Clan Calder
Clan Calder is a Highland Scottish clan. The clan does not currently have a chief therefore it is considered an Armigerous clan.
Origins of the Clan
The name Calder is believed to derive from the Scottish name for a small stream. Hugh de Cadella, a French knight was created Thane of Calder, later to be known as Cawdor in Nairn, Scotland. Hugh de Kaledouer was a witness to a charter of land near Montrose in around 1178.
History
The Calders were great nobles and held lands around the city of Inverness from the 14th century onwards. The tower that stands at the center of Cawdor Castle was built by the Calders in around 1454.
The Calders married into other local families particularly the Clan Rose who were Barons of Kilravock.
Unfortunately their ascendancy came to an end when Archibald Campbell, Earl of Argyll was along with Hugh Rose of Kilravock appointed guardians to the infant female heir of the Calder family. Argyll tried to take the infant female to Inverary to be educated. This was opposed by her uncles Alexander and Hugh Calder who chased them to Strathnairn but after considerable loss of life she was safely delivered to Inverary. She was brought up as a Campbell and married Sir John Campbell, 2nd son of the Earl in 1510.[1] After Muriel's death in 1573, the Thanedom was resigned in favour of her grandson, John Campbell, creating a new clan; Clan Campbell of Cawdor.
Her descendent John Campbell of Cawdor was raised to the peerage as Lord Cawdor in 1796, and his son was created first Earl of Cawdor in 1827. The name Calder did not die out, however, and the Calders of Asswanly received lands near Elgin in 1440. Margaret Calder the daughter of Sir William Calder of Calder married John Munro, 11th Baron of Foulis, Chief of the Clan Munro. The Calders of Asswanly received a baronetcy of Nova Scotia in 1686.
