Earl of Atholl

See also: Duke of Atholl

Earldom of Atholl
The Arms of the Realm and Ancient Local Principalities of Scotland
Creation date	12th century
Peerage	Peerage of Scotland
First holder	Dubdon of Atholl (Mormaerdom)
Present holder	Bruce Murray, 12th Duke of Atholl
Status	Extant as subsidiary title of Duke of Atholl
Former seat(s)	Blair Castle

The Mormaer or Earl of Atholl was the title of the holder of a medieval comital lordship straddling the highland province of Atholl (Ath Fodhla), now in northern Perthshire. Atholl is a special Mormaerdom, because a King of Atholl is reported from the Pictish period. The only other two Pictish kingdoms to be known from contemporary sources are Fortriu and Circinn. Indeed, the early 13th century document known to modern scholars as the de Situ Albanie repeats the claim that Atholl was an ancient Pictish kingdom. In the 11th century, the famous Crínán of Dunkeld may have performed the role of Mormaer.

Royal connections continued with Máel Muire, who was the son of King Donnchad I, and the younger brother of Máel Coluim III mac Donnchada. Matad was perhaps the most famous of the Mormaers, fathering Harald Maddadsson, a notorious rebel of the Scottish King and perhaps the first Gael to rule Orkney as Earl of Orkney. The line of Máel Muire and Crínán came to an end when Forbhlaith, the daughter of Mormaer Henry married David de Hastings.

The latter marriage produced a daughter, Ada, who married into the Strathbogie family, a semi-Normanized Gaelic family with Fife origins. The Strathbogies ruled until the Wars of Independence, when the Campells took over. It finally passed to the Stewarts.

Early Mormaers/Earls of Atholl

• Dubdon (fl. 960s)
• Duncan II MacDonachadh 970s – 1010
• Crínán? (died 1045)
• ?
• Máel Muire, Earl of Atholl (fl. 1130s), son of Duncan I of Scotland
• Matad, Earl of Atholl (died 1151x1161), son of Máel Muire of Scotland
• Máel Coluim, Earl of Atholl (died 1190s), son of Matad, Earl of Atholl
• Henry, Earl of Atholl (died 1211) son of Máel Coluim, Earl of Atholl
• Isabella, Countess of Atholl
  • m. Thomas of Galloway (died 1232)
  • m. (?) Alan Durward
• Padraig, Earl of Atholl (died 1241)
• Forbhlaith, Countess of Atholl
  • m. David de Hastings
• Ada, Countess of Atholl (died 1264) m. John de Strathbogie
• David de Strathbogie, 8th Earl of Atholl (died 1270)
• John de Strathbogie, 9th Earl of Atholl (died 1306)
• David II Strathbogie, Earl of Atholl (died 1326) (forfeited)

After David II, two of others of his name claimed the lordship, though neither exercised it:

• • David III Strathbogie, titular Earl of Atholl (died 1335)
  • David IV Strathbogie, titular Earl of Atholl (died 1369)

Earls of Atholl; Second creation (1320)

• John Campbell, 1st Earl of Atholl (died 1333) inherited the property confiscated from David II Strathbogie in about 1320, but died without issue

Earls of Atholl; Third creation (1341)

• William Douglas, 1st Earl of Atholl (died 1353) resigned his earldom upon or shortly after creation

Earls of Atholl; Fourth creation (1342)

Other titles: Earl of Strathearn (1358, abd. 1369, regained 1370)

• Robert Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl (1316–1390), grandson of Robert I, ceased to be Earl of Atholl in 1367, and later became King Robert II in 1371
• John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl, his father resigned the title in favor of John on 31 May 1367; John later became King Robert III of Scotland in 1390.

Earls of Atholl; Fifth creation (1398)

Other titles: Duke of Rothesay (1398) and Earl of Carrick (c. 1390)

• David Stewart, Duke of Rothesay, 1st Earl of Atholl (died 1402), grandson of Robert II, died without issue

Earls of Atholl; Sixth creation (1403)

Other titles: Duke of Albany (1398), Earl of Fife (1371, res. 1372) and Earl of Buchan (1382, res. 1406)

• Robert Stewart, Duke of Albany, 1st Earl of Atholl (1340–1420), third son of Robert II, was created Earl of Atholl for the life of his brother (Robert III) only. He therefore lost the earldom upon the death of his brother in 1406.

Earls of Atholl; Seventh creation (1404)

Other titles: Earl of Caithness (1375, abd c 1428–1430), Earl of Strathearn (1427 for life), Earl of Caithness (1430) and Baron Cortachy (1409)

• Walter Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl (died 1437), sixth and youngest son of Robert II, was attainted (his honours forfeit) and executed for his part in the murder of James I

Earls of Atholl; Eighth creation (1457)

Arms of the Stewart Earls of Atholl, in stained glass at Stirling Castle

Other titles: Lord of Balveny (1460)

• John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl (1440–1512) (a half-brother of James II (from a different Stewart family))
• John Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl (died 1521), only son of the 1st Earl
• John Stewart, 3rd Earl of Atholl (1507–1542), only son of the 2nd Earl
• John Stewart, 4th Earl of Atholl (died 1579), only son of the 3rd Earl
• John Stewart, 5th Earl of Atholl (1563–1595), only son of the 4th Earl, died without male issue.

Earls of Atholl; Ninth creation (1596)

Other titles: Lord Innermeath (1469)

• John Stewart, 1st Earl of Atholl (1566–1603) (only son of the 5th Lord Innermeath)
• James Stewart, 2nd Earl of Atholl (died 1625) (only son of the 1st Earl, died without issue and both titles became extinct)

Earls of Atholl; Tenth creation (1629)

See also: Duke of Atholl

• John Murray, 1st Earl of Atholl (died 1642) (son of William Murray, 2nd Earl of Tullibardine and grandson of the 5th Earl of Atholl via his mother)
• John Murray, 3rd Earl of Tullibardine, 2nd Earl of Atholl (1631–1703) (elder son of the 1st Earl; became 2nd Earl of Atholl in 1642, 3rd Earl of Tullibardine in 1670, and created Marquess of Atholl in 1676)
• John Murray, 2nd Marquess of Atholl (1660–1724) (eldest son of the 1st Marquess; created Duke of Atholl in 1703)

Family tree of Dukes, Marquesses, and Earls of Atholl

Earl of Atholl (fourth creation), 1367 Robert Stewart 1316–1390 1st Earl of Atholl, Earl of Strathearn, Later Robert II, King of Scots Earl of Atholl (sixth creation), 1403 Earl of Atholl (seventh creation), 1404 John Stewart c. 1337–1406 2nd Earl of Atholl, Earl of Carrick, Later Robert III, King of Scots Robert Stewart 1340–1420 Duke of Albany, Earl of Atholl Walter Stewart c. 1360–1437 Earl of Atholl, Earl of Strathearn, Earl of Caithness Earldom of Atholl (fourth creation) merged in the crown, 1390 Earldom of Atholl (sixth creation) expired on the death of Robert III, 1406 Earldom of Atholl (seventh creation) attainted, 1404 Earl of Atholl (fifth creation), 1398 David Stewart 1378–1402 Duke of Rothesay, Earl of Atholl, Earl of Carrick James I 1394–1437 King of Scots Joan Beaufort c. 1404–1445 Queen of Scots James Stewart "Black Knight of Lorn" 1399–c. 1451 Earldom of Atholl (fifth creation) extinct, 1402 Earl of Atholl (eighth creation), c. 1457 Lord of Balveny, 1460 John Stewart c. 1437–1442–1512 1st Earl of Atholl John Stewart after 1475 – before 1522 2nd Earl of Atholl John Stewart 1507–1542 3rd Earl of Atholl John Stewart "the fair" d. 1579 4th Earl of Atholl Earl of Atholl (ninth creation), 1596 Lord Murray of Tullibardine, 1604, Earl of Tullibardine (first creation) and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder, 1606 John Stewart 1566–1603 1st Earl of Atholl, 6th Lord Innermeath Marie Ruthven (d. after 1605) John Stewart 1563–1595 5th Earl of Atholl John Murray (c. 1550 – c. 1609) 1st Earl of Tullibardine, Lord Murray of Tullibardine, and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder Earldom of Atholl (eighth creation) extinct, 1595 Earl of Tullibardine (second creation), 1628 James Stewart d. 1625 2nd Earl of Atholl Dorothea Stewart William Murray c. 1574–1627 2nd Earl of Tullibardine, Lord Murray of Tullibardine, and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder Patrick Murray 1578–1644 1st Earl of Tullibardine, Lord Murray of Tullibardine, and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder Earldom of Atholl (ninth creation) extinct, 1625 Resigned Earldom of Tullibardine and lordships in favour of his brother, 1626 Baron Strange (fourth creation), 1628 Earl of Atholl (tenth creation), 1629 James Stanley 1607–1651 7th Earl of Derby, 1st Baron Strange John Murray c. 1610–1642 1st Earl of Atholl James Murray 1617–1670 2nd Earl of Tullibardine, Lord Murray of Tullibardine, and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder Marquess of Atholl, Earl of Tullibardine, Viscount of Balquhidder, and Lord Murray, Balveny and Gask, 1676 Charles Stanley 1628–1672 8th Earl of Derby, 2nd Baron Strange Amelia Ann Sophia Stanley 1633–1702/03 John Murray 1631–1703 1st Marquess of Atholl, 2nd Earl of Atholl, 3rd Earl of Tullibardine, Lord Murray of Tullibardine, and Lord Murray, Gask and Balquhidder Patrick Murray (c. 1644 – c. 1661–1664) styled Lord Murray and Gask James Murray (c. 1652 – c. 1664–1670) styled Lord Murray and Gask Earl of Tullibardine, Viscount Glenalmond and Lord Murray, 1696 Duke of Atholl, Marquess of Tullibardine, Earl of Strathtay and Strathardle Viscount of Balwhidder, Glenalmond and Glenlyon, Lord Murray, Balveny and Gask, 1703 Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 1686 William Richard George Stanley c. 1655–1702 9th Earl of Derby, 3rd Baron Strange James Stanley 1664–1736 10th Earl of Derby, 6th Baron Strange John Murray 1660–1724 1st Duke of Atholl, 2nd Marquess of Atholl Charles Murray 1661–1710 1st Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Henrietta Stanley 1687–1718 4th Baroness Strange John Murray 1684–1709 styled Marquess of Tullibardine William Murray 1689–1746 styled Marquess of Tullibardine James Murray 1690–1764 2nd Duke of Atholl, 7th Baron Strange George Murray 1694–1760 John Murray 1685–1752 2nd Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet William Murray 1696–1756 3rd Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Attainted and excluded from succession Attainted and excluded from succession Henrietta Ashburnham c. 1716–1732 5th Baroness Strange John Murray 1728–1729 styled Marquess of Tullibardine James Murray 1735–1736 styled Marquess of Tullibardine Charlotte Murray 1731–1805 8th Baroness Strange John Murray 1729–1774 3rd Duke of Atholl John Murray 1730–1809 4th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Earl Strange and Baron Murray of Stanley in the County of Gloucester, 1786 Baron Dunmore, 1831 John Murray 1755–1830 4th Duke of Atholl, 1st Earl Strange and Baron Murray of Stanley, 9th Baron Strange George Murray 1761–1803 George Murray 1762–1836 5th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 1st Baron Dunmore Alexander Murray 1764–1842 Baron Glenlyon, of Glenlyon in the County of Perth Charlotte Murray 1775–1832 m. Adam Drummond, 7th Baron of Megginch John Murray 1778–1846 5th Duke of Atholl, 2nd Earl Strange and Baron Murray of Stanley, 10th Baron Strange James Murray 1782–1837 1st Baron Glenlyon George Murray 1784–1860 John Drummond 1803–1889 8th Baron of Megginch George Augustus Frederick John Murray 1814–1864 6th Duke of Atholl, 11th Baron Strange, 3rd Baron Murray of Stanley, 2nd Baron Glenlyon George Edward Murray 1818–1854 Alexander Edward Murray 1804–1845 6th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 2nd Baron Dunmore Virginius Murray 1817–1861 Malcolm Drummond 1856–1924 9th Baron of Megginch John James Hugh Henry Stewart-Murray 1840–1917 7th Duke of Atholl, 12th Baron Strange, 4th Baron Murray of Stanley, 3rd Baron Glenlyon George Herbert Murray 1849–1936 Douglas Stuart Murray 1853–1920 Charles Adolphus Murray 1841–1907 7th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 3rd Baron Dunmore Reginald Murray 1846–1925 John George Stewart-Murray 1871–1942 8th Duke of Atholl and Marquess of Tullibardine, 13th Baron Strange, 5th Baron Murray of Stanley, 4th Baron Glenlyon James Thomas Stewart-Murray 1879–1957 9th Duke of Atholl, 14th Baron Strange, 6th Baron Murray of Stanley, 5th Baron Glenlyon George Evelyn Pemberton Murray 1880–1947 George Murray 1884–1940 Alexander Edward Murray 1871–1962 8th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 4th Baron Dunmore Arthur Charles Murray 1882–1964 Earldom of Strange and Baronies of Murray and Glenlyon extinct and Barony of Strange abeyant, 1957 Baron Strange (fourth creation) abeyance terminated, 1965 John Drummond 1900–1982 15th Baron Strange, 10th Baron of Megginch George Anthony Murray 1907–1945 Edward David Murray 1908–1940 styled Viscount Fincastle Reginald Arthur Murray 1911–1981 10th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Kenneth Randolph Murray 1913–1995 11th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Baron Strange (fourth creation) abeyant, 1982–1986 Jean Cherry Drummond 1928–2008 16th Baroness Strange, 11th Baroness of Megginch George Iain Murray 1931–1996 10th Duke of Atholl John Murray 1929–2012 11th Duke of Atholl John Alexander Murray 1939–1980 9th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet, 5th Baron Dunmore Barony Dunmore extinct, 1980 Adam Humphrey Drummond b. 1953 17th Baron Strange, 12th Baron of Megginch Bruce George Ronald Murray 12th Duke of Atholl b. 1960 Malcolm Kenneth Murray b. 1946 12th Earl of Dunmore, Viscount of Fincastle, and Lord Murray of Blair, Moulin and Tillimet Geoffrey Charles Murray b. 1949 Heir presumptive to the Earldom of Dunmore John Adam Humphrey Drummond b. 1992 Michael Bruce John Murray b. 1985 styled Marquess of Tullibardine David Nicholas George Murray b. 1986 Heir apparent to the Barony of Strange Heir apparent to the Dukedom of Atholl

See also

• Clan Murray
• Atholl

References

• Anderson, Alan Orr, Early Sources of Scottish History: AD 500–1286, 2 Vols, (Edinburgh, 1922)
• Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Atholl, Earls and Dukes of" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 849–851.
• Roberts, John L., Lost Kingdoms: Celtic Scotland in the Middle Ages, (Edinburgh, 1997)