Oliphant Ancient
The progenitor of the Oliphants, David de Olifard, accompanied King David I to Scotland in 1141. In 1458 the title of Lord Oliphant was conferred on his descendant. The Oliphants of Gask, who descend from the second son of the 1st Lord Oliphant, were ardent Jacobites. Lady Nairn, the celebrated Scottish poetess, was a member of the Gask family. She was named Carolina, in honour of Prince Charlie. The name is of Norman origin and took many forms, including Olyfard, Olifarth, Olyfaunt and Olyphard. In early tartan collections the tartan was named "Oliphant and Melville".
