Clan Oliphant: A Legacy of Aberdalgie, Stirling Castle and the Call to Provide for All
Introduction
Clan Oliphant is a historic Scottish clan rooted especially in Perthshire, Aberdalgie, Dupplin, Gask, Kellie, Condie, Rossie, Bachilton, Kincardineshire, Fife, and the wider Scottish diaspora.
The clan motto is:
“A Tout Pouvoir”
or
“Tout Pourvoir”
usually translated as:
“Provide for all.”
The clan crest is:
A unicorn’s head.
More fully, it is commonly described as:
A unicorn’s head couped Argent, armed and maned Or.
In simpler terms, this is a silver unicorn’s head with golden horn and mane. ScotsConnection gives the Oliphant crest as a unicorn’s head and the motto as A Tout Pouvoir, meaning Provide for all.
The current chief is:
Richard Eric Laurence Oliphant of that Ilk
Chief of the Name and Arms of Oliphant
He was recognised by the Lord Lyon on 12 June 2003.
Chapter I: Origins of Clan Oliphant
The surname Oliphant is generally understood as Norman or Anglo-Norman in origin.
Historic forms include:
Oliphant
Olifard
Olifart
Olyfard
Olyphant
Olyfavnt
Oliphant of that Ilk
Oliphant of Aberdalgie
Oliphant of Kellie
Oliphant of Gask
Oliphant of Condie
Oliphant of Rossie
Oliphant of Bachilton
One interpretation links the name with the old word oliphant, meaning an elephant or ivory hunting horn. Some clan sources connect the name symbolically with strength. The earliest traceable family figure is often given as David Olifard, who was connected with King David I of Scotland and received lands in the 12th century. The official Clan Oliphant history states that although older legendary traditions exist, David Olifard, who saved the life of King David I at the siege of Winchester in 1141, is the earliest traceable ancestor.
Clan Oliphant therefore belongs to the world of Norman settlement, Scottish royal service, Perthshire landholding, Wars of Independence, noble titles, Jacobite loyalty and restored chiefship.
Its motto gives the clan its moral charge:
Provide for all.
Chapter II: Clan Territory and Ancestral Lands
Clan Oliphant’s historic territories include:
Aberdalgie
Dupplin
Gask
Kellie
Condie
Rossie
Bachilton
Culteuchar
Carpow
Perthshire
Fife
Angus
Kincardineshire
The wider Scottish diaspora
The great historic seats include:
Aberdalgie
Dupplin Castle
Kellie Castle
Modern clan summaries list Aberdalgie, Dupplin Castle and Kellie Castle as historic seats of Clan Oliphant.
The official Clan Oliphant site explains that Aberdalgie likely came into the family around 1183, after Sir Walter Olifard married the daughter of the Earl of Strathearn. It also notes that Sir William Olifard, defender of Stirling Castle, rests in the church at Aberdalgie, and that Dupplin Castle later became the main residence from which the Lords Oliphant controlled their estates.
Clan Oliphant’s landscape is therefore deeply Perthshire-centred, but its branches spread into Fife, Kincardineshire and beyond.
Chapter III: Important People of Clan Oliphant
David Olifard
David Olifard is the key early figure in the traceable history of the clan.
He is traditionally remembered as saving the life of King David I at the Siege of Winchester in 1141. The official Clan Oliphant material describes him as the earliest ancestor the family can trace back to today.
This places the Oliphants close to Scottish kingship from the beginning of their recorded story.
Sir William Oliphant, Defender of Stirling Castle
One of the greatest figures of the name was:
Sir William Oliphant
During the Wars of Scottish Independence, he defended Stirling Castle against Edward I of England in 1304.
Stirling was the final major Scottish stronghold still holding out against Edward. After a long siege, Sir William was captured and sent to the Tower of London. Clan summaries record his role as Constable of Stirling Castle and defender of the castle during the English siege.
For Clan Oliphant, Sir William represents:
Loyalty
Endurance
Defence of Scotland
Courage under siege
The family’s place in the Wars of Independence
Sir Walter Oliphant and the Bruce Connection
Sir Walter Oliphant, son of Sir William, married Princess Elizabeth Bruce, youngest daughter of King Robert the Bruce.
Through this marriage, the Oliphants gained a direct connection to the royal Bruce line. Clan summaries note that Sir Walter held lands including Kellie, Gask, Aberdalgie and Dupplin in free barony.
Sir Laurence Oliphant, 1st Lord Oliphant
Sir Laurence Oliphant of Aberdalgie became Lord Oliphant, a Lord of Parliament, in the 15th century.
Clan summaries state that he was created a Lord of Parliament in 1458 by James II of Scotland and later served as keeper of Edinburgh Castle.
This elevated the clan into the higher political class of Scotland.
The Oliphants of Gask
The Oliphants of Gask became one of the most important cadet branches.
They are especially remembered for strong Jacobite loyalty. The Gask branch became closely associated with Stuart royalism, Jacobite poetry and the memory of the exiled Stuarts.
The Oliphants of Condie
The modern chief descends from the Condie branch in the male line. ScotClans notes that the current Oliphant chief descends from the Condie branch and that this branch produced notable figures including an ambassador, East India Company chairman, generals, an admiral, a Chief Justice of Ceylon, MPs, and the musician and writer Thomas Oliphant.
Richard Eric Laurence Oliphant of that Ilk
The current chief is:
Richard Eric Laurence Oliphant of that Ilk
Chief of the Name and Arms of Oliphant
He was recognised by the Lord Lyon on 12 June 2003.
Chapter IV: Castles, Houses and Historic Sites
Aberdalgie
Aberdalgie is one of the most important ancestral places of Clan Oliphant.
It likely entered the family in the late 12th century and became deeply associated with the early chiefly line. The church at Aberdalgie is also important because Sir William Olifard, defender of Stirling Castle, is buried there.
For Clan Oliphant, Aberdalgie represents:
Early Perthshire roots
Chiefly identity
The Wars of Independence
Sir William Oliphant
The old heart of the name
Dupplin Castle
Dupplin Castle became the main residence of the Lords Oliphant.
The official clan history notes that the adjoining estate of Dupplin was added to Aberdalgie and that Dupplin Castle became the principal residence from which the Lords Oliphant controlled their extensive estates.
Kellie Castle
Kellie Castle in Fife is another major Oliphant seat.
Modern clan summaries state that Kellie Castle was built and owned by Oliphants from 1360 to 1613.
For Clan Oliphant, Kellie represents:
Fife branch power
Medieval landholding
Cadet family identity
The wider spread of the Oliphant name
Gask
Gask became famous through the Jacobite Oliphants.
It represents loyalty to the Stuart cause, family poetry, political conviction and the survival of Jacobite memory.
Condie
Condie is important because the modern chief descends from the Condie line in the male line.
Rossie and Bachilton
The Rossie and Bachilton branches are also important parts of the wider Oliphant family network.
Modern clan summaries list these among the recognised branches of Clan Oliphant.
Chapter V: Battles, Royal Service and Clan Events
Clan Oliphant history includes royal service, Wars of Independence, noble status, clan conflict, Jacobite loyalty and restored chiefship.
Service to King David I
The earliest traceable Oliphant tradition centres on David Olifard saving King David I at Winchester in 1141.
This gave the name a powerful founding association with royal loyalty.
Wars of Scottish Independence
Sir William Oliphant’s defence of Stirling Castle in 1304 is one of the great episodes in the clan’s history.
His resistance against Edward I placed Clan Oliphant firmly inside the national story of Scotland’s struggle for independence.
Marriage into the Bruce Line
Sir Walter Oliphant’s marriage to Elizabeth Bruce, daughter of Robert the Bruce, linked the family to the royal house of Scotland.
This was one of the most important marriage alliances in Oliphant history.
Battle of Arbroath — 1445
Sir John Oliphant was killed at the Battle of Arbroath in 1445, supporting Clan Ogilvy against Clan Lindsay. Modern clan summaries list Ogilvy as an allied clan and Lindsay as a rival clan.
Rise of Lord Oliphant
Sir Laurence Oliphant was created Lord Oliphant in 1458, giving the family a parliamentary noble title.
Jacobite Loyalty
The Oliphants of Gask became among the most notable Jacobite families.
Their loyalty to the Stuart cause became a defining part of that branch’s identity, linking the clan to the romantic and tragic history of the Jacobite risings.
Restoration of Chiefship — 2003
The formal recognition of Richard Eric Laurence Oliphant of that Ilk as Chief of the Name and Arms of Oliphant in 2003 was a major modern event.
It restored a living recognised chief to the clan’s modern story.
Chapter VI: Clan Crest, Motto and Badge
Clan Crest
The Oliphant crest is:
A unicorn’s head couped Argent, armed and maned Or.
This means a silver unicorn’s head with golden horn and mane.
The unicorn suggests:
Purity
Strength
Nobility
Royal association
Spiritual power
Untamed dignity
The unicorn is one of Scotland’s great national heraldic beasts, making it especially fitting for a clan so closely linked with kingship and royal service.
Clan Motto
The clan motto is:
“A Tout Pouvoir”
or
“Tout Pourvoir”
This is usually translated as:
“Provide for all.”
ScotsConnection and ScotlandShop both give the motto as A Tout Pouvoir / Provide for all.
It means:
Duty to kin
Readiness to serve
Provision in hardship
Leadership through responsibility
Care for the wider house and following
For Clan Oliphant, it is a practical, noble and generous motto.
Clan Badge
A distinct plant badge for Clan Oliphant is not consistently recorded in major clan references.
For accuracy, the strongest Oliphant symbols are:
The unicorn’s head
The motto “Provide for all”
Aberdalgie
Dupplin Castle
Kellie Castle
The Oliphant tartans
Sir William Oliphant’s defence of Stirling Castle
The Bruce marriage connection
Chapter VII: Clan Oliphant Tartans
Oliphant Tartan
The Oliphant tartan is recorded by the Scottish Register of Tartans under reference 3237.
This gives modern Oliphant descendants a recognised tartan identity.
Oliphant Dress Tartan
The Oliphant Dress tartan is recorded by the Scottish Register of Tartans under reference 10227.
The Register notes that it was approved by Clan Chief Richard Oliphant as the official dress tartan for Clan Oliphant, preserving the main elements of the Oliphant tartan in brighter ancient colours.
Olyfavnt Tartan
Older tartan references include an Olyfavnt tartan published in the Vestiarium Scoticum in 1842. Modern clan summaries refer to this historical spelling in tartan notes.
Oliphant Ancient and Modern Tartans
Modern suppliers commonly offer Oliphant tartans in:
Ancient
Modern
Dress
Muted
Weathered, where available
The usual distinction is dye tone:
Ancient colours are softer and lighter.
Modern colours are deeper and stronger.
Dress tartans are brighter or more formal.
Weathered colours are muted and aged.
The Meaning of Oliphant Tartan Today
For modern Oliphant descendants, tartan represents:
Aberdalgie roots
Dupplin and Kellie heritage
The motto “Provide for all”
The unicorn crest
Sir William Oliphant at Stirling Castle
Bruce royal connection
Jacobite memory through Gask
Family pride and diaspora identity
The Oliphant tartans give this old Scottish clan a visible and wearable identity.
Chapter VIII: Heritage, Identity and Clan Traditions
Clan Oliphant represents a Scottish identity built on royal service, endurance, noble duty and provision.
Its story includes:
David Olifard
King David I
Sir William Oliphant and Stirling Castle
Marriage to Elizabeth Bruce
Aberdalgie
Dupplin Castle
Kellie Castle
The Lords Oliphant
The Oliphants of Gask
The Condie branch
The unicorn’s head crest
The motto “A Tout Pouvoir”
Oliphant tartans
A living recognised chief
Branches include:
Oliphant of Oliphant
Oliphant of Bachilton
Oliphant of Condie
Oliphant of Rossie
Oliphant of Gask
Oliphant of Kellie
Modern clan summaries list these as branches of Clan Oliphant.
Chapter IX: Clan Oliphant Today
Today, Clan Oliphant remains a recognised Scottish clan with a living chief.
The current chief is:
Richard Eric Laurence Oliphant of that Ilk
Chief of the Name and Arms of Oliphant
He was recognised by the Court of the Lord Lyon on 12 June 2003.
Modern Clan Oliphant identity can be found through:
Clan Oliphant Association
Family history research
Tartan wearing
Study of Aberdalgie and Dupplin
Study of Kellie, Gask, Condie and Rossie branches
Scottish heritage events
Genealogy projects
Diaspora family networks
For Oliphant descendants, the best first step is to trace the family’s branch:
Aberdalgie?
Dupplin?
Kellie?
Gask?
Condie?
Rossie?
Bachilton?
Fife?
Perthshire?
Kincardineshire?
Canada?
Australia?
New Zealand?
The United States?
That will determine the strongest family-history path.
Chapter X: Legacy of Clan Oliphant
The story of Clan Oliphant begins with royal service and grows into one of Scotland’s most distinguished noble clan traditions.
From David Olifard came the early traceable line.
From Aberdalgie came the old Perthshire heart.
From Stirling Castle came the memory of Sir William Oliphant’s defiance.
From Elizabeth Bruce came royal connection.
From Dupplin, Kellie, Gask and Condie came branches that carried the name across centuries.
Its crest, the unicorn’s head, speaks of purity, nobility and Scottish royal symbolism.
Its motto gives the clan its voice:
A Tout Pouvoir — Provide for all.
That phrase captures the Oliphant spirit: strength in service, nobility in duty, and leadership measured by responsibility to others.
From Aberdalgie to Kellie, from Stirling Castle to descendants across the world, Clan Oliphant continues to carry its history forward.
Its legacy is written in tartan, unicorns, royal charters, castle stones, 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, tartans, legends and forgotten stories that shaped the nation.
Clan Oliphant is one chapter in that greater story — a story of Aberdalgie, Dupplin, Kellie, Stirling Castle, Bruce connections, unicorn crests, tartans, Jacobite memory and the noble motto: Provide for all.
Discover more Scottish history, clan stories, castle features and heritage content at:
www.tartantimemachine.com