Cochrane

Cochrane

Clan Cochrane of that Ilk in Ayrshire and of Renfrewshire, Scotland, descended from William, Lord Cochrane and Baron Paisley, who acquired the barony from the Earl of Angus in 1653. The Cochrane family descended from Viking invaders who settled in Renfrewshire between the 8th and 10th centuries. The three boars' heads on the shield of the chief traditionally represent three wild and ferocious boars killed by a warrior of the clan. The first recorded member of the clan was Waldev de Coveran who witnessed a charter in 1262, and his son or grandson, William de Coveran paid homage to Edward I of England in the Ragman Roll of 1296. In 1346 and 1366, John de Coveran witnessed the election of the Abbot of Paisley. Goselin de Cochran was a favourite of King Robert II. William Cochran of that Ilk obtained from Robert II, a charter of the lands of Cochran, where at Dundonald, the king built a castle in 1350 and where he, and his son Robert III died. The castle and it's estate were acquired by the clan in 1638, and in 1669, William Cochrane took the title Earl of Dundonald. When William failed to produce an heir, he allowed his daughter and heir, Elizabeth only to marry on the condition that her husband took the name and arms of Cochrane. Of another line, Robert Cochrane built the Great Hall of Stirling Castle and was created Earl of Mar, but was hanged as a counterfeiter in 1481. Elizabeth's son, Sir John Cochrane fought for the king in the Civil War and then served in Poland as an ambassador for the king. Thomas, 10th Earl captained a brig of 54 men in 1801 which captured a 32 gun Spanish frigate with a complement of over 300 men. He was struck from the Navy List in 1817 for a financial irregularity and then went to Chile where he organised their navy and helped secure their independence; he also done likewise for Peru, Brazil and Greece. In 1832 he was reinstated on the Navy List with the rank of Rear Admiral and was buried at Westminster Abbey.

Arms: Argent, a chevron gules between three boars' heads erased azure, armed and langued of the first.

Crest: A horse passant argent.

Motto: Virtute et labore (By valour and exertion)

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