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Scottish Tattoo Designs >> Pringle

Pringle Clan Tattoos - The arms of this ancient family bear three scallop shells, the scallop being the traditional badge of those on pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Nisbet conjectures from this that the name is a corruption of 'pelerin', or 'pilgrim'.

The Pringles of Whitsome were supporters of Bruce, and for this suffered the forfeiture of their lands at the hands of John Balliol. They were restored after the Battle of Bannockburn by charter of Robert the Bruce in 1315.

The Lairds of Whitsome were allies to the great house of Douglas, and Robert Pringle was squire to James Earl of Douglas, at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388. Robert survived the battle and received a charter to the lands of Smailholm in Roxburghshire, from Archibald the Grim, Earl of Douglas, in 1408. They built the Tower of Smailholm, perched stubbornly on the rocky hills at Sandyknowe, six miles west of Kelso. The tower still stands today, a lonely but impressive tribute to this family. The tower was well known to Sir Walter Scott, the novelist, whose father owned the farm at Sandyknowe. The son of the Laird of Smailholm, David Pringle, was, together with his four sons, killed at Flodden in 1513. Sir James Pringle of Smailholm was sheriff principal of Ettricj Forrest in 1622. He is said to have sold a considerable portion of his estates to pay the debt of living extravagantly at the court of James VI.

Clan Pringle Motto: Amiciatia Reddit Honores
From Latin: Friendship Gives Honour

See also: Claddagh, Thistle Tattoos, Scottish Lion Tattoo Designs, Welsh Dragons, Scottish Tattoo Designs, Celtic Tattoo Designs, Family Crests