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The Medieval Period (1100AD - 1499AD)

The Stewarts - An Ayrshire Dynasty

The Stewarts - An Ayrshire Dynasty

The original name of the Stewart family was Fitz-Alan. Alain was Grandson of Alain, Dapifer (Steward) to the Archbishop of Dol (Brittany) and was invited to England by Henry the 1st, he held an Estate in Shropshire and died in 1114. His son Walter returned to Scotland along with David the 1st in 1141. He was granted Estates in Renfrew and Kyle and was made Seneschal (Steward) of Scotland. This office was made hereditary in 1158 and it would eventually lead to the family being refered to as the Stewards or Stewarts. Walter Fitz-Alan also founded Paisley Abbey in 1163.

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