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MOTTO
NEITHER SPARE OR DISPOSE |
CLAN TARTAN
LAMONT |
The Lamonts are descended from Aodh O’Neill, the king of Northern Ireland, who crossed the sea in the eleventh century to found the kingdom of Dalriada in Argyll. The clan’s territory at that time stretched to the island of Arran.
In the 13th century the name Lamont was formed from the name of the grandson of Chief Fearchar. His name was Ladman. The clan at that time had two seats, the Castles at Toward and at Ascog.
Like many other clans, the Lamonts suffered from the proximity of the Campbells, who in 1646 massacred two hundred Lamonts, including women and children, in one day at Dunoon. Both castles were destroyed and the Chief, Sir James, spent the next five years in a dungeon. He was finally released in 1651 when Cromwell overran the country. The Lamont Clan Society has been responsible for erecting a monument to commemorate the Lamonts who died at the location of the massacre.
After the destruction of Castle of Toward, Ardlamont House, on the promontory between Tignabruaich and Loch Fyne, became the Chief’s residence.
The Lamonts have distinguished themselves in battle over the centuries. David Lamont was chaplain to the Prince of Wales in 1785 and Moderator of the Church of Scotland. Johann van Lamont was Professor of Astronomy at Munich University in the 18th century and carried out magnetic surveys of several European countries.
An heirloom of the clan is an harp which dates back to 1464. It is held by the Robertson’s of Lude, in Perthshire. It passed into the Robertson family by marriage in 1640.
The last clan lands were sold in 1893 and the present Chief of Clan Lamont lives in Australia. The Lamonts of Knockdow are the only branch still possessing clan lands.
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Clan Crest © Art Pewter Silver Ltd, East Kilbride, Scotland |
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