SCOTTISH CLANS & FAMILY ASSOCIATIONS

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HONORED CLAN 2023

CLAN SKENE

www.clanskene.com

Motto: VIRTUTIS REGIA MERCES A PALACE TO REWARD THE BRAVERY

CLAN CHIEF- DUGALD SKENE

“We are but a wee nation but one with a rich and textured history, it’s important to me to promote a real sense of Scottishness, of belonging and to see how we can use that strength to promote ourselves and the country in the 21st century.” – Dugald

Dugald Alexander Skene was born on 7 September 1982, at Perth, in Scotland.  He is the second child and only son to Danus and Anne who at the time were living in Foss, rural Perthshire.  During his early childhood, the family lived in different parts of the north and east of Scotland, as teaching posts of Danus dictated. During Dugald’s teenage years, the Skenes returned to Strathmiglo where the Skenes had lived since 1683 at Pitlour, in Fife. The beautiful house there was built by the bachelor brothers Robert and Philip Skene in 1784. The family were not the ‘Head of Name’ of Skene:  the name originated in Aberdeenshire, where the Skenes of Skene lived in the House of Skene.

HISTORY

Skene is a name from the Northeast of Scotland.  Most who carry the name probably share a common ancestry, but the name may have passed in early days to others associated with Skene leaders or landlords. “Skene”, often spelled in different ways, is the same word as “sgian”, the Gaelic word for a dagger or knife.  Similarities can be seen in the Arabic translation, “sikina”, and in the Hebrew translation, “sakeen”.
     So, why is the family called “dagger”?  The place called Skene, still a parish today, probably carried the name before there were people “de skene” which means “of Skene”.  The dagger may have symbolized the dedication of the church to John the Baptist, whose head was cut off with one. The Skene crest depicts a right arm issuing from a shoulder emerging from a cloud, holding in the hand a triumphal crown. In regards to heraldry symbols, the arm represents an industrious people, someone who believes in hard work.  The clouds represent mystery and the laurel crown represents glory and victory.

Around 1217, the Skene family began construction of the central tower of the Skene Castle west of Aberdeen near the village of Lyne of Skene.  The tower was originally constructed as three arches or stories.  For security purposes, the entrance was located on the second level and was accessed with a ladder which could be pulled inside in case of an attack.  The walls were 10ft thick and the structure was covered by a mound of earth.  This structure is believed to have been the first stone and lime constructed building in the district called Mar. In 1680, Jean Burnett, Lady Skene, began renovating the tower by adding roofing and flooring allowing the structure to become known as Skene House.  A south wing was added in 1745 and the entire house underwent another remodelling between 1847 and 1850. Skene House was purchased by the Hamilton family in 1905.  Lady Hamilton passed away in 1985 and the trustees of her estate sold the house in 1995.  The current owner is Dr Nicolas Rennie.

REGISTERED 2023 CLAN CONVENERS…so far

Clan MacLeod

Clan Irwin Association

Clan Buchanan

Clan Shaw

Society of Scottish Armigers SSA

Clan MacDuff Society of America

Clan MacBean

Clan MacLean of Duart