Clan Rattray: A Legacy of Craighall, Perthshire and Wishes Above the Stars
Introduction
Clan Rattray is a historic Scottish clan rooted especially in Perthshire, Blairgowrie, Rattray, Craighall-Rattray, Rattray Castle, Craighall Castle, and the wider lands of Perth and Kinross.
The clan motto is:
“Super Sidera Votum”
“My wishes are above the stars.”
The clan crest is commonly given as:
A flaming heart upon a star.
Clan.com gives the Rattray crest as a flaming heart atop a star, with the motto Super sidera votum, translated as “My wishes are above the stars.”
The clan is strongly associated with the old barony of Rattray in Perthshire. ScotlandShop notes that the earliest recorded Rattray in written sources was Alanus de Ratheriff, born in 1165 and died in 1210.
Chapter I: Origins of Clan Rattray
The surname Rattray is territorial in origin.
It comes from the lands and barony of Rattray in Perthshire.
A local heritage source explains that the name of the Rattray family and parish comes from the Pictish form rath-tref, meaning something like:
Fort dwelling
or
fortified settlement
The same source states that the old Castle of Rattray at Castle Hill was a motte-and-bailey style fort dwelling.
Historic spellings and forms include:
Rattray
Ratheriff
Rathtray
Ratray
Rattrie
Rattray of that Ilk
Rattray of Craighall
Craighall-Rattray
The earliest recorded bearer is usually given as:
Alanus de Ratheriff
He appears in the 12th-century record tradition and is described by modern clan sources as the earliest written Rattray known by name.
Clan Rattray is therefore a clan of old Perthshire land, fortified settlements, medieval continuity, castle seats and a motto that looks beyond the stars.
Chapter II: Clan Territory and Ancestral Lands
Clan Rattray’s historic territory includes:
Rattray
Blairgowrie
Perthshire
Perth and Kinross
Castle Hill
Rattray Castle
Craighall Castle
Craighall-Rattray
The wider Scottish diaspora
The early seat was:
Rattray Castle
A local Blair-Rattray heritage timeline states that the Castle of Rattray dated from around 1170 and was the principal seat of the Rattray family until they moved to Craighall Castle in 1533.
The later historic seat became:
Craighall Castle
This movement from Rattray Castle to Craighall marks an important transition in clan history: from the early fortified seat to the later lairdly stronghold.
The Rattray landscape is a Perthshire landscape: wooded slopes, old parishes, defensive sites, river country, lairdly estates and deep medieval memory.
Chapter III: Important People of Clan Rattray
Alanus de Ratheriff
Alanus de Ratheriff is the earliest written figure commonly associated with the clan.
ScotlandShop identifies him as born in 1165 and died in 1210, making him the earliest recorded Rattray in surviving written tradition.
He represents the clan’s deep medieval roots.
The Lairds of Rattray
The Rattrays held lands in Perthshire for centuries.
Modern clan sources describe the Rattrays as settled in Perth and Kinross from the medieval period, with tradition placing them there as early as the 11th century. The Rattray Clan Association describes the family as one of Scotland’s older clans and identifies Perth and Kinross as the clan’s early homeland.
The Rattrays of Craighall
The Rattrays of Craighall became the principal family line after the move from the old Castle of Rattray to Craighall Castle in the 16th century.
For Clan Rattray, Craighall represents:
Later chiefship
Perthshire continuity
Lairdly identity
The survival of the name through changing centuries
James Clerk Rattray
In 1799, the Rattray lands and name passed to a cousin, James Clerk, Sheriff Depute of Edinburgh, who became part of the Craighall-Rattray succession.
ScotsConnection notes that James Clerk was a close friend of Sir Walter Scott, giving the Rattray name a literary-era connection.
Sir James Clerk Rattray
Sir James Clerk Rattray, 26th Laird of Craighall-Rattray, became a general and was awarded the Order of the Bath in 1897.
He represents the later military and imperial-era branch of the family story.
Chapter IV: Castles, Houses and Historic Sites
Rattray Castle
Rattray Castle was the early principal seat of Clan Rattray.
It dated from around 1170 and stood at Castle Hill, just over a mile from Rattray. The site was a motte-and-bailey style fort dwelling and was the principal seat until the family moved to Craighall Castle in 1533.
For Clan Rattray, Rattray Castle represents:
Origins
The old barony
The meaning of the name
Perthshire roots
Medieval defence
The earliest territorial heart of the clan
Craighall Castle
Craighall Castle became the later seat of the family after 1533.
It represents the later lairdly identity of the clan and the continuity of the Rattrays of Craighall.
Rattray Parish
The old parish of Rattray preserves the territorial identity of the clan.
It is important for genealogy, local history and family memory.
Blairgowrie and Rattray
The modern community of Blairgowrie and Rattray keeps the name alive in the Perthshire landscape.
For descendants, this area is one of the most important places to study.
Chapter V: Clan Events, Land and Continuity
Clan Rattray history is shaped by landholding, castle movement, succession, military service and diaspora spread.
Medieval Settlement in Perthshire
Clan sources place the Rattrays in Perthshire from the medieval period, with early tradition suggesting settlement as far back as the 11th century, although the first securely identified written figure is Alanus de Ratheriff in the 12th century.
Move from Rattray Castle to Craighall Castle — 1533
The move from the old Castle of Rattray to Craighall Castle in 1533 was one of the most important territorial changes in the clan’s history.
The 1799 Succession
In 1799, the Rattray lands and name passed to James Clerk, linking the Rattray succession with the Clerk family and creating the later Clerk-Rattray identity.
Diaspora Spread
Like many Scottish families, Rattrays spread across the world.
ScotsConnection notes Rattray diaspora connections in:
South Africa
The United States
New Zealand
Canada
Australia
This turned a Perthshire clan name into a global family identity.
Chapter VI: Clan Crest, Motto and Badge
Clan Crest
The Rattray crest is commonly given as:
A flaming heart upon a star.
The imagery is powerful and unusual.
It suggests:
Aspiration
Passion
Faith
High purpose
The heart lifted heavenward
A family whose wishes reach beyond earthly limits
Clan Motto
The motto is:
“Super Sidera Votum”
This means:
“My wishes are above the stars.”
ScotlandShop gives the clan motto as Super sidera votum, translated as “My wishes are above the stars.”
It is one of the most poetic clan mottoes in Scotland.
It means:
Aim high
Look beyond the ordinary
Let ambition rise above limitation
Keep faith with higher hopes
Carry the family name with aspiration
For Clan Rattray, the motto gives the clan an almost celestial character.
Clan Badge
A distinct plant badge for Clan Rattray is not consistently recorded in the main clan references.
For accuracy, the strongest Rattray symbols are:
The flaming heart
The star
The motto “My wishes are above the stars”
Rattray Castle
Craighall Castle
The Rattray tartan
Perthshire heritage
Chapter VII: Clan Rattray Tartans
Rattray Tartan
The Rattray tartan is recorded by the Scottish Register of Tartans under reference 3467.
This gives modern Rattray descendants a recognised tartan identity.
MacInroy / Rattray Tartan
The Scottish Register of Tartans also records MacInroy (Rattray) under reference 5117.
The Register notes a tartan date of 1 January 1825 and says that Jamie Scarlett dated it to around 1825, placing it in the Wilsons of Bannockburn period. The notes also say that Sindex alternatively names it as Rattray of Lude.
Rattray Ancient and Modern Tartans
Modern tartan suppliers commonly offer Rattray 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.
The Meaning of Rattray Tartan Today
For modern Rattray descendants, tartan represents:
Perthshire roots
Rattray Castle
Craighall Castle
The old barony of Rattray
The motto “My wishes are above the stars”
The flaming heart and star crest
Family pride and diaspora identity
The Rattray tartan gives this old Perthshire clan a visible and wearable Scottish identity.
Chapter VIII: Heritage, Identity and Clan Traditions
Clan Rattray represents a Scottish identity built on old land, aspiration, continuity and Perthshire memory.
Its story includes:
Alanus de Ratheriff
The barony of Rattray
Rattray Castle
Craighall Castle
The Rattrays of Craighall
The Clerk-Rattray succession
Sir James Clerk Rattray
The flaming heart crest
The motto “Super Sidera Votum”
The Rattray tartan
The global Rattray diaspora
Associated spellings and forms include:
Rattray
Ratheriff
Rathtray
Ratray
Rattrie
Craighall-Rattray
Clerk-Rattray
This is not one of the most numerically vast Scottish clans, but it is one of the older and more distinctive Perthshire clan traditions.
Its motto alone makes it unforgettable.
Chapter IX: Clan Rattray Today
Today, Clan Rattray identity can be found through:
Rattray Clan Association
Family history research
Tartan wearing
Study of Rattray and Blairgowrie
Research into Rattray Castle and Craighall Castle
Scottish heritage events
Genealogy projects
Diaspora family networks
For Rattray descendants, the best first step is to trace the family’s region:
Perthshire?
Rattray?
Blairgowrie?
Craighall?
Lude?
Edinburgh through Clerk-Rattray links?
South Africa?
Canada?
Australia?
New Zealand?
The United States?
That will determine the strongest family-history path.
Chapter X: Legacy of Clan Rattray
The story of Clan Rattray begins in Perthshire, in a fortified place whose name carried the memory of ancient settlement.
From Rattray Castle came the early seat.
From Craighall came later continuity.
From Alanus de Ratheriff came the first written trace of the name.
From the crest came a flaming heart.
From the motto came the stars.
Its motto gives the clan its voice:
Super Sidera Votum — My wishes are above the stars.
That phrase captures the Rattray spirit: ambitious, faithful, elevated and unwilling to limit the hopes of the name.
From Rattray Castle to Craighall, from Perthshire to descendants across the world, Clan Rattray continues to carry its history forward.
Its legacy is written in tartan, stars, flaming hearts, old castle earthworks, Perthshire records, family stories 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 Rattray is one chapter in that greater story — a story of Perthshire roots, Rattray Castle, Craighall, flaming hearts, star crests, tartans, old baronies and the beautiful motto: My wishes are above the stars.
Discover more Scottish history, clan stories, castle features and heritage content at:
www.tartantimemachine.com