Lindsay roots & branches

Gilbert of Ghent was awarded many manors by his kinsman, William the Conqueror, in return for his support in the invasion of Britain in 1066. Many of the manors were in Lindsey, Lincolnshire; hence the family name. When Gilbert’s third son Walterus went to Scotland, at the invitation of David, Prince of Strathclyde and Cumbria, later King of Scotland, he became known as Walterus de Lyndeseia.

Walterus’s signature on a Royal Charter is the first appearance of the Lindsay name in Scotland. He and his descendants have been and are active in many sectors of Scottish life, from the highest to the humblest levels. His descendants have multiplied and split into several branches, well beyond Scotland’s borders. A strong feeling of affinity among Lindsays is fostered by gatherings and societies across the world.