Sinclair History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

Etymology of Sinclair

What does the name Sinclair mean?

The Sinclair surname was a Norman habitation name, derived from when families lived at St. Clai-sur-Elle in La Manche and in St-Clair-L'Evêque in Calvados, Normandy where the site of the seignorial castle is still discernible. 1

Sinclair Coat of Arms Creation

The Gordons now claim to be " Cocks of the North," a title which the Sinclairs of Caithness, who have a Gallic cock (rooster) as their crest, say ought to be theirs. Why it should be called " Gallic " they can scarcely explain, unless it be that this clan is of French origin.

The senior branch of the Sinclair Clan and several of the collateral branches carry, on the authority of the Lyon Office, a " Cock proper " as crest. The crest was not always carried as at present like a proper barn-door fowl. In 1566 George Sinclair, fourth Earl of Caithness, used arms quartered with those of his wife, Lady Elizabeth Graham, daughter of the Earl of Montrose, and in these the cock is shown full face with wings extended. The family tradition is that the Earls of Caithness, until the battle of Flodden, were " Cocks of the North." After that battle the clan became a very small one, as all the fighting men were killed, and the Duke of Gordon then assumed the designation.

The cock is an emblem of watchfulness and mirth after victory. It was placed on the summit of churches as an emblem of vigilance, or as a warning against St Peter's sin. 2

Early Origins of the Sinclair family

The surname Sinclair was first found in the barony of Roslyn, Midlothian where King Alexander I of Scotland granted a parcel of land to William de Sancto Claro in 1162. They were originally from St Clare, Pont d'Eveque, Normandy, and are descended from Walderness Compte de Saint Clare who arrived in England with William the Conqueror.

"Wace mentions the Sire de St. Clair at Hastings. This was Richard de St. Clair who held lands, Suffolk, 1086, 3" 4 The Domesday Book also notes that Britel de St. Clair, brother of the aforementioned Richard de St. Clair held lands in Somerset. Britel's son William de St. Clair held lands in Dorset in 1130.

Despite these early records in England, the name is more often than not associated with Scotland. For it is there that the name excelled both in numbers and power. "The first Sinclairs in Scotland appear to have been vassals of the great territorial magnates, de Morville. Their first possession in Scotland was the barony of Roslin, near Edinburgh, which they held in the reign of David I (1124-1153). The earliest bearers of the name appear in charters connected with the abbeys of Dryburgh and Newbattle, the Hospital of Soltre (now Soutra in Midlothian), the church of Glasgow, etc." 5

Sir Henry Sinclair fought with King Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn, and helped assure the independence of the Scottish Kingdom. Sir Henry's son married Isabel, the heiress of the earldom of Orkney, and their son became the senior Earl of Norway. The Clan achieved great status having married into both Norwegian and Scottish royalty.

Back in England, the name prospered as well as The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 confirms: John de Sanet Claro in Suffolk; Robert de Sancto Claro in Somerset; and William de Sancto Claro in Kent. 6

Over in Somerset, from the first listing above, Richard Seinteclere and William Seyncler were both listed in Kirby's Quest. 7

Early History of the Sinclair family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sinclair research. Another 189 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1330, 1345, 1400, 1455, 1470, 1566, 1576, 1582, 1607, 1610, 1643, 1676, 1683, 1696, 1750 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Sinclair History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sinclair Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sinclair, Saint Clare, Sancto Claro, Singular, Sinclaire, Seincler, Sanclar, Sincklair, Sinclear, Sincler and many more.

Early Notables of the Sinclair family

Notable among the family at this time was

Henry I Sinclair, Earl of Orkney, Baron of Roslin (c. 1345-1400), Scottish and a Norwegian nobleman; Prince of Orkney, 3rd Earl of Orkney; and George Sinclair or Sinclar (d. 1696), a Scottish mathemat...
Other notables include: George Sinclair fourth Earl of Caithness (d. 1582), second, but eldest surviving, son of John, third Earl of Caithness; and George Sinclair, fifth Earl of Caithness (1566?-1643...
John Sinclair (died 1566), was Bishop of Brechin, the fourth son of Sir Oliver Sinclair of Roslin, and a younger brother of Oliver Sinclair. Another John Sinclair, seventh Lord Sinclair (1610-1676), w...

Sinclair World Ranking

In the United States, the name Sinclair is the 1,107^th most popular surname with an estimated 27,357 people with that name. 8 However, in Canada, the name Sinclair is ranked the 292^nd most popular surname with an estimated 14,950 people with that name. 9 And in Australia, the name Sinclair is the 232^nd popular surname with an estimated 14,658 people with that name. 10 New Zealand ranks Sinclair as 84^th with 4,428 people. 11 The United Kingdom ranks Sinclair as 290^th with 20,970 people. 12

Migration of the Sinclair family to Ireland

Some of the Sinclair family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sinclair migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sinclair Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Angus Sinclair, who landed in Maryland in 1674 13
Duncan Sinclair, who arrived in New Jersey in 1685 13

Sinclair Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

William and James Sinclair, who settled in Virginia in 1716
Patrick Sinclair, who landed in South Carolina in 1716 13
Peggy Sinclair, who arrived in Brunswick, North Carolina in 1767 13
Anthony Sinclair, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1773 13
Alex Sinclair, aged 36, who landed in North Carolina in 1774 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sinclair Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Hugh Sinclair, who landed in New York in 1800 13
Daniel Sinclair, who landed in New York in 1801 13
Archibald Sinclair, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1803 13
John Sinclair, who landed in America in 1805 13
Joseph Sinclair, aged 42, who landed in New York in 1812 13
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sinclair migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sinclair Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Samuel Sinclair, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Mr. George Sinclair U.E. who settled in Belle Vue, Beaver Harbour, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1783 14
Mr. Robert Sinclair U.E. who settled in St. David, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 14

Sinclair Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Mary Sinclair, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1839
Mary Sinclair, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1842
Mr. Edward Sinclair, aged 55 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Scotland" departing from the port of Cork, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in July 1847 15
Mr. Andrew Sinclair, aged 17 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Scotland" departing 13th April 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 8th June 1847 but he died on board 16

Sinclair migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Sinclair Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Sinclair, (b. 1782), aged 39, Scottish sailor from Glasgow who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for larceny, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 20th May 1821, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 17
Mr. James Sinclair, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for life, transported aboard the "Champion" on 24th May 1827, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
Mr. William Sinclair, Scottish convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Burrell" on 22nd July 1830, arriving in New South Wales 19
Mr. John Sinclair, English convict who was convicted in Cumbria (Cumberland), England for life, transported aboard the "Fairlie" on 14th October 1833, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
Marion Sinclair, Scottish convict from Perth, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on December 14, 1835, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 21
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Sinclair migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Sinclair Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Duncan Sinclair, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1839 aboard the ship Success
Hugh Sinclair, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1839 aboard the ship Success
John Sinclair, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1839 aboard the ship Success
Alexander Sinclair, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
Dudley Sinclair, who landed in Wellington, Auckland, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Oriental
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Sinclair (post 1700) +

Winsome G.M. Sinclair (1965-2024), Jamaican-born American casting director and film producer
John Sinclair (1941-2024), American poet, writer, and political activist
Utpon Sinclair (1878-1968), American novelist
Harry Ford Sinclair (1876-1956), American oil industrialist, founder of Sinclair Oil
E. L. Sinclair, American politician, Mayor of Rochester, Minnesota, 1900-02 22
Donald Sinclair (b. 1899), American politician, Member of Minnesota State Senate 67th District, 1959 22
Dean L. Sinclair, American politician, Independent Candidate for U.S. Senator from South Dakota, 1990 22
Charles E. Sinclair, American politician, Justice of Utah Territorial Supreme Court, 1857-60 22
Charles A. Sinclair, American politician, Member of New Hampshire State Senate, 1889-92, 1895-96; Member of New Hampshire State House of Representatives, 1893 22
C. F. Sinclair, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1876 22
... (Another 67 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Sinclair family +

HMS Repulse

Mr. Norman William Sinclair, British Supply assistant, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 23

HMS Royal Oak

William Sinclair (1902-1939), British Blacksmith 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 24
George William Sinclair (1917-1939), British Stoker 1st Class with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he died in the sinking 24

North Sea Flood

John Maynard Sinclair, British fianance minister worker aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

SS Atlantic

Thos Sinclair, who was traveling aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, survived the sinking

USS Indianapolis

James Ray Sinclair, American crew member on board the ship "USS Indianapolis" when she was on a top secret trip for the first nuclear weapon, she was sunk by Japanese Navy on 30th July 1945, he survived the sinking 25

The Sinclair Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Commit thy work to God

Citations +

Cleveland, Dutchess of The Battle Abbey Roll with some Account of the Norman Lineages. London: John Murray, Abermarle Street, 1889. Print. Volume 3 of 3
Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 55)
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 95)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
Convict Records of Australia. Retreived 18th January 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/champion
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 21st September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1835 with 132 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1835
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Final Crew List, retrieved 2021, October 30th Retrieved from https://www.ussindianapolis.com/final-crew