It is claimed that the first record of the family in Scotland was Walter Fitz-Gilbert from whom is descended the Dukes of Hamilton. Walter witnessed a charter in 1294 conferring on the monastery of Paisley the privilege of a herring fishing in the Clyde. He was governor of Bothwell Castle for the English during part of the time of the Scottish War of Independence, but later joined Robert the Bruce from whom he received the Barony of Cadzow. The family continued loyal to the Crown, and increased in importance. James, 6th of Cadzow, was created Lord Hamilton in 1445.

His second wife was the eldest daughter of James II and widow of the Earl of Arran. James, his son, was created Earl of Arran in 1503, and Duke of Chatelherault in France in 1549. His second son was created Marquis of Hamilton in 1599, and his fourth son was the ancestor of the Earls of Abercorn. James, 3rd Marquis, was created Duke of Hamilton in 1643, and William, 2nd Duke, died from wounds received at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. The latter was succeeded by his niece, Anne, Duchess of Hamilton, who married Lord William Douglas, and through whom the Hamilton titles passed to the Douglas family.

James Hamilton, grandson of the 2nd Earl of Arran, was created Earl of Abercorn in 1606, and in 1790 a Marquessate was conferred on the 9th Earl, whose son the 2nd Marquess was elevated to a Dukedom in 1868.

Other principal families of the name of Hamilton were those of Raploch, of Dalserf, of Preston, East Lothian, of Airdrie, of Silvertonhill, Lanarkshire, and the Earls of Haddington.

Crest: In a ducal coronet an oak tree fructed and penetrated transversely in the main stem by a frame saw