Clan Urquhart: A Legacy of Cromarty, Loch Ness and the Call to Mean Well, Speak Well and Do Well
Introduction
Clan Urquhart is a historic Highland Scottish clan rooted especially in Cromarty, the Black Isle, Craigston, Castle Craig, Urquhart Castle, Glen Urquhart, Loch Ness, Moray, and the wider north-east Highlands.
The clan motto is:
“Meane Weil, Speak Weil and Doe Weil”
“Mean well, speak well and do well.”
The clan war cry is:
“Trust and go forward.”
The clan crest is:
A naked woman from the waist upwards, holding a blue sword in her right hand and a palm sapling in her left.
The clan plant badge is:
Wallflower, also known as cheiranthus.
The current chief is widely listed as:
Kenneth Trist Urquhart
29th Chief of Clan Urquhart
The clan seat is commonly listed as Craigston Castle or Castle Craig, with Cromarty Castle as the major historic seat.
This article explores the history, people, heritage, tartans, crest, motto, castles, branches and modern legacy of Clan Urquhart.
Chapter I: Origins of Clan Urquhart
The surname Urquhart is territorial in origin and is connected with the old place-name Urquhart. There are several places in Scotland bearing the name, including Urquhart in Moray and Urquhart on the Black Isle, while the most famous site bearing the name is Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness.
Historic spellings and forms include:
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Urquhart
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Urchard
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Urquhard
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Urquhart of Cromarty
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Urquhart of Craigston
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Urquhart of Meldrum
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Urquhart of Byth
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Urquhart of Burdsyards
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Urquhart of Newhall
The clan is most closely associated with the district and town of Cromarty, once a royal burgh on the Black Isle. Future Museum describes the Urquharts as occupying lands in the district and town of Cromarty, while also noting the clan’s famous association with Urquhart Castle beside Loch Ness.
Clan Urquhart’s story is therefore one of Cromarty chiefs, Black Isle roots, Loch Ness legends, boar symbolism, Highland endurance and moral conduct.
Its motto is not merely martial. It is ethical:
Mean well, speak well and do well.
Chapter II: Clan Territory and Ancestral Lands
Clan Urquhart’s historic territory includes:
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Cromarty
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The Black Isle
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Craigston
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Castle Craig
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Cromarty Castle
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Urquhart Castle
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Glen Urquhart
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Loch Ness
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Moray
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The north-east Highlands
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The wider Scottish diaspora
The principal clan seat is commonly listed as:
Craigston Castle / Castle Craig
The historic seat is commonly listed as:
Cromarty Castle
Urquhart Castle, beside Loch Ness, is the most famous place bearing the Urquhart name, though the chiefly line is especially associated with Cromarty rather than Loch Ness alone. The castle takes its name from the old barony of Urquhart.
The Urquhart landscape is therefore split between two powerful images:
Cromarty and the Black Isle — the clan’s chiefly and historic heartland.
Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness — the most famous romantic landmark bearing the name.
Together, they give Clan Urquhart one of the most atmospheric geographies in Scotland.
Chapter III: Important People of Clan Urquhart
Conachar of Ulster — Legendary Ancestor
One clan legend tells of Conachar, said to be from the royal house of Ulster, who came to Scotland to fight for Malcolm III.
According to the legend, he was rewarded with Urquhart Castle. The same legend says Conachar was almost killed by a wild boar, but his dog attacked the animal and saved his master, dying in the struggle. This story is often used to explain the boars’ heads and hounds in Urquhart heraldry. The tradition is legendary rather than proven, and modern summaries note that Urquhart Castle had not yet been built in the period described.
William de Urchard
A key early figure in Urquhart tradition is William de Urchard, remembered as a defender of the Mote Hill of Cromarty in the 14th century. Clan social material also refers to Kenneth Trist Urquhart’s descent from the 14th-century William de Urchard.
The Urquharts of Cromarty
The Urquharts of Cromarty became the principal chiefly family of the clan.
Cromarty Castle and the surrounding lands became central to the family’s identity and influence.
The Urquharts of Craigston
The later chiefly line is associated with Craigston Castle or Castle Craig.
Modern clan summaries list Craigston or Castle Craig as the clan seat, showing the later movement of the chiefship away from Cromarty Castle itself.
Wilkins Fisk Urquhart
A major modern figure was Wilkins Fisk Urquhart, who was recognised by the Lord Lyon in 1959 as Chief of the Name and Head of Clan Urquhart. He was succeeded in 1974 by his son Kenneth Trist Urquhart.
Kenneth Trist Urquhart
The current chief is widely listed as:
Kenneth Trist Urquhart
29th Chief of Clan Urquhart
The official Clan Urquhart chiefship history describes the chief as the representative of the family, chief of the name and head of the clan, embodying the motto “Meane Weil, Speak Weil and Doe Weil” and inspiring the clan to “Trust and go forward.”
Chapter IV: Castles, Houses and Historic Sites
Cromarty Castle
Cromarty Castle is the major historic seat of Clan Urquhart.
It stood in the clan’s Black Isle heartland and symbolised the old power of the Urquharts of Cromarty. Modern clan summaries list it as the clan’s historic seat.
For Clan Urquhart, Cromarty Castle represents:
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Chiefship
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Black Isle identity
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Medieval power
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Defence of Cromarty
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The old heart of the family
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Highland and north-east continuity
Craigston Castle / Castle Craig
Craigston Castle, also called Castle Craig in some references, is commonly listed as the modern clan seat.
This gives the modern chiefly line a later territorial centre and shows how clan seats can shift over time.
Urquhart Castle
Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness is one of Scotland’s most famous ruins.
Although it is not the main chiefly seat of Clan Urquhart, it is deeply connected with the name and the old barony of Urquhart. Modern summaries describe it as the castle beside Loch Ness that takes its name from the old barony.
For Clan Urquhart, Urquhart Castle represents:
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The famous name-place
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Loch Ness heritage
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Highland romance
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National recognition
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The wider landscape of Urquhart identity
Glen Urquhart and Loch Ness
Glen Urquhart and Loch Ness give the clan one of its strongest visual associations.
The ruined castle, the deep loch and the glen create a powerful heritage setting, even though Cromarty remains the central chiefly story.
The Black Isle
The Black Isle is the deeper homeland of the Urquharts of Cromarty.
It connects the clan to north-east Highland agriculture, coastal trade, old burgh life, kirk records, castle sites and the Cromarty Firth.
Chapter V: Battles, Legends and Clan Events
Clan Urquhart history includes legendary Ulster origins, Cromarty defence, boar symbolism, loss and restoration of chiefship, and modern clan organisation.
The Boar Legend
The story of Conachar being saved from a wild boar by his dog is one of the clan’s most memorable legends.
It is used to explain the boars’ heads and hounds on the chief’s arms, although the tale is not treated as strict documentary history.
The legend captures several Urquhart themes:
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Loyalty
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Danger
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Defence
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Wild Highland landscape
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The bond between warrior and hound
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Survival through courage
Cromarty and the Mote Hill
The memory of William de Urchard and the defence of the Mote Hill of Cromarty gives the clan a medieval defensive tradition connected with its chiefship and Black Isle lands.
The Restoration of Chiefship — 1959
In 1959, Wilkins Fisk Urquhart was recognised by the Lord Lyon as Chief of the Name and Head of Clan Urquhart.
This was a major modern event in the clan’s history, restoring formal chiefly recognition.
Succession of Kenneth Trist Urquhart — 1974
In 1974, Kenneth Trist Urquhart succeeded his father as chief.
Modern Clan Urquhart identity is therefore strongly tied to the revival and recognition of the chiefly line in the 20th century.
Chapter VI: Clan Crest, Motto and Badge
Clan Crest
The Urquhart crest is:
A naked woman from the waist upwards, holding in her right hand a sword Azure and in her left hand a palm sapling Vert.
The crest is sometimes described as a woman or mermaid-like figure issuing from a crest coronet, holding a blue sword and a palm sapling.
The symbols suggest:
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Courage
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Justice
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Victory
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Peace
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Truth
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Strength joined to mercy
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The sword and the palm together
The sword represents power and defence. The palm suggests peace, victory and endurance.
Clan Motto
The clan motto is:
“Meane Weil, Speak Weil and Doe Weil.”
This means:
“Mean well, speak well and do well.”
It is one of the most morally direct mottoes in Scottish clan tradition.
It means:
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Think with good intent
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Speak with honour
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Act with integrity
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Let thought, word and deed agree
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Character matters as much as courage
For Clan Urquhart, the motto is a full code of conduct.
Clan War Cry
The clan war cry is:
“Trust and go forward.”
This is an excellent clan slogan because it combines faith, movement and courage.
Clan Badge
The clan plant badge is:
Wallflower, also known as cheiranthus.
Wallflower is fitting for Clan Urquhart:
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Hardy
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Bright
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Able to grow in stone
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Associated with walls and old buildings
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A flower of endurance and resilience
For a clan associated with ruined castles, old walls and survival, it is a powerful badge.
Chapter VII: Clan Urquhart Tartans
Urquhart Tartan
The earliest recorded Urquhart tartan is said to come from the Cockburn Collection, with the original cloth sample stored at the Mitchell Library in Glasgow. The official clan tartan is described by the Clan Urquhart source as the Official Urquhart Red Line Tartan, registered by the current chief at Lyon Court.
Urquhart Brydone Tartan
The Urquhart Brydone tartan is recorded by the Scottish Register of Tartans under reference 4429.
The register gives the tartan date as 1 January 1862, classifies it as a Clan/Family tartan, and notes that the sett was recorded by John MacGregor Hastie and attributed to James Brydone.
Urquhart White Line Tartan
The Urquhart White Line tartan is also recorded by the Scottish Register of Tartans under reference 4430.
This version is often associated with the “ancient” or white-line variant.
Urquhart Ancient Tartan
Modern tartan suppliers describe Urquhart Ancient as using light green, light blue, black, orange and white.
Urquhart Broad Red and Ancient Variants
Clan Urquhart recognises variant forms including:
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Urquhart Official Red Line
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Urquhart Broad Red
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Urquhart Ancient / White Line
The Meaning of Urquhart Tartan Today
For modern Urquhart descendants, tartan represents:
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Cromarty roots
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Black Isle identity
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Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness
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The motto “Mean well, speak well and do well”
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The crest with sword and palm
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Wallflower plant badge
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Boar and hound legend
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Family pride and diaspora identity
The Urquhart tartans give this Highland clan a visible and wearable Scottish identity.
Chapter VIII: Heritage, Identity and Clan Traditions
Clan Urquhart represents a Highland identity built on Cromarty, Black Isle roots, moral conduct, legend and restored chiefship.
Its story includes:
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Cromarty
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The Black Isle
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Castle Craig / Craigston Castle
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Cromarty Castle
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Urquhart Castle
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Glen Urquhart and Loch Ness
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The Conachar boar legend
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William de Urchard
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Wilkins Fisk Urquhart
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Kenneth Trist Urquhart
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The crest of the woman with sword and palm
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The motto “Meane Weil, Speak Weil and Doe Weil”
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The war cry “Trust and go forward”
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Wallflower plant badge
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Urquhart tartans
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A living recognised chief
Associated names and spellings include:
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Urquhart
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Urchard
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Urquhard
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Urquhart of Cromarty
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Urquhart of Craigston
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Urquhart of Meldrum
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Urquhart of Byth
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Urquhart of Newhall
The Urquhart story is one of the great north-east Highland clan traditions: not only a story of arms and castles, but of conduct, speech, courage and moral reputation.
Chapter IX: Clan Urquhart Today
Today, Clan Urquhart remains a recognised Scottish clan with a living chief.
The current chief is widely listed as:
Kenneth Trist Urquhart
29th Chief of Clan Urquhart
The clan seat is commonly listed as:
Craigston Castle / Castle Craig
The historic seat is:
Cromarty Castle
Modern Clan Urquhart identity can be found through:
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Clan Urquhart Association
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Family history research
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Tartan wearing
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Study of Cromarty and the Black Isle
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Visits to Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness
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Scottish heritage events
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Highland games
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Genealogy projects
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Diaspora communities across the world
The clan stands today as a symbol of good intent, honourable speech, moral action, Highland resilience and Scottish family pride.
Chapter X: Legacy of Clan Urquhart
The story of Clan Urquhart begins in the north of Scotland, among Cromarty lands, Black Isle memory and the famous name-place beside Loch Ness.
From Cromarty came the chiefly line.
From Urquhart Castle came one of Scotland’s most famous ruins.
From legend came boars, hounds and survival.
From the motto came the clan’s deepest character.
Its crest, the woman holding sword and palm, speaks of courage balanced by peace.
Its plant badge, wallflower, speaks of endurance in stone.
Its war cry urges:
Trust and go forward.
Its motto gives the clan its voice:
Meane Weil, Speak Weil and Doe Weil — Mean well, speak well and do well.
That phrase captures the Urquhart spirit: honest intent, honourable words and upright action.
From Cromarty to Loch Ness, from Castle Craig to descendants across the world, Clan Urquhart continues to carry its history forward.
Its legacy is written in tartan, wallflowers, boars, hounds, castle ruins, Highland 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 Urquhart is one chapter in that greater story — a story of Cromarty, the Black Isle, Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, wallflower badges, tartans, sword-and-palm crests and the timeless instruction: Mean well, speak well and do well.
Discover more Scottish history, clan stories, castle features and heritage content at:
www.tartantimemachine.com