Forsyth Clan History

The first recorded person of the name was William de Firsith on the Ragman Roll in Berwick on the 28th August 1296. Much of the records of Clan Forsyth were destroyed by Oliver Cromwell in the Civil War, therefore little is known.

In the 14th century during the Wars of Scottish Independence Robert de Forsyth received lands from King Robert I of Scotland. Roberts de Forsyth’s son called Osbet Forsyth led the clan against the English at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. In 1364 the accounts of the ‘Customers’ of Stirling were rendered by Fersith the Clerk who was probably Robert’s brother and who was granted PS100.95 per annum from the lands of the Polmaise Marischal by Robert II.

In 1418 Robert Forsyth renderd the accounts of the Burgh of Stirling. In 1432 his son who was also called Robert became Burgess of Stirling and a Baille in 1470. Duncan Forsyth and David Forsyth became Burgesses in 1497 and descendants of the family settled in Stirling and held civic office for centuries. In 1488 David Forsyth the now Burgess of Stirling bought the land of the Dykes also known as Hallhill which is near Strathaven near Lanarkshire. The castle there had fallen into ruin but it was not demolished until 1828.

The current seat of Clan Forsyth is Ethie Castle (main image), near Arbroath in Angus.