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Clan Sempill

Keep Tryst

Clan Sempill is a Lowland clan whose lands lie in Renfrewshire, where the name is found from the twelfth century and Robert de Sempill witnessed a charter to Paisley Abbey in 1246. The family was raised to the peerage as Lords Sempill about 1489 and sat at Castle Semple, beside Castle Semple Loch, until the estate was sold in 1727. In 1884 the title passed to the Forbes baronets of Craigievar, who took the name Forbes-Sempill; it returned to the name Sempill in 1995.

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Clan Sempill Crest

Clan Sempill Crest

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Sempill Modern tartan Christmas tree skirt with a Scottish Highland scene, stag, Highland cow and thistles under a Christmas treeClose-up of the Sempill Modern tartan border with Celtic knots, thistles and a sleigh on the printed tree skirt

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Highland Christmas Tree Skirt - Sempill Modern Tartan

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Highland Christmas Tree Skirt Bring your family's Scottish heritage to the foot of your tree. The border of this tree skirt carries the Sempill Modern tartan, framing a snowy Highland scene with a stone castle, a red stag, a Highland...
From $44.95 USD
From $44.95 USD
  • Sempill Modern Tartan

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Highland Christmas Tree Skirt

Sempill · Modern Tartan

Christmas piper ornament in the Sempill Modern tartan hanging on a Christmas tree, with the customer photo used for the faceAcrylic bagpiper Christmas ornament in the Sempill Modern tartan with a gold hanging cord

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Christmas Piper Ornament with Custom Photo

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Christmas Piper Ornament with Custom Photo A Santa-style Highland piper playing the pipes, dressed in a kilt, plaid and hose in the Sempill Modern tartan. Send us a photo and our designers put the face on the piper, so the...
From $24.99 USD
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From $24.99 USD
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Tartan Ornament

Sempill · Modern

Clan Sempill (or Semple) Tartan Crest, Badges, Heraldry, Clans, Family Scotland PNG, Digital ClipArt High QualityClan Sempill (or Semple) Tartan Crest, Badges, Heraldry, Clans, Family Scotland PNG, Digital ClipArt High Quality, view 2

Clan Sempill (or Semple) Tartan Crest, Badges, Heraldry, Clans, Family Scotland PNG, Digital ClipArt High Quality

Clan Sempill (or Semple) Tartan Crest, Badges, Heraldry, Clans, Family Scotland PNG, Digital ClipArt High Quality DIGITAL FILE ONLY* ** This listing is an INSTANT DIGITAL DOWNLOAD, not a physical item. An instant download is a digital file you can download and use immediately...
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Clan Sempill (or Semple) Tartan Crest, Badges, Heraldry, Clans, Family Scotland PNG, Digital ClipArt High Quality

Sempill · (or Semple) Tartan Clan

Clan Sempill (or Semple) Family Tartan Crest Blanket 3 SizesClan Sempill (or Semple) Family Tartan Crest Blanket 3 Sizes, view 2

Clan Sempill (or Semple) Family Tartan Crest Blanket 3 Sizes - Sempill (or Semple) Family Tartan Clan

Sempill (or Semple) Family Tartan Clan Crest Blanket 3 Sizes Product detail: Each blanket features a premium suede polyester print for beautiful color vibrancy. Cozy underside is constructed from an ultra-soft micro fleece fabric to keep you warm and comfortable. Perfect for snuggling while...
$65.02 USD
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  • Sempill (or Semple) Family Tartan Clan

Tartan Blanket

Sempill

Clan Sempill (or Semple) Crest Tartan Premium Blanket BlackClan Sempill (or Semple) Crest Tartan Premium Blanket Black, view 2

Clan Sempill (or Semple) Crest Tartan Premium Blanket Black - Sempill (or Semple) Clan Crest Tartan

Sempill (or Semple) Clan Crest Tartan Premium Blanket Black Product detail: Each blanket features a premium suede polyester print for beautiful color vibrancy. Cozy underside is constructed from an ultra-soft micro fleece fabric to keep you warm and comfortable. Perfect for snuggling while watching...
$65.02 USD
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  • Sempill (or Semple) Clan Crest Tartan

Tartan Blanket

Sempill

Clan Sempill (or Semple) Crest Tartan Acrylic Christmas Ornament DR26 Sempill (or Semple) Tartan Tartan Christmas Clan Sempill (or Semple) Crest Tartan Acrylic Christmas Ornament DR26 Sempill (or Semple) Tartan Tartan Christmas

Clan Sempill (or Semple) Crest Tartan Acrylic Christmas Ornament - Sempill (or Semple) Tartan

Clan Lyle Crest Tartan Acrylic Christmas Ornament KS62“Decorating the house” may be one of the most exciting tasks jotted down on your to-do list when the holiday season approaches. Yet, since shabby, dull-looking pieces of decor infest the marketplace, finding real gems that endure...
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  • Sempill (or Semple) Tartan

Tartan Ornament

Sempill · (or Semple)

Sempill Modern tartan canvas table runner with the Clan Sempill crest hanging over the end of an oak table by the fireClose-up of the Sempill Modern tartan table runner end hanging over the table, with the Clan Sempill crest

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Crest Canvas Table Runner - Sempill Modern Tartan

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Crest Canvas Table Runner A table runner in the Sempill Modern tartan with the crest badge of Clan Sempill printed three times: once at each end, where it hangs over the edge of the table, and once in the centre....
From $29.95 USD
From $29.95 USD
  • Sempill Modern Tartan

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Crest Canvas Table Runner

Sempill · Modern Tartan

Acrylic Highland cow calf ornament playing the bagpipes, in a Sempill Modern tartan Santa hat, scarf and pipe bag, with a custom name on the hatExample of the personalized Highland cow piper ornament with the name "Sempill" on the Santa hat

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Piper Highland Cow Ornament with Custom Name

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Piper Highland Cow Ornament with Custom Name A fluffy Highland cow calf playing the bagpipes, dressed for Christmas in a Santa hat, scarf and pipe bag of the Sempill Modern tartan. The white fur band of the hat carries the...
From $19.99 USD
From $19.99 USD

Tartan Ornament

Sempill · Modern

Personalized Christmas piper plaque in the Sempill Modern tartan, standing on a snowy log base with a name plaqueClose-up of the piper face made from your photo, Sempill Modern tartan plaid on the shoulder

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Christmas Piper Plaque with Custom Photo & Name

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Christmas Piper Plaque with Custom Photo & Name A Christmas piper in the Sempill Modern tartan, playing the pipes on a snowy log base with a lantern, a little tree and a snowman. Send us a photo and our designers...
From $25.25 USD
$32.83 USD
From $25.25 USD
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Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Christmas Piper Plaque with Custom Photo & Name

Sempill · Modern

Clan Sempill crest in the centre of a stained-glass style thistle Christmas tree topper with the Sempill Modern tartan behind the thistleStained-glass style thistle Christmas tree topper with a gold bagpipe emblem and the Sempill Modern tartan behind the thistle

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Thistle Christmas Tree Topper

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Thistle Christmas Tree Topper A stained-glass style tree topper: Scotland's thistle, framed in gold, standing in front of a round window of the Sempill Modern tartan. A Scottish heritage finish for the top of your Christmas tree. Choose your design:...
From $29.99 USD
From $29.99 USD

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Thistle Christmas Tree Topper

Sempill · Modern

Wooden Highland cow Christmas ornament wearing a Sempill Modern tartan scarf, with a ribbon banner for a custom nameExample of the personalized Highland cow ornament with the name "The Sempill Family" on the ribbon banner

Personalized Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Highland Cow Ornament with Custom Name – Scottish Christmas Tree Decoration

Personalized Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Highland Cow Ornament with Custom Name A shaggy Highland cow, Scotland's favourite, wrapped up for winter in a scarf of the Sempill Modern tartan, with a sprig of holly between its horns. The ribbon banner below carries the name...
From $19.99 USD
From $19.99 USD

Tartan Ornament

Sempill · Modern

Personalized Sempill Modern Clan Bagpipe Garden Gnome Caricature Plaque Custom Photo, Any Clan Tartan, Wood or Acrylic, Grandpa & Dad Gift, Scottish Highland Garden Decor AO25Personalized bagpiper garden gnome caricature plaque: custom photo, custom tartan and custom text options

Personalized Sempill Modern Clan Bagpipe Garden Gnome Caricature Plaque Custom Photo, Any Clan Tartan, Wood or Acrylic, Grandpa & Dad Gift, Scottish Highland Garden Decor

Personalized Sempill Modern Clan Bagpipe Garden Gnome Caricature Plaque Custom Photo, Any Clan Tartan, Wood or Acrylic, Grandpa & Dad Gift, Scottish Highland Garden DecorCelebrate your Scottish heritage with a one-of-a-kind Personalized Bagpipe Garden Gnome Caricature Plaque. Upload your favorite photo, choose your Scottish...
From $25.25 USD
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From $25.25 USD
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Personalized Sempill Modern Clan Bagpipe Garden Gnome Caricature Plaque Custom Photo, Any Clan Tartan, Wood or Acrylic, Grandpa & Dad Gift, Scottish Highland Garden Decor

Sempill · Modern

Custom Bagpipe Sempill Modern Tartan LED Night Light - Personalized Scottish Bagpiper Figurine with Wooden Stand

Custom Bagpipe Sempill Modern Tartan LED Night Light - Personalized Scottish Bagpiper Figurine with Wooden Stand

Custom Bagpipe Sempill Modern Tartan LED Night Light - Personalized Scottish Bagpiper Figurine with Wooden StandCreate a warm, relaxing, and magical atmosphere with our Personalized LED Night Light. Designed to elevate your bedroom, living room, or workspace, this custom acrylic lamp features a smooth color-changing...
$35.41 USD
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LED Night Light

Sempill · Modern

Personalized Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Drummer Ornament with Custom Name – Scottish Christmas Tree Decoration

Personalized Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Drummer Ornament with Custom Name – Scottish Christmas Tree Decoration

Personalized Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Drummer Ornament with Custom Name – Scottish Christmas Tree DecorationCelebrate your Scottish heritage with this unique wood & acrylic tartan ornament. Perfect as a personalized Christmas decoration or a meaningful gift for friends and relatives on special occasions such...
From $19.99 USD
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Drummer Ornament

Sempill · Modern

Sempill Reproduction Tartan Bagpipe Ornament with Custom Name

Personalized Clan Sempill Reproduction Tartan Bagpipe Ornament with Custom Name – Scottish Christmas Tree Decoration

Personalized Clan Sempill Reproduction Tartan Bagpipe Ornament with Custom Name – Scottish Christmas Tree DecorationCelebrate your Scottish heritage with this unique wood & acrylic tartan ornament. Perfect as a personalized Christmas decoration or a meaningful gift for friends and relatives on special occasions such...
From $19.99 USD
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From $19.99 USD
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Bagpiper Ornament

Sempill · Reproduction

Sempill Ancient Tartan Bagpipe Ornament with Custom Name

Personalized Clan Sempill Ancient Tartan Bagpipe Ornament with Custom Name – Scottish Christmas Tree Decoration

Personalized Clan Sempill Ancient Tartan Bagpipe Ornament with Custom Name – Scottish Christmas Tree DecorationCelebrate your Scottish heritage with this unique wood & acrylic tartan ornament. Perfect as a personalized Christmas decoration or a meaningful gift for friends and relatives on special occasions such...
From $19.99 USD
$25.99 USD
From $19.99 USD
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Bagpiper Ornament

Sempill · Ancient

Personalized Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Bagpipe Ornament with Custom Name – Scottish Christmas Tree Decoration FO91

Personalized Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Bagpipe Ornament with Custom Name – Scottish Christmas Tree Decoration

Personalized Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Bagpipe Ornament with Custom Name – Scottish Christmas Tree DecorationCelebrate your Scottish heritage with this unique wood & acrylic tartan ornament. Perfect as a personalized Christmas decoration or a meaningful gift for friends and relatives on special occasions such...
From $19.99 USD
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From $19.99 USD
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Bagpiper Ornament

Sempill · Modern

Sempill (Semple) Modern Clan Badge Tartan Wood Acrylic Ornament Santa PersonalizedSempill (Semple) Modern Clan Badge Tartan Wood Acrylic Ornament Santa Personalized

Personalized Clan Sempill (Semple) Modern Clan Crest Tartan Santa Ornament – Custom Acrylic Christmas Decoration - Sempill

Personalized Clan Sempill (Semple) Modern Clan Badge Tartan Ornament – Custom Acrylic Christmas DecorationCelebrate your Scottish heritage with this unique wood & acrylic tartan ornament. Perfect as a personalized Christmas decoration or a meaningful gift for friends and relatives on special occasions such as...
From $19.99 USD
From $19.99 USD
  • Sempill

Tartan Ornament

Sempill · (Semple) Modern

Sempill (Semple) Weathered Clan Badge Tartan Wood Acrylic Ornament Santa PersonalizedSempill (Semple) Weathered Clan Badge Tartan Wood Acrylic Ornament Santa Personalized

Personalized Clan Sempill (Semple) Weathered Clan Crest Tartan Santa Ornament – Custom Acrylic Christmas Decoration - Sempill

Personalized Clan Sempill (Semple) Weathered Clan Badge Tartan Ornament – Custom Acrylic Christmas DecorationCelebrate your Scottish heritage with this unique wood & acrylic tartan ornament. Perfect as a personalized Christmas decoration or a meaningful gift for friends and relatives on special occasions such as...
From $19.99 USD
From $19.99 USD
  • Sempill

Tartan Ornament

Sempill · (Semple) Weathered

Sempill (Semple) Weathered Tartan Wood Acrylic Ornament Santa Personalized

Personalized Clan Sempill (Semple) Weathered Tartan Santa Ornament – Custom Acrylic Christmas Decoration - Sempill

Personalized Clan Sempill (Semple) Weathered Tartan Ornament – Custom Acrylic Christmas DecorationCelebrate your Scottish heritage with this unique wood & acrylic tartan ornament. Perfect as a personalized Christmas decoration or a meaningful gift for friends and relatives on special occasions such as Christmas, Valentine’s...
From $19.99 USD
From $19.99 USD
  • Sempill

Tartan Ornament

Sempill · (Semple) Weathered

Sempill (Semple) Ancient Tartan Wood Acrylic Ornament Santa Personalized

Personalized Clan Sempill (Semple) Ancient Tartan Santa Ornament – Custom Acrylic Christmas Decoration - Sempill

Personalized Clan Sempill (Semple) Ancient Tartan Ornament – Custom Acrylic Christmas DecorationCelebrate your Scottish heritage with this unique wood & acrylic tartan ornament. Perfect as a personalized Christmas decoration or a meaningful gift for friends and relatives on special occasions such as Christmas, Valentine’s...
From $19.99 USD
From $19.99 USD
  • Sempill

Tartan Ornament

Sempill · (Semple) Ancient

Sempill Modern Tartan Crest Area RugSempill Modern Tartan Crest Area Rug

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Crest Rug – Scottish Highland Carpet for Living Room, Celtic Home Decor & Scotland Gift HX25

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Crest Rug – Scottish Highland Carpet for Living Room, Celtic Home Decor & Scotland GiftBring timeless Scottish charm into your home with our premium Tartan Area Rug. Designed with authentic Scottish tartan patterns, this rug is perfect for adding a...
From $58.45 USD
From $58.45 USD

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Crest Rug – Scottish Highland Carpet for Living Room, Celtic Home Decor & Scotland Gift HX25

Sempill · Modern

Sempill Modern Tartan Crest Area RugSempill Modern Tartan Crest Area Rug

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Crest Rug – Scottish Highland Carpet for Living Room, Celtic Home Decor & Scotland Gift TK20

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Crest Rug – Scottish Highland Carpet for Living Room, Celtic Home Decor & Scotland GiftBring timeless Scottish charm into your home with our premium Tartan Area Rug. Designed with authentic Scottish tartan patterns, this rug is perfect for adding a...
From $58.45 USD
From $58.45 USD

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Crest Rug – Scottish Highland Carpet for Living Room, Celtic Home Decor & Scotland Gift TK20

Sempill · Modern

Sempill Modern Tartan Classic Area RugSempill Modern Tartan Classic Area Rug

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Rug – Scottish Highland Carpet for Living Room, Celtic Home Decor & Scotland Gift

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Rug – Scottish Highland Carpet for Living Room, Celtic Home Decor & Scotland GiftBring timeless Scottish charm into your home with our premium Tartan Area Rug. Designed with authentic Scottish tartan patterns, this rug is perfect for adding a touch...
From $58.45 USD
From $58.45 USD

Clan Sempill Modern Tartan Rug – Scottish Highland Carpet for Living Room, Celtic Home Decor & Scotland Gift

Sempill · Modern

Crest & Motto

Clan Sempill Crest Badge & Motto

The motto of Clan Sempill is Keep Tryst. It appears on the Clan Sempill crest badge: the chief’s heraldic crest set inside a strap and buckle that carries the motto.

In Scotland a crest belongs to the chief, not to everyone with the surname. Clan members may wear the crest badge, with the crest inside the strap and buckle, to show that they belong to the clan. The plain crest without the strap remains the chief’s own.

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Tartan Identity

Clan Sempill’s Tartans

Sempill tartan swatch

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Personalised gifts, apparel and heritage decor for Clan Sempill.

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The Sempill Story

  1. 1246

    Robert de Sempill witnesses a charter to Paisley Abbey[4]

  2. 1488

    Sir Thomas Sempill falls at the Battle of Sauchieburn[4][3]

  3. c.1489

    John Sempill is created Lord Sempill by James IV[3]

  4. 1504

    John, Lord Sempill, founds the collegiate church at Lochwinnoch[7]

  5. 1513

    John, 1st Lord Sempill, is killed at Flodden[3]

  6. 1547

    Robert, 3rd Lord Sempill, is captured by the English at Pinkie[3]

  7. 1727

    Lord Sempill sells Castle Semple estate to William MacDowall[8][6]

  8. c.1735

    McDowall builds Castle Semple House, replacing the old house of Castleton[8][6]

  9. 1884

    William Forbes of Craigievar succeeds as 17th Lord Sempill[5]

  10. 1995

    James Sempill succeeds as the 21st and current Lord Sempill[5][1][2]

Visit the Sempill Homeland

Map of Scotland with Sempill places marked

Castle Semple, Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire

Sempill seat beside Castle Semple Loch; the estate was sold in 1727 and the house that replaced it is now a listed shell.[4][8][6]

Craigievar Castle, Aberdeenshire

Forbes of Craigievar seat; it came to the Lords Sempill with the 1884 succession and passed to the National Trust for Scotland in 1963.[5]

Map outline: Natural Earth (public domain). Pins use official Historic Environment Scotland grid references.

Clan Sempill Today

ChiefThe Lord Sempill (Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs list; currently James, 21st Lord Sempill)

Surnames linked to Clan Sempill

These family names are connected with Clan Sempill. Each list says who records the link.

Spellings of the name

  • Semple
  • Sempell
  • Simple
  • Symple
  • Sympell
  • Semphill

Not your surname? Find your clan by surname →

Questions about Clan Sempill

What is the Sempill motto?

Keep Tryst.

Who is the chief of Clan Sempill?

The Lord Sempill, currently James, 21st Lord Sempill, who succeeded in 1995.

Why is Clan Sempill linked to Clan Forbes?

In 1884 William Forbes, 8th Baronet of Craigievar, inherited the Lordship of Sempill and the family became Forbes-Sempill; it reverted to Sempill in 1995.

Where was the Sempill clan seat?

Castle Semple on Castle Semple Loch, Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, until the estate was sold in 1727. Craigievar Castle in Aberdeenshire was the Forbes-Sempill seat until it passed to the National Trust for Scotland in 1963.

What happened to Castle Semple?

The old house, called Castleton, was replaced about 1735 by the much larger Castle Semple House built for its new owner William McDowall; that house is now a roofless shell.

Sources

  1. Find a clan: Sempill, Council of Scottish Clans & Associations (COSCA)
  2. Members of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs
  3. The Scottish Nation: Semple, Electric Scotland
  4. Semple (Webclans), Electric Scotland
  5. Forbes of Craigievar, Clan Forbes Society
  6. William McDowall's Purchase and Building of Castle Semple, PB The Cairn (Lochwinnoch local history)
  7. Castle Semple Collegiate Church (SM90067), scheduled monument record, Historic Environment Scotland
  8. Castle Semple former mansion incorporating Landau House, Castle Semple House, Semple House and Low Semple House (LB12666), Historic Environment Scotland