Double Douglas

Gaelic Name: Dubhghlas
How to pronounce Dubhghlas

Ancient Douglas Tartan

Motto: Jamais arriere (Never behind)
Lands: Lanarkshire, Galloway, Dumfriesshire and Angus
Origin of Name: Place name, Lanark (Black stream)

The earliest recorded Douglas seems to be William of Douglas, whose name appears as a witness to charters between 1175 and 1211 around Lanarkshire


Surprise, surprise! I found a Douglas line on my maternal side. My 7th Great Grandmother through my maternal grandfather's side is a Douglas.
That makes any descendants of Mary Sandra ... a Double Douglas!

I was able to trace Elisabeth Douglas (1668-1714) back to the Good Sir James Douglas.   He was the greatest Captain under Robert the Bruce(1274-1329) in the War of Independence and is held as the third of Scotland’s finest patriots only after Bruce and William Wallace (1272-1305) of Braveheart fame.

The Douglas Clan history listed at  ScotClans

During these times the house of Douglas had expanded in its power and properties enormously. He was killed by the Moors of Spain in 1330 while attempting to reach the Holy Lands, where his King, Robert, had requested on his deathbed that his heart be buried.

His son was slain at the battle of Halidon Hill by the English in 1333, as was Sir Archibald. So it was Archibald’s son William who became the first Earl of Douglas in 1358, and also Earl of Mar through marriage. When he was killed at Otterburn in 1388 the second proper line of the Black Douglases had ended.

However, Sir James had also left an illegitimate son, Archibald the Grim, who took his half-brother’s place and became the 3rd Earl of Douglas. He was greatly respected and died in 1400.

His son, the 4th Earl, died fighting the English with France’s Charles VII and his younggrandsons were tricked and murdered in Edinburgh Castle by family enemies.

Modern Douglas Tartan

James, the 7th Earl, was a violent man and created many enemies, to his sons’ cost. The 8th Earl was stabbed to death by  James II Stewart(1430-1460), King of Scotland (your 14th great grand uncle). Three years later the King accused the family of treason and the earldom and entire estates of the Black Douglases were decimated.

Ruins of Douglas Castle
Douglas, South Lanarkshire, Scotland

Douglas Castle