Bruce

This clan originated from the name of Sir Robert de Brus, a Norman knight, who escorted William the Conqueror to England in 1066. Sir Robert de Brus became companion at arms to Prince David, later to become King David I, and received a grant of the Lordship of Annandale. With this bequest, Robert bequeathed his lands to his son when at war with England, and it is said that at the Battle of the Standard in 1138, Robert took his own son prisoner.

Claims to the throne of Scotland were made after marriage, by Robert, 4th Lord of Annandale when he married a niece of William I, The Lion. These claims continued to be maintained by Robert, 6th Lord of Annadale and 1st Earl of Carrick, but he went into battle on the side of the English at the Battle of Dunbar in 1296.

The folk legend and hero of Scotland was Robert's son and was entitled Robert, 7th Lord of Annandale and 2nd Earl of Carrick, and popularly known as Robert the Bruce. Robert the Bruce was born in 1274, who fought to victory in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and won the independence of Scotland after a fierce struggle with England in 1328. The Treaty of Northampton certifies this. Robert the Bruce died a year later in 1329 at Cardross in Dunbartonshire. His body was buried in Dunfermline and his heart in Melrose.

The Earls of Elgin are descended from the Bruces of Clackmannan.