Clan Balfour History
Burleigh Castle, Kinross. The lands of Burleigh were granted to the Balfours in 1446 by James II, and at the end of that century, or at the start of the next, a tower house was built. In the late 1500s it was greatly extended by Sir James Balfour of Pittendreich. The clan lost the castle after the failed Jacobite rising.
The Balfour clan takes its name from the barony of the same name and is located near the joining of the rivers Ore and Leven in Fife.
The first record of the name is that of John de Balfure who appears on an assize in 1304, and there is note of a William de Balfure who witnessed a charter by Duncan, Earl of Fife (1331-1335).
Michael de Balfoure who witnessed a confirmation charter by David II to Ysabella de Fyf in 1365 is probably the same Michael de Balfwre who was present at the perambulation of the bounds of Kyrknes and Louchor in 1395.
A grant of the land of Balgarvy from James II (1437-1460) was given to John Balfour, whose descendants
held positions in the royal household and later became Balfour of Burleigh.
More than 20 branches of this family at various times posessed landed property in Fife.
James Arthur Balfour was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1902 until 1905.
Clan Balfour Posts
