The Clan Gayre

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Tartan: Gayre, Dress
Motto: Super astra spero (I hope beyond the stars)
Arms: Quarterly 1st $ 4th, Argent, a fleur de lis Sable, in the dexter chief point a mullet Vert (Gayre); 2nd & 3rd, Ermine, a fret engrailed Gules (McCulloch of Nigg)
Badge: None Available.
Crest: Issuing from a crest coronet Or, of four (three visible) strawberry leaves, a mount Vert
Plant Badge: Vegitated bay or noble laurel Proper berries Purpure

The present chief family claim that thier name comes from Cornwall, where the de Dayres were lords of many manors. The name which appears is Orkney and Shetland may derive from the Norse, "geirr", meaning "spear".

A cadet of the line of Otys Gayre of the manor of Gayre in Cornwall settled in Rosshire around 1649.The lands of Nigg had always belonged to the Maccullochs but because of a marriage, these lands were passed to the Gayres.

Thomas Nigg, the fourth Laird of Nigg and son of Alexander, was a notary public at Fort rose and chancellor of the diocese of Ross. Thomas Gayre opposed the royal candidate for the church at Nigg in 1756, but the candidate was inducted anyhow.

The Gayres became Dissenters, and William Gayre supplied land for a church to be built on. At the end of the century, Lord Akerville seized the church because the lease had come to and end. He then tore the church down and built Shandwick House. Later, the house fell down, some say because of the wrath the Lord.

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