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Scottish Tattoo Designs >> Sinclair

Sinclair Clan Tattoos - St. Clare-sur-Elle lies in the Pont d'Eveque region of Normandy. Such romantic origins are hard to call to mind in the traditional pronunciation of the name Singklar. No certain records exist but it is likely that Norman knight from St. Clare came to Scotland to seek land and fortune during the reign of David I.

Henry de St. Clare of Herdmanston near Haddington founded a line in 1163 which was raised to the peerage as Lord St. Clair, a title still borne today. The chiefs, the Earls of Caithness, descend from Sir William St. Clair, a sheriff of Edinburgh whi was granted the barony of Roslin in 1280. His eldest son, Sir Henry, swore fealty to Edward I of England in 1296, and the family generally favoured the Balliol claim to the throne. However, as the struggle for Scottish independence became paramount, the St. Clair's gave their loyalty to Bruce and fought at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. Sir Henry received a grant of lands around Pentland in 1317 as a reward. Sir Henry's son, Sir William, was a favourite of the king Robert, and he accompanied Sir James Douglas on his expedition to the Holy land with the heart of the king. The Scots knight did not see the Holy Land, but joined the king of Aragon in his fight against the Moors of Spain. St. Clair and Douglas were both killed, and the pilgrimage was abandoned.

Clan Sinclair Motto: Commit Thy Work To God

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