In Old English "hamel dun" meant "bare hill" and there were a number of
places in England with names derived from these words. Walter de Hameldone,
owned property in near Paisley in Renfrewshire in 1294. In the War of
Independence in 1290-1305, he was initially loyal to King Edward I of
England but later supported Robert the
Bruce. He was granted further lands by Bruce in Lothian and Lanarkshire,
including lands at Cadzow (which was later renamed Hamilton). Walter's son,
David, fought for King David II at
the Battle of Neville Cross in 1346.

In 1474, James Hamilton married Princess Mary, daughter of King James II and was
made Lord Hamilton and their son, who was in line of succession to the throne,
was made Earl of Arran. The family built Brodick Castle as a
Highland home (it is now National Trust property). The second Earl of Arran was
made Regent of Scotland during the childhood of Mary Queen of Scots and proposed that his
son should marry her. However, she married the Dauphin (heir to the throne) of
France instead. Nevertheless, the Earl of Arran was created Duke of
Chatelherault, a French title. Later, the Earl tried to save Mary after her
ill-fated marriage to Lord Darnley and sheltered her at Cadzow after her escape
from Loch Leven.

The fourth Earl of Arran became Chancellor of Scotland and in 1599 and he was
advanced to the rank of Marquess. His brother Claud was created Lord Paisley and
then Lord Abercorn and this branch prospered, becoming a dukedom in 1868, with a
seat in Ulster.

The third Marquess supported King
Charles I and he was made Duke of Hamilton in 1643 and the premier peer
of Scotland. His daughter, Annie, married William Douglas, Earl of Selkirk. The
foundations of a palace, near Hamilton in Lanarkshire, were laid at this time.
The palace was later demolished because of mining subsidence but the magnificent
hunting lodge named Chatelherault still survives in
a public park. The seat of the Duke of Hamilton is now Lennoxlove, in East
Lothian.

Other Hamiltons of note in Scottish history include Patrick Hamilton who was
martyred for his Protestant beliefs in 1528 and the grandson of the 3rd Duke who
climbed Vesuvius 22 times and married Emma, Lord Nelson's beloved. The 14th Duke
was the pilot of the first plane to fly over Mount Everest (in 1933).

The Hamilton clan motto is "Through".

Hamilton was the 29th most frequent surname at the General
Register Office in 1995. Many Hamiltons, of course, derive their name
from the town of Hamilton.