An ancient name existing before the twelfth century when the name appears in charters as Livingstone. Sir William Livingstone, of Gorgyn, near Edinburgh, witnessed a charter of the Earl of Lennox in 1270, and from him decended the Livingstones of Livingstone, the last whom died at Flodden in 1513.

Sir Willam Livingstone received the lands of Callendar from David II. In 1347. The lands had been forfeited by Patrick de Callendar and Livingstone married his daughter. From the Livingstones of Callendar are decended the Livingstones of Westquarter and Kinnaird, of Bonton and of Dunipace.

Sir James Livingstone of Callendar was created Lord Livingstone in 1458. William, 5th Lord, had charge of young Queen Mary, but after the Battle of Pinkie she was conveyed to Inchmahome. Later Livingstone accompanied her to France, where he died in 1553. Alexander, 7th Lord, was raised to the Earldom of Linlithgow in 1600, but the title was attainted in 1716 because James, 5th Earl, engaged in the Rising of 1715. The title of Viscount of Kilsyth conferred on Sir James Livingstone of Barncloich was also attained for the action of William 3rd Viscount, in joining the same Rising.

The Livingstones of Argyll have not the same origin as those mentioned above, and it is claimed that they are decended from a physician to the Lord of the Isles Mac-an-leigh-son of the physician-being Englished as, Livingstone. The Livingstones followed the Stewarts of Appin, and accompanied them at the Battle of Culloden, where Donald Livingstone saved the banner of the Stewarts, and conveyed it back to Ballachulish. The family of Livingstones were Barons of the Bachull and received grants of lands in lismore as keepers of the crozier or baculum of the Bishops of Lismore, known in Gaelic as the “ Bachull Mor.”

Dr. David Livingstone, the famous African traveller, was a descendant of the Argyll Livingstones.

Crest: A dexter hand wielding a sword, proper.