Clan Anderson

Content sourced from Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

Clan Anderson is a Lowlands Scottish clan. It does not have a chief recognised by the Court of the Lord Lyon, so it is an armigerous clan (no chief). The clan has septs: Anderson, Andrew, Gillanders, MacAndrew, Andrews, M'Anderson.

Branches include Ardbrake, Dowhill, Kinneddar, and Candacraig. It is allied with the Chattan Confederation and Clan Mackintosh, and is also associated with Clan MacDonell of Glengarry. The surnames Andrew and Andrews are septs of Clan Ross.

The name Anderson means “son of Andrew,” and in Scottish Gaelic it is Gilleaindreas, meaning “servant of Andrew.” The exact origin is unclear, though arms were granted to an Anderson of that ilk in the 16th century, and there are records of burgesses of Peebles and Dumfries.

Historically, John Anderson was a commissioner to Parliament for Cupar in 1585. Alexander Anderson was a mathematician from near Aberdeen who later worked in Paris. David Anderson of Finshaugh was a noted scientist; he and his wife Jean Anderson were associated with philanthropic work. William Anderson published The Scottish Nation in 1863, praising David’s hospital endowment for orphans in Aberdeen.

In the 20th century, the Anderson shelters—bomb shelters designed during World War II—were created by John Anderson, 1st Viscount Waverley.

The Clan Anderson Society, formed in North America in 1973, preserves the clan’s history. Its current chieftain is Hope Vere Anderson, Baron of Bannockburn. The society maintains a clan room and archives at Wyseby House, Kirtlebridge, Dumfries and Galloway. In 2014, the society was granted a coat of arms by the Court of the Lord Lyon, with the motto “WE STAND SURE,” presented by Lord Lyon King of Arms Joseph Morrow at the Loch Norman Highland Games in North Carolina.

Because there is no chief, there are no cadet branches. Major families include Anderson of Ardbrake & Westerton; Anderson of Kinneddar; Anderson of Noth; Anderson of Newbiggin & Kingask; Anderson of Dowhill & Stobcross; Anderson of Linkwood; Anderson of Inchyra & Stonyhill; Seton-Anderson of Mounie; and Anderson of Candacraig.

MacAndrew is a sept of Clan Mackintosh (Chattan Confederation) and MacAndrews were linked to Clan MacDonell of Glengarry. The surnames Andrew and Andrews are septs of Clan Ross. Related names include Andrew, Anderson, Andrews, Gillanders, MacAndrew, and M'Anderson.