Colville

Colville

Clan Colville of Kinnaird in Stirlingshire, Scotland. Originally from the town of Colvile in Normandy and settled in England with the Conquest of 1066. First recorded in Scotland in a charter witnessed by Philip de Colville at Dunfermlin Monastery, circa 1159. In 1174 he was placed as a hostage for the return of William the Lion, and was rewarded with the baronies of Oxnam and Heton in Roxburghshire. John Auchinleck, a favourite of the Earl of Douglas, who took revenge by laying to waste the Colville lands, and taking Kinnaird Castle with great loss of life. Robert Colville of Hilton fell at the Battle of Flodden in September 1513, and his son, Sir James Colville of Ochiltree, was Comptroller of the Royal Household in 1527. He exchanged his lands of Ochiltree with Hamilton of Finnart for the barony of Easter Wemyss and Lochorshyre in Fifeshire in 1530. Sir James Colville of Easter Wemyss, a judge, was convicted of treason and his estates forfeited, but was pardoned with the forfeiture recalled in 1543. Lord Alexander Colville joined the Navy in 1731, captain of the frigate HMS Leopard in 1744 and as a commodore, commanded HMS Northumberland in the siege of Quebec in 1755. He was promoted to the rank of Vice Admiral in 1769. Sir Charles Colville served with distinction in the Peninsular War (1808-14) and the Battle of Waterloo. He was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath. His son Lord Charles Colville was Chief Equerry to Queen Victoria and Lord Chamberlain to Queen Alexandra. He was created Viscount Colville of Culross, 12th July 1902.

Arms: Quarterly, 1st and 4th, argent, a cross moline sable, 2nd and 3rd, gules, a fess chequy argent and azure.

Crest: A hind’s head couped at the neck argent.

Motto: Oublier ne puis (I cannot forget).

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