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Scottish Tattoo Designs >> Leslie

Leslie Clan Tattoos - The progenitor of this great Scottish family is claimed as Bartolf, a Hungarian nobleman who came to Scotland in 1067 in the retinue of Edgar the Aethling, brother of Margaret, later queen of Malcolm III. Bartolf was apparently a man of intellect and bravery, for which qualities Malcolm appointed him governor of Edinburgh Castle and bestowed on him estates in Fife, Angus, the Mearns and Aberdeenshire. It is said that he was carrying the queen across a swollen river upon his own horse. The queen almost fell from the horse, whereupon Bartolf cried out 'Grip fast', and as the queen took hold of his belt buckle she replied, Will the buckle bide.

The chiefly line passed to a junior branch of the family from whom the present chiefs, the Earl of Rothes descend in a curious manner. In 1391 Sir Norman Lesley , believing his only son, David, to have been killed in the Crusades, settled his estates on his cousin, George Lesley. In 1398, shortly after Sir George had taken possession of the castle and lands, David returned from the Wars and claimed possession of the estate. Time has now shrouded in mystery the exact terms of the settlement that was reached, but the family resolved the matters peacefully. Sir George's grandson, another George, was created a Lord of Parliament in 1445 as Lord Lesley of Leven, and had all his lands united into the barony of Ballinreich. He was advanced to the title of Earl of Rothes sometime prior to 1458. The third Earl died at Flodden in 1513.

Clan Leslie Motto: Grip Fast

See also: Claddagh, Thistle Tattoos, Scottish Lion Tattoo Designs, Welsh Dragon Tattoos, Scottish Tattoo Designs, Celtic Tattoo Designs, Family Crests