: Does anyone
: known whether Caldwell appears among the 2000 names
: listed in the Ragman's Roll of 1296, in which Scottish
: nobles and gentry pled allegiance to Edward I? If
: Caldwells were a promonent clan in the 13th century,
: using Caldwell as a surname, I would expect them to be
: so listed. Likewise, if there were tax rolls in the
: 13th century, would not the surname Caldwell have
: appeared?

Caldwell wasn't ever a clan, itself, but would have belonged to another clan.

It's kind of interesting, really. My father had always said that we were from Clan Stewart, but I've found some conflicting information.

In Gaelic, the word "clann" means family or children, although it's undetermined if the origins of of the clan was Celtic, Norse, or Norman. It's interesting to note that "Bruce" comes from Brix, which is a Normandy place name.

Anyway, Walter Fitzalan, 1st High Stewart of Scotland, was the founder of the Paisley Abbey, and won the battle of Renfrew in the mid-1100s.

He had a descendant, Walter Fitzalan, who changed his name to Stewart in honor of his family's position and was married to a/the daughter of King Robert the Bruce.

About that same time was a Walter Fitz-Gilbert. Sir Walter Fitz-Gilbert of Hameldone, Northumbria, was an English knight said to be of Norman descent.

Fitz-Gilbert joined King Robert the Bruce in the battle at Bannockburn and was rewarded with lands in Renfrewshire, the Lothians, and Cadzow in South Lanarkshire which would be named Hamilton.

Sir Walter's son, Sir David, Duke of Hamilton, was captured at the Battle of Durham by the English along with David II, son of King Robert. They were both later ransomed.

Now, David II's sister, Marjory, had married Walter (Fitzalan) Stewart and had a son would would become King Robert II.

So, back to clans.

It could be said that Caldwell, by residence of Paisley in Renfrewshire were Clan Stewart.

Here's where it gets interesting;

In England, the Royal keeper of all the clan stuff (sorry, can't remember the title), lists Caldwell as a member of Clan Hamilton.

After the War of 1745, any Scot not affiliated with a Clan was lumped into Clan Stewart. This wouldn't really apply to Uster-Scot Caldwells, or those coming to America prior to 1745.

So, is it Stewart or Hamilton? I'd guess that it would bepend upon when someone started counting.