When did the Clan first start and from where?
What is the Clan Sinclair motto?
Does that mean that Clan Sinclair a religious group? If so, what religion?
May someone who is not a Christian be a member of Clan Sinclair
Who can become members of Clan Sinclair Associations?
What is the Clan flag?
Who can use or fly the engrailed cross and use the Chief’s crest?
What is the Sinclair Tartan and who can wear it?
Did ‘Prince’ Henry Sinclair discover North America in 1398?
When did the Clan first start and from where?
This is an impossible question to answer. The first recorded Jarl of Caithness was the Norwegian Rognvald, also Jarl of Moeri, who was, it is said, descended from Fornjotr, mythical king and giant who flourished in the Odinic age, and who was granted the title by King Harald of Norway in 875. Due to other commitments his brother Sigurd took over the role and also became Jarl of Caithness.
Another of Rognvald’s sons Hrolf conquered Normandy in France. In 911 he signed a peace treaty with King Charles the Simple of France at Saint Clair sur Epte from whence the name possibly comes. (it could come from St Clair sur Lo or Saint Clair d’Eveque). Hrolf married Charles’ daughter Gizela (Grizelda) and became the first Duke of Normandy. The family became Counts de Santo Claro and later a William of that name was a cousin of William the Conqueror, the illegitimate son of Robert 6th Duke of Normandy. At the Battle of Hastings in 1066 St. Clairs fought with distinction with William and helped him gain the throne of England. They were rewarded with land and settled in many parts of England. Like many in England at the time they also moved north to Scotland to join the existing St Clairs/ Sinclairs there.
The earliest recorded involvement in Scottish history is uncertain. Hard evidence is difficult to find but some claim it was in 1057 when William ‘The Seemly’ St Clair, returned with a delegation sent by his father's cousin, King Edward the Confessor, to Hungary to escort Edward's successor, the Atheling Edward the Exile, to England. Atheling Edward's daughter was Margaret who would marry King Malcolm Canmore of Scotland twelve years later. He was given Rosslyn in Life Rent. The first evidence of the name Sinclair in Caithness came in the mid 1300’s when Sir William St. Clair of Rosslyn married Isabella the daughter of Malise, Earl of Orkney, Caithness and Strathearn. She was a direct descendent of Sigurd and thus the two families of Rognvald reunited after four hundred years. She inherited a large portion of Caithness including the land on which Castle Sinclair Girnigoe is built and Noss Head.
The present Chief is the 20th Earl. The title was created in 1455 making it one of the oldest in Scotland.
What is the Clan Sinclair motto?
“Commit Thy Work to God".
Does that mean that Clan Sinclair a religious group? If so, what religion?
Clan Sinclair is not a religious association and the motto is not related to a single denomination. It is not a supporter or adherent of any one religion or sect. It is believed that the motto is probably Biblical in nature. Clan Sinclair is made up of many people who have the name Sinclair or St. Clair, some other spelling of the name, or Septs. The beliefs of these "cousins" are personal and are not in any way dictated by the Chief or endorsed by the clan.
May someone who is not a Christian be a member of Clan Sinclair
Of course. As has been stated, as far as Clan Sinclair is concerned, a person's beliefs are his or her own private affair. People who are interested in any part of the Sinclair Story, from the archaeological, to the genealogical, to just plain fun are welcome to join the Clan regardless of personal beliefs, be they believers, agnostics or atheists.
Who can become members of Clan Sinclair Associations?
There are clan associations in the UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the USA. Each association has its own admission rules. So far as Clan Sinclair in the UK is concerned membership is open to
1) Sinclairs by blood decent
2) Non sinclairs who are associate members with no voting rights. All applications are considered by the managemnet committee.
What is the Clan flag?
There is no registered clan flag. However the most widely associated with the clan is the engrailed cross banner.
Who can use or fly the engrailed cross and use the Chief’s crest?
The engrailed cross shield (argent, an engrailed cross sable) is the chief’s personal undifferentiated coat of arms and strictly should only be used by him. Like all Scottish Coats of arms they are protected by law to the extent that the Lord Lyon King of Arms has power to prosecute any usurpation of the Arms (see www.lyon-court.com). Thus it is technically illegal that flags and clothing with the engrailed cross are made and sold. Similarly it should not be used on one’s stationery. Symbols from other Clans are similarly produced and sadly this has now become accepted practice. Neither the Chief nor the Trust gain any financial reward from this.
It is correct for clansmen (this phrase also includes clanswomen) to wear their Chief's crest encircled with a strap and buckle bearing their Chief’s Motto or Slogan. The Sinclair crest is a cock proper. The strap and buckle is the sign of the clansman, and he demonstrates his membership of his Chief's Clan by wearing his Chief’s Crest within it.
Clan members are encouraged to matriculate their own coat of arms and the Lyon Court website provides guidance as to how to do this.
What is the Sinclair Tartan and who can wear it?
There are several tartans associated with the Sinclair clan. Some are general in the sense that clansmen can wear it (or others with the permission of the Chief) and some are personal and the use of these are therefore restricted.
See the Scottish Register of Tartans website at www.tartanregister.gov.uk
Did ‘Prince’ Henry Sinclair discover North America in 1398?
No. That is an insult to others who reached those shores before that, let alone to the residents already there. It is known that at this time, there was European and therefore most likely Scottish, contact with Iceland and Greenland. Additionally, there is some evidence, much of either unclear or contradictory, that ‘Prince’ Henry Sinclair could have sponsored, and possibly gone on, a voyage to the new world but it is not yet proven.
Although it is not an endorsement by the Chief, those who set up Prince Henry Societies are free to do so.
