Clan Rose: A Legacy of Kilravock, Nairn and the Promise to Remain Constant and True
Introduction
Clan Rose is a historic Scottish Highland clan rooted especially in Nairnshire, Kilravock Castle, Geddes, Strathnairn, Auldearn, Nairn, Cawdor country, and the fertile lands between Inverness and Nairn.
The clan motto is:
“Constant and True.”
The clan crest is:
A harp upon a chapeau.
In simpler terms, this is a blue harp set upon a red cap of maintenance lined with ermine. ScotlandShop describes the Rose crest as a harp on a chapeau and gives the motto as Constant and True.
The clan plant badge is:
Wild rosemary.
The current chief is widely listed as:
David Rose
26th Baron of Kilravock
Chief of Clan Rose
Modern clan summaries identify David Rose as Chief of Clan Rose and 26th Baron of Kilravock, recognised by the Lord Lyon in June 2013 after the death of Anna Elizabeth Guillemard Rose, 25th of Kilravock, in 2012.
Chapter I: Origins of Clan Rose
The surname Rose in this clan tradition comes from the Norman family name:
de Ros
The family first appears in Scotland in the 13th century, settling in the district of Nairn. ScotClans describes the clan as originating from the Norman de Ros family, who settled in Nairn in the middle of the 13th century.
Historic forms and associated names include:
Rose
de Ros
de Rose
Ros
Rose of Kilravock
Rose of Geddes
Baron
Barron
Geddes
Geddas
Geddis
Gedes
The clan’s story begins with the Roses of Geddes and the powerful marriage that brought them to Kilravock.
Hugo de Ros of Geddes married Marie de Bosco, whose mother was an heiress of the Bisset family. Through this marriage, the Roses acquired the lands of Kilravock, which became the great seat and designation of the chiefs. ScotsConnection and ScotClans both connect the acquisition of Kilravock to the marriage of Hugo de Ros to the Bisset/de Bosco heiress.
This makes Clan Rose a clan of Norman roots, Nairnshire settlement, careful inheritance, castle continuity and remarkable family endurance.
Its motto gives the character of the clan:
Constant and True.
Chapter II: Clan Territory and Ancestral Lands
Clan Rose’s historic territory includes:
Kilravock
Geddes
Strathnairn
Nairnshire
Nairn
Auldearn
The River Nairn
Cawdor country
The lands between Inverness and Nairn
The wider Scottish diaspora
The great historic seat is:
Kilravock Castle
Kilravock is pronounced roughly “Kilrock” or “Kilrawk.” Clan Rose International notes that the name comes from the old Gaelic Cill Rathaig and that Kilravock Castle was first started in 1460.
The Roses are especially notable because Kilravock remained connected with the family for many centuries. Clan summaries note that the present castle was built in 1460 on the banks of the River Nairn, while ScotlandShop states that the lands came to the family in the 13th century through the marriage of Mary Boscoe to Hugh II de Ros.
The Rose landscape is not one of vast Highland conquest. It is a landscape of continuity: a castle, a river, marriages, charters, neighbours, local power and a family that stayed rooted in place for generations.
Chapter III: Important People of Clan Rose
Hugo de Ros of Geddes
A foundational figure of the clan was Hugo de Ros of Geddes.
Through his marriage to Marie de Bosco, connected to the Bisset inheritance, he established the Rose family at Kilravock. This marriage shaped the future of the clan and fixed the Rose name into Nairnshire history.
Hugh Rose of Kilravock
The name Hugh Rose appears repeatedly through the chiefly line, and one of the most important was the Hugh Rose associated with the building of the present Kilravock Castle around 1460. ScotlandShop states that the keep was built by Hugh, seventh of Kilravock, around 1460.
The Roses of Kilravock
The Roses of Kilravock are the principal chiefly line of the clan.
Their importance lies not only in battle or royal office, but in continuity. Few Scottish families can claim such a long association with one chiefship, one designation and one ancestral seat.
Anna Elizabeth Guillemard Rose, 25th of Kilravock
Anna Elizabeth Guillemard Rose, 25th of Kilravock, was the last chief to reside at Kilravock in the old continuous family tradition. Modern clan summaries state that she died in 2012 and was succeeded by David Rose after recognition by the Lord Lyon in 2013.
David Rose, 26th Baron of Kilravock
The current chief is widely listed as:
David Rose
26th Baron of Kilravock
Chief of Clan Rose
He is the first chief not to reside at Kilravock since the castle was built in 1460.
Chapter IV: Castles, Houses and Historic Sites
Kilravock Castle
Kilravock Castle is the great historic seat of Clan Rose.
It stands near the River Nairn, between Inverness and Nairn, and is one of the most important family seats in Scottish clan history.
For Clan Rose, Kilravock represents:
Chiefship
Nairnshire roots
The de Ros inheritance
Family continuity
Castle endurance
The motto Constant and True
The present castle was built around 1460, and the lands had come to the Rose family through marriage in the 13th century.
Recent public references note that Kilravock Castle was sold in January 2025 at the direction of the Kilravock Christian Trust, and that historical archive documents connected with the castle were sold at auction in June 2025.
That means Kilravock remains the symbolic heart of Clan Rose, even though its modern ownership story has changed.
Geddes
Geddes is important because the early Roses were of Geddes before the Kilravock inheritance became central.
Geddes represents the first Scottish territorial stage of the Rose family.
Strathnairn
Strathnairn is part of the wider clan landscape.
It connects the Roses to the lands, churches, farms and burial grounds of Nairnshire.
Auldearn and Nairn
The nearby places of Auldearn and Nairn are useful for clan tours, local history, parish records and family research. Inverness Tours’ Clan Rose route includes places such as Geddes Churchyard, Auldearn, Nairn, and Kilravock Castle.
Chapter V: Clan Events, Neighbours and Historical Character
Clan Rose history is less about being one of the most aggressive warrior clans and more about endurance, diplomacy, continuity and local importance.
Acquisition of Kilravock
The defining early event was the acquisition of Kilravock through marriage to the Bisset/de Bosco heiress.
This created the great Rose seat and established the family in Nairnshire for centuries.
Building of Kilravock Castle — 1460
The present castle began around 1460, giving the clan one of its most visible historical symbols.
Conflict with the Mackintoshes
Kilravock’s position placed Clan Rose among powerful neighbours.
ScotlandShop notes that in 1482, the tower was seized by the Mackintoshes, though they soon surrendered it.
This shows that even a comparatively stable and diplomatic clan had to defend itself in a turbulent Highland-edge world.
Alliances and Neighbouring Clans
Modern summaries list Clan Rose as allied with clans such as:
Munro
Chisholm
Calder
Gordon
Ross
Fraser of Lovat
They also list rivalries with:
Mackintosh
Mackenzie
Campbell of Cawdor
MacPhail
These relationships reflect the clan’s position in the north: not isolated, but woven into a network of marriage, land, alliance, rivalry and survival.
Chapter VI: Clan Crest, Motto and Badge
Clan Crest
The Rose crest is:
A harp upon a chapeau.
ScotsConnection gives the crest as a harp upon a chapeau, and ScotlandShop describes it as a harp on a red chapeau furred ermine.
The harp suggests:
Harmony
Noble culture
Music
Loyalty
Civilised strength
The art of peace as well as power
The chapeau, a cap of maintenance, gives the crest a noble heraldic character.
Clan Motto
The motto is:
“Constant and True.”
This is one of the clearest mottoes in Scottish clan tradition.
It means:
Loyal through difficulty
Steady across generations
Faithful to family and duty
Honest in word and deed
Unmoved by time
For Clan Rose, the motto fits perfectly. This is a clan whose greatest strength was not conquest, but continuity.
Clan Badge
The plant badge is:
Wild rosemary
Modern clan summaries list wild rosemary as the plant badge of Clan Rose.
Wild rosemary suggests:
Memory
Fragrance
Healing
Endurance
Quiet strength
A link to the land
For Clan Rose, it is a fitting badge: understated, elegant and rooted.
Chapter VII: Clan Rose Tartans
Rose Tartan
The Rose tartan is recorded by the Scottish Register of Tartans under reference 3547.
This gives modern Rose descendants a recognised tartan identity.
Rose Hunting Tartan
Clan Rose International states that the main two tartans used by the clan are:
Rose
and
Rose Hunting
The Rose Hunting tartan is especially important in modern clan use and has also been associated with the Royal Tank Regiment in clan material.
Rose White Dress Tartan
The Rose White Dress tartan is recorded by the Scottish Register of Tartans under reference 3549.
Clan Rose International notes that the white dress version is more associated with ladies’ dance costume.
Rose of Kilravock Tartan
Rose of Kilravock is also mentioned by Clan Rose International as a variation, though the site notes that it needs further research.
Rose Ancient and Modern Tartans
Modern tartan suppliers may offer Rose tartans in:
Modern
Ancient
Hunting
White Dress
Weathered or muted variations where available
The usual distinction is dye tone:
Modern colours are deeper and stronger.
Ancient colours are softer and lighter.
Hunting versions are usually more subdued.
Dress versions are often lighter or more formal.
The Meaning of Rose Tartan Today
For modern Rose descendants, tartan represents:
Kilravock Castle
Nairnshire roots
The Norman de Ros origin
The motto Constant and True
The harp crest
Wild rosemary badge
Family pride and diaspora identity
The Rose tartans give this elegant Highland clan a visible and wearable Scottish identity.
Chapter VIII: Heritage, Identity and Clan Traditions
Clan Rose represents a Scottish identity built on loyalty, continuity, careful inheritance and Highland-edge endurance.
Its story includes:
Norman de Ros origins
Geddes
Kilravock Castle
Hugo de Ros and the Bisset inheritance
Nairnshire roots
The River Nairn
The harp crest
The motto Constant and True
Wild rosemary plant badge
Rose and Rose Hunting tartans
A living recognised chief
Associated names and septs include:
Rose
de Ros
de Rose
Geddes
Geddas
Geddis
Gedes
Baron
Barron
Modern clan summaries list Geddes forms, Baron/Barron, de Ros and Rose among septs or associated names.
The Rose story is not about being the loudest clan in the Highlands.
It is about being exactly what the motto says:
Constant and True.
Chapter IX: Clan Rose Today
Today, Clan Rose remains a recognised Scottish clan with a living chief.
The current chief is widely listed as:
David Rose
26th Baron of Kilravock
Chief of Clan Rose
He was recognised by the Lord Lyon in June 2013.
Modern Clan Rose identity can be found through:
Clan Rose International
Family history research
Tartan wearing
Study of Kilravock and Nairnshire
Visits to Geddes, Auldearn and Nairn
Scottish heritage events
Highland games
Diaspora family networks
For Rose descendants, the best first step is to trace the family’s region:
Nairnshire?
Kilravock?
Geddes?
Strathnairn?
Auldearn?
Inverness?
Ulster?
Canada?
Australia?
New Zealand?
The United States?
That will determine the strongest family-history path.
Chapter X: Legacy of Clan Rose
The story of Clan Rose begins with a Norman name and becomes deeply rooted in the soil of Nairnshire.
From Geddes came the early Scottish line.
From marriage came Kilravock.
From Kilravock came centuries of continuity.
From the crest came the harp.
From the badge came wild rosemary.
Its motto gives the clan its voice:
Constant and True.
That phrase captures the Rose spirit: loyal, steady, faithful and enduring.
From Kilravock Castle to the River Nairn, from the de Ros family to descendants across the world, Clan Rose continues to carry its history forward.
Its legacy is written in tartan, harps, rosemary, castle stone, old charters, Nairnshire 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 Rose is one chapter in that greater story — a story of Norman roots, Geddes, Kilravock Castle, Nairnshire loyalty, harp crests, wild rosemary badges, tartans and the deeply fitting motto: Constant and True.
Discover more Scottish history, clan stories, castle features and heritage content at:
www.tartantimemachine.com