== Clan Links ==

Clan Gruer or Grewar is an Armigerous clan, meaning that the clan doesn't have a chief recognized by the Court of the Lord Lyon. The Surname Gruer, Gruiar, Grewyr, Gruar, Grewar, Growar and Grewer are considered a Sept of the Clans Fraser and Drummond but are more commonly associated with Clan Gregor. In reality the MacGrouthers of Glen Artney (a name also derived from MacGrudaire) are linked to the Drummonds and the MacGruers of Foyers and Boleskine are a Sept of the Frasers.[citation needed] Despite a lack of evidence to link the Grewars of Braemar and Glenisla to the MacGregors, this association is still widely held by that Clan.<ref>Clans, Septs and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands, By Sir Thomas Innes of Learney, Edinburgh, 1956.</ref> Links also existed historically with the Clan Fionnlaigh (The Farquharsons), and The House of Mar (Erskine).

History and Origins

The Gravestone of James Gruer of Tominrau in Braemar Kirkyard, who died in 1807 contains the following verse:-
“400 years have now wheeled round with half a century more, since this has been the burying ground belonging to the Gruers”.
The Gruers were said to be one the oldest families connected with Braemar. Family tradition amongst the Braemar Gruers claim the name means ‘Greyhound’ possibly from a corruption of the Gaelic Goather and Scots Grewan. The tradition is said to derive from a legend in Braemar that the winner of a great race, in presence of King Malcolm Canmore, held to the summit of Craig Conneach (the first ever Braemar gathering), resulted in him being nicknamed ‘The Greyhound’ for his achievement in winning the race with such swiftness. Despite this legend, it is more widely believed the surname Gruer is a Trade name derived from the Scots Gaelic MacGrudaire or ‘son of the Brewer’.[3] It is possible the first Gruer who settled in Braemar travelled from western Perthshire or from Boleskine, Invernesshire.
16th to 17th Century

The Surname was found in relatively significant numbers around Braemar and Glenisla between the 16th and 19th Centuries. John Gruer in Auchallater near Braemar in Glen Clunie was granted these Lands in perpetuity by the Earl of Mar in 1632 and became a vassal of the Mars or Erskines. John Gruer married Isobel Farquharson, a grand daughter of Fionnlaigh Mor’s (the eponymous of the Clan Farquharson) elder brother. The Auchallater family were the principal Gruer family in Braemar and the Gruers of Tominrau were also a branch of this family.

Another John Gruer, was feud the lands of Meilkle Forter and Dalvanie from Lord Ogilvy in 1588 and the lands of Craigniety and Innerarratie in Glenisla, were held by Gruers from the 17th Century.

18th to 20st Century

Donald and Alexander Gruer Senior and Younger of Auchallater fought in the Earl of Mar’s regiment during the Jacobite campaign of 1715. The Gruers held onto Auchallater until they were forced to sell these lands to the Farquharsons of Invercauld in 1777, and a feud ensued between the two families for some years. The lands of Forter and Dalvanie were lost by the beginning of the 17th Century. Like many other families in the area, the Gruers’ fortune were to decline as other families such as the Ogilvies and Farquharsons were to increase in prosperity. The Social and economic situation around Braemar following Culloden caused a number of Gruers to emigrate, mainly to Canada and New Zealand.

21st Century

The Grewar Society was started in Kirriemuir, Angus on St Andrews Day 2006 and seeks to re-unite all Grewars around the world who have a connection to Braemar and Glenisla.

Heraldry

Motto: "Wab Trowth Wi Traist" (Weave Truth With Trust).

Arms: Argent, an engrailed chevron Azure between three Scots Pine Trees eradicated proper.<ref>Granted by the Court of the Lord Lyon June 2006 to Lyndsay Nairn Grewar, Esq, M.B.E., FSA scot</ref>

Crest: On a mount of heather, a greyhound sejant, guardant sable, langued Gules and holding in its dexter front paw, a sword proper, hilt and pommel or.

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