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Account of
the Clan provided by James Pringle Weavers
ALEXANDER: The Alexanders of Menstrie in Clackmannanshire are descendants of the MacAlisters of Loup in Kintyre, and likewise claim their descent from Alasdair Mor, son of Donald of Islay (1207-49), founder of Clan Donald. His grandson Gilbert, with a following, migrated to the Lowlands and in 1330 received grants of lands near Stirling where by the beginning of the 16th century they had adopted the name Alexander, and held the lands of Tullibody and Menstrie under the superiority of the Earl of Argyll. William Alexander, knighted by James VI in 1609, was granted the Lordship of Nova Scotia and became the promoter of a scheme whereby the king granted Baronetcies of Nova Scotia to those who supported its colonisation. The Baronetcies were instituted by Charles I in 1625, and some 280 were created over the next 180 years. Sir William was firstly created Viscount, then Earl of Stirling in 1630 and for some obscure reason he was accepted by MacAlister of Tarbert as Chief of Clan Alasdair in 1631, while the real chief was the MacAlister Laird of Loup. Sir William recorded arms in Lyon Court with the motto "Per Mare per terras" thus recognising his descent from Clan Donald, and his line continued until the death, devoid of male issue, of the 5th Earl of Stirling in 1739. Some Alexanders of the Menstrie line emigrated to Ulster in Northern Ireland where they became Barons Caledon in 1790, Viscounts Caledon in 1797, and Earls in 1800. Such are presently represented by the 7th Earl of Caledon, The Rt.Hon. Nicholas James Alexander. The popularity of Alexander as a baptismal name led to numerous lines forming in other areas, and affinity to the Clackmannanshire family should not be claimed on basis of name alone, but on evidence of one's ancestral territorial or genealogical origins. Many Alexanders may have origins other than Scotland.
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