Clan Forbes Society
Kingdom of Dal Riada (Dalriada) and Pictland in the early Middle Ages. Credit: Karl Craig.
Origins of the House of Forbes
The history of the House of Forbes is the history of Scotland itself. From ancient times to the present, the family has had an outsized impact on the events, politics, and culture that has shaped Scotland. As the House of Forbes has spread thoughout the world, it has continued to make unique contributions to its host counties.
Dal Riada and Pictland
In about the 3rd century, the Gaelic “Scotti” first started arriving from Ireland and securing settlements in the islands and western part of Scotland.
The Irish missionary Columcille or Saint Columba (521 – 597) recounted: “Moirsheiser do Cruitline clainn, Eaindset Albain i seclit raind, Cait, Cé, Cirig, cethach clanii. Fib, Fidach, Fotla, Fortrenn. The English translation is “Seven children of Cruthne divided Alban (Scotland) into seven divisions. Cait, Ce, Cirig, a warlike clan. Fib, Fidach, Fotla, Fortrenn.” (Skene, William Forbes, Editor; Chronicles of the Picts, Chronicles of the Scots, and Other Early Memorials of Scottish History, 1867)
The monk Bede (known as “the venerable”) wrote in about 731 CE: “In process of time, Britain, besides the Britons and the Picts, received a third nation, the Scots, who, migrating from Ireland under their leader, Reuda, either by fair means, or by force of arms, secured to themselves those settlements among the Picts which they still possess. From the name of their commander, they are to this day called Dalreudini; for, in their language, Dal signifies a part.” (Sellar, A.M., translator. 1907. Bede's Ecclesiastical History of England. London: George Bell and Sons.)
These Gaelic invaders created the overkingdom of Dál Riata (also called Dalriada) in the western islands and highlands of Scotland. Dalriadic warriors pushed eastward into Pictland (part of which is now Aberdeenshire) and intermarried with the Picts.
A stone roughly carved into the shape of a bear’s head was discovered near the site where O’Conchar Forbhasach II is reputed to have killed a great bear. This is now embedded above the main fireplace at Castle Forbes.
Ye Landis of Forbes
Based on current genetic and archaeological research, the ancestors of the House of Forbes were the result of the union of Gaelic people from Ireland and the Picts of northeastern Scotland.
According to Forbes family legend, one Dalriadic warrior called “Ochonocar” or “Ochoncar” pushed into the part of Pictland now called Aberdeenshire in about 775 CE. Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, written between 1632 and 1636, reports that: “King Canon was saved from a Savage bear by a stroke of a sword by his friend O'Chonochar, who for that deed was called Forbhasach, the man of courage." (“MacFarlane’s Genealogical Collections,” Scottish History Society, Volume XXXIV, 1900.) He was said to have killed a bear at the Nine Maidens’ Well in the Wood of Logie, in the Alford district near the present-day Castle Forbes. For this valiant achievement, he won the “dúthchas” (the Gaelic word for domain by right) for a substantial amount of land.
For this mighty deed, he was then called "Forbhasach," Gaelic for "forward leaning" or "bold." Many Irish warriors and bishops are so named in the 7th and 8th centuries, as noted in the Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters. Today, the literal definition is "top heavy."
This is the most likely source of the name “Forbes.” Literally, this meant a "large head" and was an idiom for "forward leaning" or “bold.” Today, the Gaelic definition is "top heavy." Many Irish warriors and bishops are so named in the 7th and 8th centuries, as noted in the Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters.
His dúthchas was called the land of Ochoncar Forbhasach of simply “Forbhasach.” He took a Pictish wife and his descendants later also intermarried with the Pictish people. They were identified as the people of the land "of Forbhasach," or more simply, “of Forbes.”
The first written record of Forbes occurs in the 13th century. In the year 1271 (or 1272 in the later Gregorian calendar), Alexander III (1241–1286), King of the Scots, officially granted the dúthchas of “ye landis of Forbes and Kern” to “Duncan de Forbeys.” (Skene, William Forbes; The Highlanders of Scotland, Their Origin, History, and Antiquities, 1837.) Duncan de Forbes likely had a brother named Alexander who had a son named John. (Tayler, Alistair and Henrietta. 1937. House of Forbes. Edinburgh: Third Spalding Club.) Sir John de Forbes received a charter for Edinbanchorie and Craiglogie. Apparently, he inherited the land of Forbes from his uncle Duncan and thus became the second laird of Forbes.
The lands of Forbes and Kern were located within the larger area of the ancient district Marr or Mar. Mar was controlled by a Mormaer, the Gaelic name for a provincial ruler who gave allegiance to the King or Queen of Scots. The 12th-century addition to the Book of Deer first mentions Ruadrí as the Mormaer of Mar in about 1131 CE. Duncan de Forbes and his descendants would have pledged loyalty to the successive Mormaers of Mar. The title was later changed to the English term “Earl” and Mar was then considered an earldom. The Thomas, Eral of Mar, mentioned by Skene had succeeded Domhnall II in 1332 and died in 1377.
Malcolme Canmore, or Malcolm III
Forbes as Surname
The use of surnames in Scotland was first commanded by Malcolme Canmore, also known as Máel Coluim mac Donnchada, King of the Scots. In 1061, he rewarded his supporters with lands and "commandit, that ilk man half his office and landis namit efter his surname. He maid mony erlis, lordis, baronis, and knichtis." (History and Chronicles of Scotland: Written in Latin by Hector Boece, translation by John Bellenden, published 1536, reprint 1821.)
However, surnames were still not common in the next century. "No surnames appear in the charters of Alexander I (1106-1153), but in the reign of his brother and successor, David I (1124-1153), we find them coming into use. (Black, George F, and Black, Mary Elder; The Surnames of Scotland, 1946.)
Even in as late as 1296, the use of surnames had not been universally embraced. In the documents known as the “Ragman Rolls” some names, Scottish nobles are refenced both by a surname and by the land to which they own title. (Excerpta Ex Instrumento Publico Sive Processu Super Fidelitatibus Et Homagiis Scotorum Domino Regi Anglie Factis A. D. MCCXCI, Etc.)
The common use of Forbes as a surname seems to have started within the lifetime of Alexander, 1st Lord Forbes (circa 1380 - 1448.) In 1402, the charter of the lands of Edinbanchory and Craiglogy, was granted by Isabel Douglas, Countess of Mar, to "Alexander de Forbes, Miles" (soldier.) In 1423, Alexander Stewart, Earl of Mar, granted the lands of Alford to "dilecto consanguineo sui Alexandrae Forbes, milite, et carissimo consanguinee Elizabeth de Douglas" ("beloved cousin Alexander Forbes, soldier, and dear cousin Elizabeth of Douglas," Alexander's fiancée and granddaughter of Robert III.)
By the time of his death in 1448, Alexander, 1st Lord Forbes, had greatly expanded the family fortune, land, and influence.
Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness. Credit: VistScotland
Other Theories on the Derivation of Forbes
The story of Ochoncar Forbhasasch is the most accepted by the subsequent Lords Forbes, as chiefs of the clan. However, other theories have been fabricated. One belief is that the name “Forbes” is derived from the territory occupied by their ancestors based on the Gaelic word “forba” meaning “field.” This theory does not account for the fact that the land of Forbes rests in the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains and includes Lonach Hill, Cothiemuir Hill, and Bennachie Mountain. Also, many other lands in Scotland are far flatter and more likely to be called a "field."
Another popular, if anachronistic, explanation is that the name is a contraction of the latter-day English words “For Beast” since the founder of the house was reputed to have killed a savage bear. The word “beast” is from Middle English beeste or beste itself from Old French beste (French bête) and from Latin bēstia. The early Gael would not be familiar with any of these later languages or with Latin.
Another legend of the origin of the family of Forbes recounts that: “one Salvathius Forbes married Moravilla, daughter of Gregory the Great, King of Scotland, about 870, and that all the Forbes’s <sic> in Scotland are descended from him.” (Dalrymple, David; Annals of Scotland, 1776; and Martin, George; Genealogical Collections, 1750.) No surnames existed in that age, unless as patronymic, "son of." No daughter of Giric mac Dúngail, the Gaelic form of Gregory, son of Dúngail, is mentioned in The Chronicle of the Kings of Alba which covers the period from Kenneth MacAlpin (Cináed mac Ailpín) who died in 858 to the reign of Kenneth II (Cináed mac Maíl Coluim) who ruled from 971 to 995.
Yet another legend claims that Ochonocar (or Ochoncar) was a lord in Ireland who was “desirous to gain honour” and came to Scotland which was then “infested with the Danes.” (Lumsden, Mathew; Memoirs of the House of Forbes, 1580). The Dalriadic king at the time gave him the land surrounding the Castle of Alas, later called Urquhart. Ochonocar died a battle against “those insulting and merciless Barbarians who then overanne these northern provinces.” His pregnant wife fled back to Ireland and gave birth to a son who was also called Ochonocar. When he came of age, this Ochonocar came to Scotland and claimed his father’s inheritance. Since the King had already given away the estates around Urquhart Castle, he gave Ochonocar instead “the lands of Logie upon the bank of the river Done, which in the Lord Forbes ancient evidents, are thus bounded between Essack, Massach, Bogie and Done." (Ibid.)
This Ochonocar also killed a large bear and the king awarded him a knighthood and arms bearing three muzzled bears. He concludes that “from thence was surnamed Ochonchar Forbear or Forbass and by contraction Forbes.” (Ibid.) Of course, heraldry did not develop until the 12th century and by then the family of Forbes had long been established in their “dúthchas.”
The author may have been confused with the first written record of Urquhart Castle in 1296, when it was captured by Edward I of England. The Scots had regained control of the castle by 1298. However, Sir Alexander de Forbes lost the castle to the English in 1303.
Personal Coat of Arms of Malcolm, 23rd Lord Forbes of That Ilk
Legend of Ochoncar
In spite of having no basis in written records, the legend of the mighty Ochonocar who slew the great bear has been embraced by Clan Forbes. Alexander, 1st Lord Forbes, recorded his coats of arms to include three muzzled bear heads to symbolize Ochonocar's feat in securing the dúthchas of Forbes. (See Coats of Arms of the House of Forbes.)
Several members of the House of Forbes have been named after the legendary beast-killer:
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James Ochoncar Forbes, 17th Lord Forbes (1765–1843), was the eldest son of James Forbes, 16th Baron Forbes, by Catherine, only daughter of Sir Robert Innes, baronet, of Orton. He began his military career in 1781 in the Coldstream Guards and rose to General in 1819. His daughter Charlotte Elizabeth married Sir John Forbes, 7th Baronet (1785–1846), and was the mother of William Forbes-Sempill, 17th Lord Sempill and James Ochoncar Forbes, of Corse Castle.
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James Ochoncar Forbes (1837—1900) inherited Corse Castle while his brother William Forbes-Sempill, 17th Lord Sempill, had inherited Craigievar Castle and a peerage from a cousin. On the death of Forbes in 1900, the estate was inherited by his son John Walter Forbes, who died unmarried in 1912, and then by his younger son Lieutenant Colonel James Ochoncar Forbes (1867—1945), a Deputy Lieutenant for Aberdeenshire.
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Rear-Admiral The Hon. Arthur Lionel Ochoncar Forbes-Sempill (1877 – 1962) was the fourth son and youngest child of William Forbes-Sempill, 17th Lord Sempill and Frances Emily Abercromby, daughter of Sir George Abercromby. Forbes Sempill commanded the cruisers HMS Blonde and HMS Cordelia, and was present in the latter at the surrender of the German navy in 1918. By 1919, he was in command of HMS Colossus.