Dear Stewarts (of all spellings), descendants, cousins, and other interested parties:

I thought this would be of interest.

Yours Aye,

Lauren Boyd
Chair, Genealogical Committee
Genealogist
Clan Stewart Society in America, Inc.
http://www.clansstewart.org
genealogist@clansstewart.org

..............................................
Source:
"An Introduction to the Stewarts" by William J. Boyd, second edition, fourth printing, special thanks to John
M. Stewart, copyright 1988

Not to be redistributed or used without permission.


Stewart Chieftains Today

The Stewarts are a clan in the genealogical sense, for most of the
Prominent Stewart families are descended from the original family.
Scottish nobility law recognizes the Stewarts as a Clan, that is,
a ceremonial family consisting of all people who bear the surname,
presumably under the leadership of a chief.

Historically, the Stewarts never functioned as a single clan, but
tended to multiply into many branches. In the Highlands, some
branches of the Stewarts became separate clans. Today the Appin
and Bute branches are officially recognized as clans with their
own chiefs.

There is no official chief of all the Stewarts. After the extinction
of the Royal House of Stewart in 1807, several branches of the
family claimed seniority. Most historians agree that the Stewarts
of Garlies are the senior surviving legitimate line. The head of
this branch is the Earl of Galloway. He is not officially recognized
as Chief, but he is regarded as the senior member of the family.

The Marquess of Bute.......... Chief of Clan Stuart of Bute
John Crighton-Stuart Official residence in Bute

The Earl of Moray............. Head of the house of Doune
Douglas John Moray Stuart Keeper of Doune Castle
Residence at Darnaway in Moray

The Earl of Galloway.......... head of the house of Garlies,
Randolph Keith Reginald Stewart and heir-male of the Stewarts

The Earl Castle Stewart....... head of the house of Castle Stewart
Arthur Patrick Avondale Stuart residence in County Tyrone, Ireland

Major Sir Houston Mark Shaw-Stewart
of Greenock and Blackhall, Baronet.... head of the house of Ardgowan
residence in Renfrewshire

Andrew Stewart of Appin........ Chief of Clan Stewart of Appin

Major John Stewart of Ardvorlich.... head of the Stewarts in Balquidder


Affiliated Families

The Lord Kilmarnock............ Chief of the Boyds
Alastair Ivor Gilbert Boyd

Sir James Wallace Stuart-Menteth
of Closeburn, Baronet............ head of the Menteiths of Closeburn
Claims to be Chief of the Menteiths

Niall Livingstone of the Bachuil... Chief of the Livingstones of Lisemore