a Clan/Family tartan.
The Scottish Register search results also list Farquharson and Farquharson Vestiarium Scoticum or MacEwen/MacEwan as Clan/Family tartans.
Farquharson Modern Tartan
The modern Farquharson tartan uses deeper, stronger colours and is commonly used for kilts, trews, sashes and formal Highland dress.
Farquharson Ancient Tartan
The ancient Farquharson tartan uses lighter, softer tones that imitate the look of older natural dyes.
Early Tartan Record
ScotClans notes that the Farquharson tartan is sometimes said to date from 1774, but the first known record is from 1831 in James Logan’s The Scottish Gael.
This makes the Farquharson tartan part of both genuine clan identity and the wider 19th-century tartan recording tradition.
The Meaning of Farquharson Tartan Today
For modern Farquharson descendants, tartan represents:
-
Invercauld heritage
-
Braemar and Deeside
-
Clan Chattan connections
-
The motto “Fide et Fortitudine”
-
The demi-lion and sword crest
-
Scots Fir
-
Jacobite memory
-
Family pride and diaspora identity
The Farquharson tartan gives the clan’s Highland story a visible and wearable form.
Chapter VIII: Heritage, Identity and Clan Traditions
Clan Farquharson represents a proud Highland identity built on loyalty, endurance, Deeside landholding and Jacobite memory.
Its story includes:
-
Descent from Farquhar, son of Alexander Ciar
-
Connection to Clan Shaw
-
Connection to Clan Chattan
-
Invercauld House
-
Braemar Castle
-
Findlay Mòr at Pinkie
-
John Farquharson of Invercauld
-
Francis Farquharson of Monaltrie
-
Lady Anne Farquharson-Mackintosh, Colonel Anne
-
Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745
-
The motto “Fide et Fortitudine”
-
Scots Fir plant badge
-
Farquharson tartans
-
A living chiefly line
Associated names and spellings include:
-
Farquharson
-
Farquhar
-
Farquhars
-
MacFarquhar
-
MacFhearchair
-
Farcherson
-
Farquharsons
-
Farquharson of Invercauld
-
Farquharson of Monaltrie
-
Farquharson of Inverey
The Farquharson story is a reminder that Highland clan identity often grew through marriage, confederation, landholding and shifting loyalties as much as through blood descent alone.
Chapter IX: Clan Farquharson Today
Today, Clan Farquharson remains a recognised Highland clan with a living chief.
The current chief is:
Philip Farquharson of Invercauld
17th of Invercauld
Chief of Clan Farquharson
Modern Clan Farquharson identity can be found through:
-
Clan Farquharson societies
-
Tartan wearing
-
Scottish heritage events
-
Braemar and Deeside history
-
Invercauld Estate
-
Study of Jacobite history
-
Highland games
-
Genealogy projects
-
Diaspora communities across the world
The recent royal review of the new Clan Farquharson banner in Ballater in 2025 shows that the clan remains visibly active in modern Scottish heritage culture.
The clan stands today as a symbol of fidelity, fortitude, Highland endurance, Deeside pride and Scottish family identity.
Chapter X: Legacy of Clan Farquharson
The story of Clan Farquharson begins with the son of Farquhar and grows into one of the great clan names of Deeside.
It is a story of Clan Chattan kinship, Invercauld inheritance, royal standard-bearers, Jacobite loyalty, women of courage, pinewoods, castles, tartans and Highland resilience.
Its crest, the lion holding a sword, speaks of strength guided by honour.
Its badge, Scots Fir, roots the clan in the pine forests of the Highlands.
Its motto gives the clan its voice:
Fide et Fortitudine — By fidelity and fortitude.
From Invercauld to Braemar, from Pinkie to Culloden, from Colonel Anne to the modern Invercauld Highlanders, Clan Farquharson continues to carry its history forward.
Its legacy is written in tartan, Scots Fir, Deeside stone, Jacobite memory, family records and the pride of those who still honour the name.
Tartan Time Machine Closing Paragraph
At Tartan Time Machine, we bring Scotland’s past into the present by exploring the clans, castles, battles, kirkyards, legends and forgotten stories that shaped the nation.
Clan Farquharson is one chapter in that greater story — a story of Invercauld, Deeside, Scots Fir, Jacobite courage, Clan Chattan bonds, tartans, sword-bearing lions and the enduring Highland virtues of fidelity and fortitude.
Discover more Scottish history, clan stories, castle features and heritage content at:
www.tartantimemachine.com