Lockhart Name History

The family arrived in Scotland on the wave of Normans who came north in the century after the invasion of England in 1066. They came by a westerly route and settled mainly in Lanark and Ayr shires where the towns of Symington and Stevenston remain to mark the past influence of Simon and Steven 'Locard'. That the family soon acquired prominence is shown by the frequency of the name in records of the 12/13th centuries.

Simon, 2nd of Lee, accompanied 'Good Sir James' Douglas when he took the heart of Bruce on crusade in 1330, and that he, who carried the key to its casket, rescued and returned it to Scotland when the Good Knight perished in Spain. Thenceforth, it is said, the arms of a 'heart within a fetterlock', and the name in its present form came into use. The 7th Laird was knighted by James IV and in 16th century the 8th Laird was involved in a case of forgery. His son, Alan, 9th Laird, was sentenced to the block for the slaughter of David and Ralph Weir, on separate occasions, and with this family they seen then to have been in constant feud. His sentence was revoked, and he received 'remission' in 1541.

The 4th Earl of Carnwath sold his lands to the Lockharts and the Barony of Carstairs was also purchased.

Copyright 1999 by Dolly Baker

The Lockharts of Lee took little part in national affairs but the Carnwath family were espoused to the Jacobite cause from before the Risings. Following the '45, Alexander Lockhart, a member of the Bar, was much involved defending those being tried for their Jacobite involvement, and his brother was the well known Jacobite agent whose son George was a.d.c. to Prince Charlie, - it is George's figure which, through error, dominates top of the tower at Glenfinnan. The inheritances of Lee and Carnwath became one in the later 18th century, and subsequently passed to the MacDonald Lockharts of Largie in Kintyre, who, by another marriage, became also associated with the Rosses of Balnagowan.

The Crusade also brought a precious heirloom to the family - the Lee Penny. Sir Symon captured a Morrish amir in battle in Spain. As part of the ransom, the man's mother gave him an amulet with healing powers. She told Symon that the stone was a remedy for various ills. The amulet is spoken of in the novel "The Talisman" by Sir Walter Scott. The Talisman is still in the family today.