Baird

Baird comes from the Gaelic word 'poet'.

The clan came to prominence and wealth in the reign of King William I, 'The Lion', when he rewarded a member of the clan who saved him from an attack by a wild boar, whilst out hunting. Further good fortune came from a charter being granted to Richard Baird of Meikle and Little Kyp in Lanarkshire and from the great Robert the Bruce, who granted Robert Baird the Barony of Cambusnethan.

The Bairds of Cambusnethan moved north to Banffshire and Aberdeenshire. In Aberdeenshire George Baird of Auchmenddan was married to the niece of the Earl of Marischal. This marriage greatly increased the importance of the Bairds in the North and also supplied many sheriffs.

General Sir David Baird from Newbyth was a noted war hero in India in the 18th Century. He was one of two remaining survivors of the 73rd Highland Regiment in 1780. He remained prisoner in India for 4 years, and then went to command the regiment in battles for the next twenty years.

The Bairds of Gartsherrie also established the largest Scottish ironworks in the 1830's.