Clan Hay is a major Scottish family whose senior line, the Earls of Erroll, has held the hereditary office of Lord High Constable of Scotland since the early 14th century. The family’s history is anchored in medieval records, the Erroll estates and the Slains castles of Aberdeenshire. Its traditional origin story at Luncarty is best treated as legend rather than documentary genealogy.
For wider context, see the Henderson family history and the Hamilton family history.
Where Does the Hay Name Come From?
Clan Hay’s own historical account traces the senior Erroll line to the de la Haye family recorded in 12th-century Scotland. The name is commonly linked with Normandy, but a medieval surname and a later family tradition are not enough to prove that every modern Hay descends from that line.
Erroll in Perthshire became the principal territorial association of the senior branch. In the mid-15th century, William Hay, ninth of Erroll, was created the first Earl of Erroll. The earldom and the hereditary constableship are offices of the senior line; they do not automatically establish a personal descent for other people who share the surname.
What Does the Hay Motto “Serva Jugum” Mean?
Serva Jugum is usually translated as “Keep the Yoke.” It is a heraldic motto associated with Clan Hay, alongside yoke imagery in the crest. The wording is useful historical context, but it should not be treated as evidence of the character, beliefs or ancestry of every Hay surname bearer.
The Luncarty Story: Tradition and Evidence
Clan Hay tradition tells of a Hay and his sons using an ox yoke to rally a retreating Scottish force at Luncarty, with a land grant following their victory. The story helps explain later Hay imagery, but the episode is not a securely documented 10th-century family pedigree. For research, the firmer starting point is the medieval de la Haye record and then the documented line relevant to a particular family.
Why Is the Lord High Constable Important?
Clan Hay records state that Robert the Bruce made Sir Gilbert Hay of Erroll hereditary Lord High Constable after Bannockburn in 1314. The office was one of the great offices of the medieval Scottish court and became hereditary in the Hay chiefs.
The present chief, Merlin Hay, 24th Earl of Erroll, remains Lord High Constable. The office now has a ceremonial role, but it provides an unusual continuity between a medieval Scottish office and a living clan chief.
Slains Castle and the Hays of Erroll
Old Slains Castle, near Collieston in Aberdeenshire, was associated with the Earls of Erroll. Historic Environment Scotland records that it was destroyed on James VI’s orders in 1594 after Francis Hay, ninth Earl of Erroll, joined the Huntly rebellion and had been implicated in the Spanish Blanks conspiracy.
Francis Hay then built New Slains at Cruden Bay in 1597. The later castle developed over several centuries and remained in the Hay family until 1913. These two sites should be kept distinct: Old Slains was destroyed in 1594, while the well-known coastal ruin is New Slains.
Hay History in the Reformation Era
The Erroll line was involved in the religious and political conflicts of James VI’s reign. Francis Hay’s Catholic allegiance and his alliance with Huntly brought him into open conflict with the Crown in the 1590s. After exile and a public renunciation of Catholicism, he regained royal favour. This episode is best understood as the history of particular earls and political circumstances, not a single story shared by every Hay family.
Hay, Haye and Hayes: Researching the Surname
Historical records can contain Hay, Haye, de la Haye and Hays. Irish Hayes often has different roots, though individual migration histories can create overlap in later records. Treat spelling as a research clue, then confirm people, places and parent-child links through evidence.
Start with the most recent documented Hay ancestor and work backwards through civil registration, censuses, parish records, wills and land records. Scottish research may lead to Perthshire, Aberdeenshire or other places, but geography should follow the evidence in your own family rather than a general clan map.
If your records point to this name, explore the Hay Scottish Clan Gifts collection for exact-name designs.