Clan Ogilvie: A Legacy of Airlie, Angus and Loyalty to the End
Introduction
Clan Ogilvie, also written Ogilvy, is a historic Scottish clan rooted especially in Angus, Airlie, Cortachy, Inverquharity, Auchterhouse, Forfar, Glenisla, Glamis country, and the wider eastern Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland.
The clan motto is:
“A Fin”
“To the end.”
The clan crest is:
A lady, from the waist upwards, holding a portcullis Gules.
In fuller heraldic form, the crest is often described as:
A lady affrontée from the middle upwards Proper, vested Azure, richly attired, holding a portcullis Gules.
In simpler terms, this is a woman facing forward, richly dressed in blue, holding a red portcullis. ScotsConnection gives the Ogilvie crest as a lady holding a red portcullis and the motto as A Fin, meaning To the end.
The clan plant badge is commonly given as:
Evergreen alkanet, also called pentaglottis. Modern clan summaries list pentaglottis as the plant badge, while other clan sources describe the badge as evergreen alkanet.
The current chief is:
David John Ogilvy
14th Earl of Airlie
Chief of Clan Ogilvy / Ogilvie
Modern clan summaries identify David John Ogilvy, 14th Earl of Airlie, as the present chief.
Chapter I: Origins of Clan Ogilvie
The surname Ogilvie is territorial.
It comes from the lands of Ogilvy in Angus.
A key early tradition says that Gillebride, Earl of Angus, received a barony from King William the Lion in 1163 and gave the lands of Ogilvy to his son Gilbert, from whom the family name developed.
Historic forms and associated names include:
Ogilvie
Ogilvy
Ogelvy
Ogilby
Ogilvie of Airlie
Ogilvie of Inverquharity
Ogilvie of Findlater
Ogilvie of Deskford
Ogilvie of Boyne
Ogilvie of Auchterhouse
Ogilvie of Seafield
The Gaelic form is often given as:
Mac Ghille Bhuidhe
This is usually interpreted as a name connected with the servant of the yellow-haired one or the son of the servant of the yellow-haired one, depending on interpretation.
Clan Ogilvie is therefore a clan of Angus roots, noble service, castle power, royal loyalty, Stuart sacrifice, Jacobite memory and long aristocratic continuity.
Its motto gives the clan its voice:
To the end.
Chapter II: Clan Territory and Ancestral Lands
Clan Ogilvie’s historic territory includes:
Angus
Airlie
Airlie Castle
Cortachy Castle
Inverquharity Castle
Auchterhouse
Forfar
Glenisla
Deskford
Findlater
Boyne
Seafield
Banffshire, through cadet branches
The wider Scottish diaspora
The great historic seat is:
Airlie Castle
Modern clan summaries list Airlie Castle as the historic seat of Clan Ogilvy.
The chief’s later family seat is strongly associated with:
Cortachy Castle
A clan history summary notes that the chief’s seat is at Cortachy Castle.
The Ogilvie landscape is centred on Angus: a region of castles, glens, noble houses, royal service, cattle country, kirk history and long aristocratic rivalries.
Chapter III: Important People of Clan Ogilvie
Gilbert, Son of Gillebride
The early family tradition begins with Gilbert, son of Gillebride, Earl of Angus.
Gilbert received the lands of Ogilvy, and from that territorial designation the clan name developed.
The Ogilvies of Airlie
The Ogilvies of Airlie became the chiefly line.
The eighth Baron Ogilvie obtained a charter for the lands and castle of Airlie in 1459, and his son Sir James Ogilvie was elevated to the peerage in 1491 as Lord Ogilvie of Airlie.
James Ogilvie, 1st Earl of Airlie
In 1639, James, 8th Lord Ogilvie, was created Earl of Airlie by King Charles I.
This made the Ogilvies of Airlie one of Scotland’s great noble houses.
The Ogilvies of Inverquharity
The Ogilvies of Inverquharity became one of the most important cadet branches.
Their stronghold, Inverquharity Castle, remains one of the classic tower houses associated with the name.
The Ogilvies of Findlater and Seafield
Cadet branches of the family rose to major titles.
One branch became Earls of Findlater in 1638, and another became Earls of Seafield in 1701.
These titles show the political reach of the Ogilvie name beyond Angus into Banffshire, Moray, the north-east and the wider Scottish peerage.
Saint John Ogilvie
One of the most famous people of the name was John Ogilvie, born in Banff in 1579.
He became a Jesuit priest, worked in Scotland, was arrested, and was hanged at Glasgow Cross in 1615. A clan history summary notes that he was beatified in 1927 and canonised in 1976, becoming Scotland’s only officially canonised post-Reformation saint.
Saint John Ogilvie gives the name a powerful place in Scotland’s religious history.
David John Ogilvy, 14th Earl of Airlie
The current chief is:
David John Ogilvy
14th Earl of Airlie
Chief of Clan Ogilvy / Ogilvie
He succeeded his father, David Ogilvy, 13th Earl of Airlie, and is widely listed as the present chief.
Chapter IV: Castles, Houses and Historic Sites
Airlie Castle
Airlie Castle is the great historic seat of Clan Ogilvie.
It stands in Angus and became the symbolic heart of the chiefly line.
For Clan Ogilvie, Airlie represents:
Chiefship
Angus roots
The Earls of Airlie
Royal service
Stuart loyalty
The old heart of the name
A recent heritage article notes that the hereditary Earls of Airlie have held lands in Angus since at least the 15th century, with the historical seat of Airlie Castle dating to 1432.
Cortachy Castle
Cortachy Castle is strongly associated with the modern chiefly family.
A clan history note identifies Cortachy Castle as the chief’s seat.
For Clan Ogilvie, Cortachy represents later noble continuity and the living Airlie line.
Inverquharity Castle
Inverquharity Castle is associated with one of the major cadet branches.
It represents the strength of the Ogilvies beyond the chiefly Airlie line.
Auchterhouse
Auchterhouse is another Angus place connected with Ogilvie history.
It belongs to the wider world of east-coast Scottish lairds and castle families.
Findlater and Seafield
The branches that became Earls of Findlater and Seafield carried the Ogilvie name into the north-east.
These titles linked the family with Banffshire, Moray, politics, law, peerage power and state service.
Chapter V: Battles, Royal Service and Clan Events
Clan Ogilvie history is shaped by landholding, peerage, loyalty to the Crown, religious conflict, Stuart service and noble endurance.
Grant of Ogilvy Lands
The early territorial identity began when the lands of Ogilvy were granted to Gilbert, son of Gillebride, Earl of Angus.
This gave the family its name and its Angus foundation.
Rise of the Lords Ogilvie of Airlie
The elevation of Sir James Ogilvie to the peerage as Lord Ogilvie of Airlie in 1491 marked the family’s rise into high nobility.
Creation of the Earldom of Airlie — 1639
The creation of James, 8th Lord Ogilvie, as Earl of Airlie in 1639 placed the chiefly line among the great Scottish earldoms.
Service to the Stuart Monarchs
The Ogilvies were known for loyalty to the Stuart monarchy.
A clan history summary states that the family suffered greatly in service to the Stuart monarchs during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.
The Bonnie Hoose o’ Airlie
The destruction of Airlie Castle during the Covenanting and civil-war period became remembered in the famous ballad:
“The Bonnie Hoose o’ Airlie”
This song helped preserve the name Airlie in Scottish cultural memory, linking the clan with loyalty, loss and defiance.
Jacobite and Royal Connections
The Ogilvies’ Stuart loyalty continued into later history, and modern family connections also reached the British royal family. One clan history note records that the Hon. Angus Ogilvy, brother of the chief, married HRH Princess Alexandra.
Chapter VI: Clan Crest, Motto and Badge
Clan Crest
The Ogilvie crest is:
A lady, from the waist upwards, holding a portcullis Gules.
In fuller form:
A lady affrontée from the middle upwards Proper, in vestments Azure richly attired, holding a portcullis Gules.
ScotsConnection gives the clan crest as a lady from the waist upwards holding a red portcullis.
The symbolism suggests:
Loyalty
Guardianship
Fortress defence
Noble dignity
Protection of the house
Endurance under siege
The portcullis is especially powerful. It suggests a gate, a defended threshold, and a family prepared to hold its ground.
Clan Motto
The motto is:
“A Fin”
This means:
“To the end.”
ScotsConnection and Clan Central both give this motto and translation.
It means:
Loyal until the end
Faithful to the finish
Enduring through hardship
Standing by cause, kin and honour
For Clan Ogilvie, this motto perfectly matches the family’s history of royal and Stuart loyalty.
Clan Badge
The plant badge is commonly given as:
Evergreen alkanet
or
Pentaglottis
Modern clan summaries list pentaglottis, and other clan sources list evergreen alkanet.
It suggests:
Endurance
Memory
Rooted loyalty
Living tradition
Green life through hard seasons
For a clan whose motto is To the end, an evergreen badge is especially fitting.
Chapter VII: Clan Ogilvie Tartans
Ogilvie #1 Tartan
The Ogilvie #1 tartan is recorded by the Scottish Register of Tartans under reference 3224.
This is one of the principal tartans associated with the name.
Ogilvie Black and White Tartan
The Ogilvie Black and White tartan is recorded by the Scottish Register of Tartans under reference 3225.
Ogilvy #2 Tartan
The Ogilvy #2 tartan is also recorded by the Scottish Register of Tartans under reference 4843.
Ogilvie Ancient, Modern and Weathered Tartans
Modern suppliers commonly offer Ogilvie or Ogilvy tartans in:
Ancient
Modern
Weathered
Muted
Dress or variant forms where available
The usual distinction is dye tone:
Ancient colours are softer and lighter.
Modern colours are deeper and stronger.
Weathered colours are muted and aged.
Dress versions are often brighter or more formal.
The Meaning of Ogilvie Tartan Today
For modern Ogilvie descendants, tartan represents:
Angus roots
Airlie Castle
Cortachy Castle
The Earls of Airlie
The motto “To the end”
The lady-and-portcullis crest
Evergreen alkanet badge
Family pride and diaspora identity
The Ogilvie tartans give this great Angus clan a visible and wearable Scottish identity.
Chapter VIII: Heritage, Identity and Clan Traditions
Clan Ogilvie represents a Scottish identity built on noble loyalty, Angus landholding, castle memory, royal service and endurance.
Its story includes:
Gilbert, son of Gillebride
The lands of Ogilvy in Angus
Airlie Castle
Cortachy Castle
Inverquharity Castle
The Lords Ogilvie of Airlie
The Earls of Airlie
The Earls of Findlater
The Earls of Seafield
Saint John Ogilvie
The Bonnie Hoose o’ Airlie
The lady-and-portcullis crest
The motto “A Fin”
Evergreen alkanet / pentaglottis badge
Ogilvie tartans
A living recognised chief
Associated names and septs include:
Airlie
Findlater
Gilchrist
MacGilchrist
Milne
Richardson
Storey
Modern clan summaries list these as septs or associated names of Clan Ogilvy.
Chapter IX: Clan Ogilvie Today
Today, Clan Ogilvie remains a recognised Scottish clan with a living chief.
The current chief is:
David John Ogilvy
14th Earl of Airlie
Chief of Clan Ogilvy / Ogilvie
The historic seat is:
Airlie Castle
The modern chiefly seat is strongly associated with:
Cortachy Castle
Modern Clan Ogilvie identity can be found through:
Clan Ogilvie societies and associations
Family history research
Tartan wearing
Study of Angus and Airlie
Visits to Airlie, Cortachy and Inverquharity
Scottish heritage events
Genealogy projects
Diaspora family networks
For Ogilvie descendants, the best first step is to trace the family’s region:
Angus?
Airlie?
Cortachy?
Inverquharity?
Findlater?
Seafield?
Banffshire?
Ulster?
Canada?
Australia?
New Zealand?
The United States?
That will determine the strongest family-history path.
Chapter X: Legacy of Clan Ogilvie
The story of Clan Ogilvie begins in Angus, where land, name and noble service became one.
From Gilbert came the territorial identity.
From Airlie came the chiefly power.
From Cortachy came modern continuity.
From Findlater and Seafield came great cadet titles.
From Saint John Ogilvie came religious courage.
From The Bonnie Hoose o’ Airlie came cultural memory.
Its crest, the lady holding the portcullis, speaks of defence, dignity and guarded honour.
Its badge, evergreen alkanet, speaks of endurance.
Its motto gives the clan its voice:
A Fin — To the end.
That phrase captures the Ogilvie spirit: loyal in hardship, steadfast under pressure, and faithful until the final moment.
From Airlie Castle to Cortachy, from Angus to descendants across the world, Clan Ogilvie continues to carry its history forward.
Its legacy is written in tartan, portcullises, castles, ballads, saints, noble 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, tartans, legends and forgotten stories that shaped the nation.
Clan Ogilvie is one chapter in that greater story — a story of Angus roots, Airlie Castle, Cortachy, Inverquharity, noble service, Saint John Ogilvie, portcullis crests, tartans, evergreen badges and the unbreakable motto: To the end.
Discover more Scottish history, clan stories, castle features and heritage content at:
www.tartantimemachine.com