Origins of the Scottish Clan Name Napier
A quick history of the somewhat controversial origins of the Clan Napier
Growing up, much emphasis had been placed upon my father’s lineage: it wasn’t until much later in my adult life that I took an interest in my mother’s line (especially after being made aware of some of its more compelling details), and thereafter began questioning many of my previous assumptions. Being one of the oldest (and smallest) clans of Scotland whose present-day spelling only came into common usage after the 17th Century, the Napier Clan is traditionally and universally agreed to have descended from the ancient Earls of Lennox: one of the Celtic royal families of both Scotland and Ireland. There has been much controversy regarding the actual origin of the name, however, and the debate generally sides on either of two versions: one founded in Norman England, and the other from more decidedly Scottish roots.
Although people bearing some variant of the name certainly existed in England (and possibly even France) as early as the 12th century, and individuals using the name are listed participating in the Edward I campaign into Scotland (specifically at the Battle of Falkirk), there is little more than circumstantial evidence linking such persons to the actual clan in Scotland. Regardless, the English origin theory holds that the original form of Napier must have been “Mappor” or “Napper” (Keeper of the Linens in a Royal Household) such as William Dodgson Bowman rather emphatically states in his “Story of Surnames” (1931):
"To these old names the present-day Ewers, Nappers and Napiers owe their surnames"
From such a perspective there indeed seems ample linguistic support for the assertion of the surname being derived from an occupation or position such as one finds with Stewart (“the Steward”), as there can be little doubt that such an office existed in both English and Scottish royal courts. However, there is also compelling (and perhaps more credible) evidence in support of the counter-theory within the historical archives.
In 1625, Sir Archibald Napier of Merchiston, the first Lord Napier, presented an affidavit to the College of Heralds, in which he described the origin of the name Napier as having been bestowed by the king (probably Alexander II) on one Donald Lennox in recognition for acts of bravery. An excerpt from this historical document states:
"Know ye that I, Sir Archibald Napier of Merchiston in the Kingdom of Scotland Knt., Deputy Treasurer and one of His Majesty's privy council there. Forasmuch as my entirely beloved kinsmen Sir Robert Napier of Luton Hoo now of the County of Bedford Knt. And Bart., Sir Nathaniel Napier of Middlemarsh Hall, Nicholas Napier of Tintinhull Esq., John and Robert Napier of Puncknowle in the County of Dorset Esquires, being desirous of being confirmed of their pedigree and descent from my house, I have to satisfy their lawful and laudable request herein declared the truth thereof, and the original of our name, as by tradition from father to son we have generally and without doubt received the same - That one of the Ancient Earls of Lennox in Scotland had issue three sons, the eldest Alexander succeeded him in the earldom of Lennox, the second was named Donald, and the third named Gilchrist (he for killing two of the Abbott of Paisley's servants for fishing in the river of Linfren lived outlawed all his lifetime among the hills of Arrochar) his father gave the lands of Kilpatrick to the Abbey for satisfaction of the offence.
"Alexander the then King of Scots having wars did concreate his lieges in the battle, amongst whom he that commanded was the Earl of Lennox (keeping his eldest son at home) sent his second son to serve for him with the forces that were under his command. This battle went hard with the Scots, for the enemy pressing furiously upon them forced them to give ground until at last the fell to flat running away which being perceived by Donald he pulled his father's standard from the bearer thereof and valiantly encountering the foe being well followed by the Earl of Lennox's men, he repulsed the enemy and changed the fortune of the day, whereby a great victory was got. After the battle as the manor is everyone advancing and setting forth his own acts the King said unto them "Ye have all done well but there is one amongst you who hath Na peer," and calling Donald into his presence he commanded him in regard of his worthy service and in augmentation of his honour to change his name from Lenox to Napier, and gave him the lands of Gosford and lands in Fife and made him his own servant, which discourse is confirmed by sundry of my old evidencies and testimonies wherein we are called Lenox alias Napier.
"After this the earldom of Lennox for want of heirs male fell to daughters, the eldest thereof was married to Sir Murdoch Menteith of Rosko who was Earl of Lennox during his natural life; the younger was married to Lord Darnley (of whom is descended the King's Majesty by Henry Darnley who married Mary, Queen of Scots and by a younger branch Lord [undecipherable] and Richmond who died in 1614, the Dukes of Lenox and divers other nobles of Scotland). Sir Murdoch Menteith had two daughters the second married to Halden of Glenegis and the first was married to John Napier of Rosko and Merchiston being the son of Sir Alexander Napier of Merchiston Knt. descended from Donald aforesaid.
"Amongst them was great strife and controversies for the title and honour of Lennox but the revenue was divided among them and I hold some lands to this day in Lenox which came to my ancestors by the same division as also certain lands which did anciently belong to the said Menteith; for he by the laws and customs of the country enjoyed the same for his life, and left the same to descend to Halden of Glenegis; but Napier of Merchiston besides his marriage bore his ancient arms, surname and descent from the house of the Earls of Lenox: the Lord Darnley was in the King's special favour and inclination which being known to Napier of Merchiston being then in the King's service he relinquished his suit and it is said got Blarnivader for that cause. But I do find that he did give his part of the fishing of Leven and the watermouth of Inch Taverock with the patronage of some churches for Blarnivader. And for the further testimony for this affection of the said Napiers of Merchiston the Lord Darnley did in recompense of their relinquishing their claim to the dignity of Lenox, tie himself to support and maintain the said house of Napier and their heirs in all just occasions and engagements as by ancient evidences is manifested and appeareth…”
There is further evidence to support the “Nae Peer” hypothesis, namely regarding the English Language “vowel shift” that occurred in the 15th and 16th centuries, as stated by Lt. Col. (now Brig. Gen.) John H Napier III, Lieutenant to the Chief, Clan Napier in North America, and presented in the Spring 1997 issue of Sans Tache, the newsletter of that society:
“…My collection evolved into a Source List that Charlie Napier of Morningside, Edinburgh, and I compiled and sent to leading depositories in the UK and USA that already hold my book Dr Patrick Napier; His Ancestors and Some Descendants, as a supplement to it. In Appendix II [of the Source List] Charlie mulled over the different spellings of our name and found the first insertion of the letter "i" in a document of 5 September 1531 ("honorabile viro Joanni Napeir de Kilmahew"). In about 1620 began the modern accepted spelling of "Napier". Charlie couldn't account for the change, but recently in re-reading his speculations, I remembered suddenly The Great Vowel Shift and began more research. All the sounds of English vowels and diphthongs changed. Of particular interest to us is that medieval "close |o" was long, rather than short as is the single "e" ("eh") or unvocalized ("uh") today. To preserve its value, the "close |o" had to be re-spelled as "ee" , as in "see" and "keen", or "ie", due partly to the French influence, as in "field" or Napier! So, medieval "Naper" and modern "Napier" sounded exactly the same - nae-peer!
Remember that there was no standardized spelling (or orthography) in English until Dr Samuel Johnson's dictionary in Great Britain in 1755 and Noah Webster's American dictionary in 1828. John Napier of logarithms fame (1515-1617), "Marvellous Merchiston", wrote his name with perfect indifference as Nepair, Naipper, Naper, Napper, Napeir, and Napare. Significantly, as his fame spread to Europe after publication of his Playne Discovery of the Whole Revelation of St John in 1594, 20 years before his Logarithms, German scientists and divines referred to him as "a Scottish gentleman named 'Peerless'", and on the title page of the French translation he is called "Jean Napeir (NOMPAREIL), Sieur de Merchiston".
Regardless which origin one prefers, the first, certain historical reference to the name Napier in Scotland is within a charter of Malcolm, Earl of Lennox, which dates to some time before 1290. In this document are granted lands to John de Naper in both Kilmahew and Dunbartonshire. The Napiers then held the lands at Kilmahew for another eighteen consecutive generations (until their loss in 1820).
Sources:
the Clan Napier Society website: clannapier.org
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