The elements used in the surname would denote the differences between the Gaels—who have been generally thought to have begun migration to Scotland in about the 5th century—and the native Welsh speaking Britons, particularly those of the Kingdom of Strathclyde.

The stronghold of these early Galbraiths was on the island of Inchgalbraith which is located on the west side of Loch Lomond about 2 miles south-east of Luss.

[3] The man who is considered to be first chief of Clan Galbraith was Gilchrist Bretnach who married the granddaughter of the first Earl of Lennox.

[5] The fourth chief, Sir William Galbraith of Buthernock, married a sister of "Black Comyn" who was head of the most powerful family in Scotland at the time.

[3] 'Good Sir James Douglas' is famous for perishing in Spain against the Saracens, while leading a small band of Scottish knights carrying Bruce's heart to the Holy Land.

As many as 600 members of the clan were forced to flee after the failure of the revolt, exiled to Kintyre and the Isle of Gigha, where they adopted the new name of MacBhreatneaich or M'Vretny ("son of the Briton").

It seemed more likely that the Galbraiths, allied with the Buchanans would direct their vengeance against the MacAulays and Colquhouns, under the guise of hunting and clearing the Clan Gregor from the Lennox.

But usually not: the vast majority of the Scottish population of any surname show no crest or badges and demonstrate no such “clan allegiance”.

[1][10] The motto is derived from a phrase in Ovid's Metamorphoses "ab obice saevior" ("fiercer because of the obstruction", describing a river which when dammed only flowed more violently), but inverted by changing "saevior" ("fiercer") for "suavior" ("gentler"), according to John D. Christie, reflecting the bear's muzzle on the heraldic crest.