08 June 2017
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Clan Davidson arms
Find out more about Clan Davidson with this clan spotlight, looking at the origins of Clan Davidson, the history of the Clan Davidson society and its current activities.
Find out more about Clan Davidson with this clan spotlight, looking at the origins of Clan Davidson, the history of the Clan Davidson society and its current activities.
Traditionally it has been understood that the Clan Davidson had its roots at least as far back as the 14th century. The Clan is believed to have originated in the Scottish Highlands in the Badenoch area of the valley of the Upper Spey. The modern-day towns of Newtonmore, Kingussie, and Aviemore are located in the centre of this area.
We are also aware of other separate clusters of Davidson families, such as in the Samieston area in the Borders region between Kelso and Jedburgh. Today the Davidson [or Davison name] in Scotland is most often found in the North East of Scotland [Aberdeenshire] followed by the South West Scotland [Ayrshire], and the Borders region. Elsewhere, the Davidson/Davison name is also widely found in Northumberland and Co Durham in England, and Co Antrim in Northern Ireland.
The Clan Davidson Association was revived in the UK in 1991 after being in abeyance for some 50 years. [The previous association, the Clan Dhai, had started in 1909, and lasted until the beginning of the 2nd World War in 1939]. Today the Clan Davidson Association is active with an international membership.
We are interested in every aspect concerning the name Davidson and the associated names. [Davison, Dawson, Deason, Dyson, Davis, Dey, Day, Daw, Deas, Dees, Kay , Keay, Dean, MacDaid, MacDade, and McKeddie].
We encourage friendship between Davidsons and their descendants both across the UK and internationally. The Clan Davidson Association meet for a social AGM/Gathering weekend every year at different locations. These events are an opportunity for members and their families to get to know each other.
We maintain close links with the well-established Clan Davidson Societies in Australia, New Zealand, and North America. We research the origins, traditions, and history of the Davidsons wherever they have lived. We collect copies of historical portraits, and maintain a substantial image library.
We maintain a wide ranging and growing genealogical archive which include every aspect of Davidson family history and heraldry. We offer advice to anyone interested in their Davidson history and share our historical information held in our archives. We maintain an up-to-date website and a Facebook page. We publish three Newsletters per year, and an annual journal, The Pheon which includes a range of in-depth articles submitted by our members.
The Chief of the Clan Davidson is Grant Guthrie Davidson, 3rd of Davidston. The Chief is resident in New Zealand. He took on the role from his late father Alister [Jock] Davidson who died in December 2014. The New Zealand family are descendants of the Davidson of Tulloch family. The Tulloch family had been acclaimed as the Chiefly family in 1906. The Chieftainship had lain vacant from 1917 until 1998. It took the New Zealand family almost 50 years to finally prove their right to the title with Lord Lyon in Scotland.
Tulloch Castle was the ancestral home of the earlier generation of Chiefs of the Clan Davidson. This Davidson family acquired the Castle from their cousins the Bayne family in 1763. The Castle is now a hotel. In 2007, the Clan Davidson Association converted a former store room into an information centre at the Castle. The Clan Davidson Room is open to all visitors. On display inside the Room is a collection of pictures, posters, books, maps, and artefacts, such as Davidson glass, and china, and medals donated by Davidsons from round the world.
Membership of the Clan Davidson Association
We welcome new members from the UK and overseas regardless of whether they still bear the Davidson name and we supply a welcome pack to all new members. Check out our website and download an application form, or email us for further information. We do our best to promptly respond to all enquires.
