Glynns of Scotland and Ireland

The Origins of the Glen Family

The noble house of Glynn, originally known by the name Glen, traces its esteemed lineage to a significant grant of land in medieval Scotland. The family’s nomenclature is derived from the Lordship of Glen in Renfrewshire, a substantial estate comprising the lands of Bar, Brigend, and Lynthills, among others.

This territory was first granted by His Majesty King David I to Walter Steward during the twelfth century. The stewardship of these lands later passed to the de Ness family around 1180, a transition most likely achieved through a strategic marital alliance between a daughter of the Steward line and a member of the de Ness family. This union secured the Glen lands for the de Ness house whilst preserving their fealty to their Steward overlords, a complex arrangement of loyalty and landholding that was a hallmark of medieval Scottish society.

First Generation

John de Ness (mid-13th century)

John de Ness was a pivotal figure in the family’s nascent history, holding the crucial military appointment of Constable of Dunoon. This distinguished role placed him in command of Dunoon Castle, a royal fortress that served as a vital coastal defence for the lower Clyde River during a turbulent era in the kingdom’s history. His military service was a feudal obligation commensurate with his noble landholding.

Whilst some records intimate that John may have married a co-heiress of the prestigious Abernethy family, this is founded upon later genealogical reconstructions rather than upon firm contemporary evidence. Nevertheless, his historical identity as the constable at Dunoon during the 1250s is well-documented in the Stewart and royal charters of the period.

  • Wife: Unnamed (possibly a co-heiress of the Abernethy family).
  • Children:
    1. Lord Richard de le Glen (c. 1255).

Second Generation

Lord Richard de le Glen (born c. 1255)

Lord Richard de le Glen is the son of John de Ness. He is the one who took the name “Glen” from his lordship. He is the father of John, who commanded troops under William Wallace.

  • Wife: Records are unavailable.
  • Children:
    1. Lord John de le Glen (born c. 1272).

Third Generation

Lord John de le Glen (born c. 1272)

Lord John de le Glen, son of Lord Richard, is the distinguished military figure who served under the legendary William Wallace during the Wars of Scottish Independence. He commanded the Glasgow E Troop at two of the most pivotal engagements: the Battle of Stirling Bridge (1297) and the Battle of Falkirk (1298). The former was a decisive Scottish victory, while the latter represented a devastating defeat for the Scots, leading to the collapse of Wallace’s army.

John’s valour was rewarded with grants of land at Gaytflat, near Paisley, and Balmato Fife. These acquisitions expanded the family’s territorial holdings and established their presence in strategically important locations. It is his son, Robert, who married Margaret Bruce.

  • Wife: Records are unavailable.
  • Children:
    1. Sir Robert de Glen (active early to mid-14th century).

Fourth Generation

Sir Robert de le Glen (active early to mid-14th century)

Robert de le Glen lived from approximately 1300 to 1345, making him a contemporary of the turbulent period surrounding Robert the Bruce’s reign and its aftermath. Robert was born around 1300 in Lochwinnoc, Renfrewshire, Scotland, and died in 1345 in Balmuto, Kinghorn, Fifeshire, Scotland. His father was John De Glen, who had established the family’s position through marriage to a co-heiress of the prestigious Abernethy family, demonstrating the Glen family’s continued strategy of advantageous matrimonial alliances.

The most significant aspect of Robert de le Glen’s life was his marriage to Margaret Bruce, the illegitimate daughter of King Robert the Bruce. Robert de Glen married Margaret, daughter of King Robert the Bruce, and she was alive as late as February 29, 1363. As there is no other marriage of record than this one of Robert de Glen, Margaret was the mother of his children, and hence all the lines of Glen of Bar, Renfrewshire, are of royal lineage. This union not only elevated the Glen family’s social standing but also connected them permanently to the Scottish royal bloodline, making their descendants part of Scotland’s extended royal heritage.

Robert’s royal connections proved highly beneficial for his territorial holdings and political influence. King David granted Nether Pitedge, King Horn Fife (adjoining Balmuto) to Robert de Glen, along with other substantial lands including Glasgow Forest, Thanedom of Kintare, and Aberdeen. These extensive land grants from King David II, Robert the Bruce’s son and Margaret’s half-brother, clearly demonstrate how the marriage alliance between Robert and Margaret Bruce created lasting political and economic advantages for the Glen family, establishing them as major landholders across multiple Scottish regions and ensuring their descendants would inherit both noble status and considerable wealth through their royal connections.

  • Wife: Margaret Bruce (c. 1300 – c. 1370).
  • Children:
    1. Sir John de Glen of Balmuto (fl. 1370s–early 1400s; d. by 1428).
    2. William de Glen (dates uncertain – died before 14 June 1373).
    3. Robert de Glen, Rector of Liberton (dates unknown).

Sir David of Glen (active c. 1304–1313)

In 1304, Sir David of Glen was captured whilst bravely defending Stirling Castle during a three-month siege by the forces of King Edward I of England. He was subsequently imprisoned at Newcastle-on-Tyne until 1313. Following his release, he became a devoted supporter of His Majesty King Robert the Bruce.

John de la Glen was born around 1272 in Scotland and represents one of the most distinguished military figures in the Glen family lineage. Lord John de la Glen served under the legendary William Wallace and commanded E Troop of Glasgow at both The Battle of Stirling Bridge and The Battle of Falkirk . His military service during Scotland’s Wars of Independence placed him at the heart of the nation’s struggle for freedom, fighting alongside Wallace in two of the most crucial battles that defined Scottish resistance against English rule.

John’s valor and loyalty to the Scottish cause were richly rewarded following these military campaigns. After the battles, he received a land grant at Gaytflat, near Paisley, and Balmato Fife , demonstrating how military service translated into territorial rewards for noble families who supported Scotland’s independence. These land grants not only expanded the Glen family’s holdings but also established their presence in multiple strategic locations across Scotland, from the western lowlands near Paisley to the eastern regions of Fife.

The genealogical records establish John as the father of Sir Robert de Glen, creating a direct line of descent that connects the Glen family’s military heritage under William Wallace to their later royal connections through marriage. This family lineage shows that Sir Robert de Glen, who married Margaret Bruce (daughter of King Robert de Bruce), was the son of Lord John de la Glen. This means John de la Glen was not only a distinguished warrior in his own right but also the patriarch who established the foundation for his family’s eventual elevation to royal status through his son’s marriage to Robert the Bruce’s illegitimate daughter.

Unfortunately, the available records don’t provide specific details about John de la Glen’s wife or other children beyond Robert, which is typical of medieval genealogical documentation that often focused primarily on the direct male line of inheritance and military achievements rather than comprehensive family structures.

  • Wife: Records are unavailable.
  • Children:
    1. Colban de Glen (dates unknown).
    2. John de Glen (dates unknown).
    3. Roger de Glen (dates unknown) – Granted an annuity by King Robert the Bruce.

Fifth Generation

The Glen Military Legacy with Wallace:

  • Sir David of Glen – The patriarch who served under William Wallace
  • Colban de Glen – His eldest son, also serving in Wallace’s forces
  • Sir John de Glen of Balmuto – Another son who likely inherited the Balmuto estates as reward for military service
  • William Glen – The third son, named perhaps after William Wallace himself

This connects perfectly with our earlier research showing John de la Glen (born ~1272) also commanded troops under William Wallace at both Stirling Bridge and Falkirk. The Glen family appears to have been one of the key noble houses that provided multiple generations of military leadership during Scotland’s fight for independence.

The fact that Sir John specifically became “of Balmuto” suggests the family’s military service was rewarded with substantial land grants in Fife – the same Balmuto where Robert de Glen (who married Margaret Bruce) later died in 1345. This indicates the Glen family maintained their Balmuto holdings across generations, from their service under Wallace through their eventual royal connections via Robert the Bruce’s daughter.

Colban de Glen (active early 14th century)

Colban, a son of Sir David, was a favourite of the Crown. He was granted the lands of Cults in Peeblesshire by His Majesty King Robert the Bruce in 1324. He was married to Annabel Douglas, and the lands of Cults were likely part of her dowry. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, King Robert the Bruce’s second wife, also made a bequest of one hundred shillings to him, underscoring his proximity to the royal court.

  • Wife: Annabel Douglas (dates unknown).
  • Children:
    1. Robert de Glen (dates unknown) – A royal favourite of King Robert the Bruce.

Sir John de Glen of Balmuto (fl. 1370s–early 1400s; d. by 1428)

As the grandson of Robert de Glen and Margaret Bruce, Sir John was a crown vassal with land holdings in both Fife and Angus. Through his marriage to Margaret Erskine, a co-heiress of the Inchmartin barony, he acquired significant rights in Perthshire. He died by 1428, leaving three co-heiress daughters. Through their marriages, the family’s Balmuto estates and associated titles passed into the hands of other prominent Scottish families, including the Boswells, Ogilvys, and Stewarts, thereby ending the male line of this branch.

  • Wife: Margaret Erskine (dates unknown), co-heiress of the Inchmartin barony.
  • Children:
    1. Mariota (Marjory) de Glen (dates unknown) – Married Sir John Boswell of Balgregie.
    2. Margaret de Glen (dates unknown) – Married Sir Walter Ogilvy.
    3. Christian (Cristina) de Glen (recorded as living in 1464) – Married David Stewart.

William de Glen (d. before 14 June 1373)

William, the second son of Sir Robert de Glen and Margaret Bruce, inherited the paternal estates in the lordship of Glen and Kilmun. His brother, John, inherited the Balmuto lands, which were derived from their mother’s inheritance. William’s demise before 1373 meant his son, Paul, succeeded him, thus ensuring the continuation of this primary Glen line.

  • Wife: Records are unavailable.
  • Children:
    1. Paul de Glen (active mid-to-late 14th century) – The dates here in the original text are a clerical error, as they are a century after his father’s death.

Sixth Generation

Paul de Glen (active mid–late 14th century)

Paul de Glen succeeded his father, William, before June 14, 1373. He consolidated the family’s lands and forged a strategic alliance by conveying Kilmun to Sir Archibald Campbell of Lochow, thereby connecting the Glen lineage with the powerful Campbell clan.

  • Wife: Marion Cunningham (b. 1488) – The dates here are a century out of place and likely refer to a much later marriage or a different individual.
  • Children:
    1. John Glen of Bar (b. 1502, d. 1545).

Seventh Generation

John Glen of Bar (1502–1545)

John Glen of Bar served Robert Stewart of Lorne. He was granted safe conduct to England on multiple occasions between 1429 and 1431, during which period Lorne was a hostage there. This suggests his role was one of a trusted servant or diplomat.

  • Wife: Records are unavailable.
  • Children:
    1. William Glen (dates unknown).
    2. Alan Glen (dates unknown).
    3. Thomas Glen (d. after 1431) – A prisoner of war in England.

Eighth Generation

William Glen (active c. 1452)

William, the son of John, held the lands of Gaytflat and Bar. He is noted in a 1452 document as a witness to a donation of fishing rights to the Monastery at Paisley, indicating his status as a landowner and a man of influence.

  • Wife: Records are unavailable.
  • Children:
    1. James Glen of Bar (d. 1544).

Ninth Generation

James Glen of Bar (d. 1544)

James Glen of Bar was a soldier and captain of 102 foot soldiers at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. This engagement, a major English victory over the Scots, resulted in the death of His Majesty King James IV and many noblemen.

He received the lands of Bar, Bridge-end, and Lyntchels from the Abbot of Paisley. He later supported Her Majesty Queen Mary at the Battle of Langside in 1568. After a period of forfeiture for his allegiance to the queen, he was restored to his lands in 1573.

  • Wife: Records are unavailable.
  • Children:
    1. James Glen of Bar (d. 1567).
    2. William Glen (dates unknown).
    3. Alexander Glen (dates unknown).
    4. Archibald Glen (dates unknown).
    5. David Glen (dates unknown).
    6. Mary Glen (dates unknown).

Tenth Generation

James Glen of Bar (d. 1567)

James, the eldest son, served as a Groom of the Chamber to Lord Darnley, consort to Mary, Queen of Scots. He met his end at Kirk o’ Field in 1567, a notorious event in which Darnley’s house was destroyed by an explosion. James was also embroiled in a long-standing dispute with John Semple of Fullwood.

  • Wife: Catherine Hamilton (dates unknown).
  • Children:
    1. William Glen of Bar (d. 1608).
    2. Alexander Glen (d. after 1610).

Eleventh Generation

William Glen of Bar (d. 1608)

William succeeded his father but died without any known surviving issue.

  • Wife: Records are unavailable.
  • Children: No surviving issue.

Alexander Glen of Bar (d. after 1610)

William was succeeded by his younger brother, Alexander, in 1610.

  • Wife: Records are unavailable.
  • Children:
    1. Archibald Glen (d. 1614).

Twelfth Generation

Archibald Glen (c. 1570-1614)

Archibald graduated from the University of Glasgow and was ordained as a minister. He served in Rutherglen and later in Carmunnock. He died prematurely at the age of 44. His death was controversially attributed to sorcery by a local woman, Margaret Wallace, who was subsequently burned as a witch.

  • Wife: Janet Muir (dates unknown).
  • Children:
    1. David Glen (dates unknown).
    2. Thomas Glen (d. 1635) – A prosperous trader.

Thirteenth Generation

Sir (John) David Glen of Glenlora (1570-1629)

Born in Renfrewshire, Sir David was married twice. His first marriage was to Lady Elizabeth Calder, with whom he had ten children. Following her death, he married Jean Lauchtoun. His sons relocated to Ireland in 1606, commencing a new phase for this branch of the family. He died in Paisley, Renfrewshire.

  • Wife: Lady Elizabeth Calder (1569-1606).
  • Children:
    1. Sir John Glen of Glenora (1590-1669).
    2. John Glen (1591-1669).
    3. Henry Glen (1595-1665).
    4. James Glen of Bar (1597-1616).
    5. George Glen (1597-1702).
    6. John Glenn (1606-1669).
  • Wife: Jean Lauchtoun (dates unknown).
  • Children:
    1. Margaret Glen (b. 1614).
    2. Alexander Glen (b. 1617).
    3. Elizabeth Glen (b. 1621).
    4. William Penn (b. 1623).

Fourteenth Generation

Sir John Glen of Glenora (1590-1669)

Born in Scotland, Sir John removed to Ireland, settling in County Donegal. He was married twice. His first wife was Jane Kilgore, with whom he had one son. His second wife was Elizabeth Carson, with whom he had six children. He died in Cloneigh, Donegal, Ireland.

  • Wife: Jane Kilgore (1595-1620).
  • Children:
    1. John David Glenn of Londonderry (1610-1686).
  • Wife: Elizabeth Carson (dates unknown).
  • Children:
    1. Margrat Glen (b. 1614).
    2. James Glen (b. 1619).
    3. Elizabeth (Bessie) Glen (1622-1667).
    4. William Glen (1623-1686).
    5. James Glen (b. 1625).
    6. William Glen of Bar (d. 1686).

Fifteenth Generation

John David Glen of Londonderry (1610-1686)

Born in Londonderry, Northern Ireland, John David Glen leased Foot-o’-Green farm in St. Ninians Parish. He married Mariah Mortimer and fathered eight children.

  • Wife: Mariah Mortimer (1591-1669).
  • Children:
    1. Ninian Glen (1630-1701).
    2. Thomas Glenn (1650-1686).
    3. James Glen (1656-1700).
    4. John Glen (1666-1700).
    5. David Glenn (dates unknown).
    6. George Glen (dates unknown).
    7. Sarah Sommerfield Glenn (dates unknown).
    8. Martha Glenn (dates unknown).

Sixteenth Generation

Ninian Glen (1630-1701)

Born in Clonleigh, Donegal, Ireland, Ninian was married twice. He had three children with his first wife, Helen Hutcheon. He later married Elizabeth Wylie in Glasgow, Scotland. He died in Clonleigh, Donegal, at the age of 71.

  • Wife: Helen Hutcheon (b. 1631).
  • Children:
    1. John Glenn (1655–1747).
    2. Mathew Glen (1680–1747).
    3. James Glenn (1680–1747).
  • Wife: Elizabeth Wylie (dates unknown).
  • Children: No children are listed with Elizabeth in the records.
Glynns in America