[4] The Clan Moffat are a family from the Scottish Borders who were powerful and influential as far back as the time of William Wallace.

[4] By the twelfth century the family were recorded as "de Moffet" which showed that they were considered to be principal lairds or land owners.

[4] Nicholas de Moffat was Bishop of Glasgow in 1286 and the armorial bearings of each branch of the clan indicates a connection with the church.

[4] In 1300 the Moffats were granted four charters of land in the barony of Westerkirk from Robert the Bruce who was then Lord of Annandale.

[4] It is likely that the story is conflated with events leading up to the Battle of Dryfe Sands, wherein the Johnstons burned a church where members of Clan Maxwell sought shelter.

[4] From at least the mid sixteenth century the clan was without a chief, until 1983 when after many years of research, Francis Moffat was granted the undifferenced Arms of Moffat of that Ilk, and recognised as the hereditary chief of the clan by Lord Lyon King of Arms.

[3][6] The surname Moffat/Moffatt is a territorial name of Norman origin with Gaelic Anglicization, given to the town of Moffat in Dumfriesshire.