Lords Oliphant (c.1456)
1st Lord Oliphant, Laurence Oliphant, b.?, a.1456, d.c.1500
The name Oliphant comes from the original Norwegian name Holifard,
slightly corrupted during the Crusades to sound more like the name of the large
mammal met in the Middle East. The first Holifard was a Norwegian sailor
shipwrecked on the East Coast in the 9th Century and a descendant,
Roger Oliphant, became Hereditary Sheriff of the Mearns. His grandson David
Oliphant moved to Northamptonshire, presumably as part of Prince David’s
retinue when he went south to marry the Countess. David Oliphant may have been
prince’s godson, as indicated by the use of his name. He returned to Scotland
when David became King and was made Justiciar of Lothian and Lord of Bothwell
and was given lands in Roxburghshire. Yet later, Walter Oliphant of Aberdalgie,
Sheriff of Stirling, defended Stirling Castle against an English force led by
Robert Bruce. His cousin William Oliphant, who was with him at Stirling, fought
for the Bruce at Bannockburn and was a signatory to the Declaration of
Arbroath. His son, another Walter Oliphant, married Robert the Bruce’s youngest
daughter Elizabeth. Laurence Oliphant was raised to the peerage as 1st
Lord Oliphant in 1456 or possible slightly later.
2nd Lord Oliphant, John Oliphant, b.?, a.1498, d.1516
Son of the 1st Lord and Lady Isabel Hay, daughter of William
Hay, 1st Earl of Erroll.
3rd Lord Oliphant, Laurence Oliphant,
b.1505, a.1516, d.1566
Grandson of the 2nd Lord and Elizabeth Campbell, daughter of Colin
Campbell, 1st Earl of Argyll and son of
Colin Oliphant, Master of Oliphant (b.?, d.1513), who died at Flodden, and Lady
Elizabeth Keith (b.?, d.c.1549), daughter of William Keith, 3rd Earl
Marischal.
4th Lord Oliphant, Laurence Oliphant,
b.1527, a.1566, d.1593
Son of the 3rd Lord and Margaret Sandilands, daughter of Sir
James Sandilands of Calder. He was a supporter of Queen Mary and Bothwell and
fought on her side at the Battle of Langside.
5th Lord Oliphant, Laurence Oliphant, b.1583, a.1593, d.1631
Grandson of the 4th Lord and Margaret
Hay (b.?, d.1593-1594), daughter of George Hay, 7th Earl of Erroll and son of Laurence Oliphant, Master of Oliphant
and Christian Douglas, daughter of Sir William Douglas, 6th Earl of Morton. His father had been involved in the Raid of
Ruthven in 1582 and so was banished, never to be seen again. The 5th
Lord, having been tainted by his father’s actions, was forced to sell off all
of his estates, although Gask was retained within the family by the junior
line. He married Lilias Drummond, daughter of James Drummond, 1st Lord
Maderty (for whom see the earls of Perth). They had no
sons but one daughter, Anne Oliphant, who married James Douglas, a younger son
of William Douglas, 10th Earl of Angus and
the 4th Lord’s daughter Elizabeth Oliphant. Having blood ties on
both sides, they contested the succession against the heir-male, Patrick
Oliphant, a grandson of the 4th Lord. Oliphant resigned the title to
Charles I in order to obtain a re-grant, but died before any judgment was made,
leaving the King a free hand. In the event, Charles created the new title of 1st
Lord Mordington for James Douglas and re-granted
the Oliphant title to Patrick.
6th Lord Oliphant, Patrick
Oliphant, b.?, a.1631, d.1674
Grandson of the 4th Lord and son
of John Oliphant, Master of Oliphant (b.?, d.1603) and Lilias Gray, daughter of
Patrick Gray, 4th Lord Gray. He was allowed
to succeed to the title as heir-male but also obtained a re-grant so that he
was also 1st Lord Oliphant of a new line.
7th Lord Oliphant, Charles
Oliphant, b.?, a.1674, d.1706
Son of the 6th Lord and Mary
Crichton, sister of James Crichton, 1st Viscount Frendraught.
8th Lord Oliphant, Patrick
Oliphant, b.?, a.1706, d.1720-1721
Son of the 7th Lord and Mary
Ogilvy. Having no legitimate offspring, he granted his lands and titles to James
Oliphant of Gask. Although the peerage could not be allowed to be dispensed
this way, the lands and chieftainship of the family continued in that line.
9th Lord Oliphant, William
Oliphant, b.?, a.1720-1721, d.1728
Younger brother of the 7th Lord.
10th Lord Oliphant, Francis
Oliphant, b.?, a.1728, d.1748
Nephew of the 7th and 9th
Lords and son of Francis Oliphant (b.?, d.1708) and Mary Reddall (b.c.1672, d.b.1713).
On his death the title became extinct.
(Last updated: 19/05/2010)