Alexanders of Menstrie

There have been conflicting origins for this clan, which first became prominent when poet and courtier William Alexander, a great favourite of King James VI, was knighted in 1604.

He was given a grant to settle the Colony of Nova Scotia in 1621 and created Viscount of Stirling and Lord Alexander of Tullibody in 1630.

[7] However, in his authoritative work The Scots Peerage, Sir James Balfour Paul stated that there was no evidence supporting the "general assertion" that the Alexanders of Menstrie took their name from Alexander of Islay, Earl of Ross, son of Donald of Islay, Lord of the Isles.

Balfour Paul states that the Alexander surname is found in many places in Scottish history, particularly in eastern Scotland.

[8] The Irish Book of Ballymote, which was written in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, gives twelve generations from Colla Uais, who was one of the founders of the kingdom of Airgíalla in Ireland, to Somerled, Lord of the Isles (died 1164), down to John MacDonald, Lord of the Isles (died 1380) and this is followed through to the pedigree of the "Clan Alexander", but this is in reference to the parent house of the Clan MacAlister.

[9] According to Balfour Paul, the first record of an Alexander of Menstrie was Thomas Alexander of Menstrie in 1505/6, who was one of 17 assessors in a dispute between David Arnot, Abbot of Cambuskenneth and Sir David Bruce of Clackmannan related to division of the property at Cambuskenneth Abbey.

How Thomas Alexander acquired Menstrie is unknown, Balfour Paul wrote, though it is certain the land belonged to the Earl of Argyle.

William's younger brother James received a charter of the land of Glencarse in the barony of Alloway from the Earl of Mar.

Their son, the 3rd viscount, was created Earl of Mount Alexander in the Irish Peerage, in honour of his mother's family.