Irving of Bonshaw Tartan & Clan

The name Irving, along with its many close variants like Irvine, Irwin, Irvin, and Erwing, has evolved over centuries, though its meaning and identity have remained rooted. Most researchers agree it comes from the original form Erivine, thought to derive from the Gaelic Erin-viene or Erin-fiene, meaning “true Westland man.”

This meaning is reflected in the landscape itself. The town of Irvine in Ayrshire and the ancient Parish of Irving, now known as Kirkpatrick Fleming in Dumfriesshire, carry traces of the name’s early presence in Scotland.

The spelling of the name has shifted through time, often depending on the scribe, region, or record. Colonel J.B. Irving of Bonshaw, in The Book of the Irvings (1907), noted that his ancestor William, who succeeded to Bonshaw in 1696 and married the daughter of Lord Rollo in 1698, signed his name as Irwing. When he matriculated arms at the Lyon Court (Reg. Vol. 1, p. 335), the record shows William Irvine. Later documents show both Irving and Irwing.

By the 1800s, published references regularly used a range of spellings including Irving, Irvine, Irvin, Irwin, and Erwing. That variability has continued. As Colonel Irving himself put it: “Although there were many ways of spelling it, yet it was all the same name and referring to members of the one Clan – Irving.”

For centuries, Clan Irving of Bonshaw has stood at the heart of Scotland’s Borderlands, known for their strength, loyalty, and deep-rooted ties to the nation’s history. As Borderers, the Irving's played a key role in defending their lands during the turbulent era of the Border Reivers, while their early support of Robert the Bruce secured their lasting place in Scotland’s story. Through generations of conflict and change, the clan preserved its ancestral seat at Bonshaw Tower, which remains in Irving hands to this day.

A well-known legend tells that during his escape from the English court, Robert the Bruce was given shelter by Irving of Bonshaw. He was hidden in a cave near Bonshaw Tower, now known as Bruce’s Cave, which can still be visited today. In return for this loyalty, it is said that one of Bonshaw’s sons was brought into royal service and later granted the Forest of Drum by Royal Charter.
 

While the legend adds colour, the more likely version is rooted in custom. At the time, the eldest son typically inherited the estate, while second sons often sought opportunity through service to the Crown. It is probable that a younger Irving son entered royal service, worked his way into a senior role, and was eventually rewarded with the Forest of Drum an area of strategic importance that included a fortified tower, which evolved into Drum Castle.
 

Historically, this is supported by the record of William de Irwyne, who in 1323 was granted the Forest of Drum by David II. The barony was created in 1324, and William died in 1333, succeeded by his son Thomas de Irwyne, 2nd of Drum.
 

The Irvines of Drum, descended from this line, are a distinguished Scottish family with a well-documented heritage.