Oliphant and Melville

The name Oliphant came about because David de Olifard, accompanied David I on a journey from Winchester in 1141, and thus gave name to Oliphant.

The title of Lord Oliphant fell upon Sir Lawrence Oliphant, a decendant of David de Olifard, and was given the lands of Gask and Aberdalgie from Robert I. This lead to each of Sir Walters sons taking the family name to these lands. From William, the second son, the Oliphants of Gask are descended, while from his third son, George, was styled of Bachilton.

The Oliphants of Gask were Jacobites and attained for their part in the Rising of 1745. A famous relation was, the Scottish poet. Lady Nairne, born Carolina Oliphant. The Oliphants of Gask became dormant in 1751.

The Melvilles are originally a Lothian family, who settled in the reign of King David.

The Melvilles held important offices under the Crown, although when the line died out, the name transferred to Ross of Halkhead, due to a marriage between the clans.

The title Earl of Melville was conjoined with that of the Earl of Leven.

The names are demonstrated together due to both clans wearing the same tartan, although there is a different early variation of the Melville tartan.