The Border country is the hilly area of Lowland Scotland on the border between Scotland and England.
Before the two kingdoms were united, the Lowland clans would switch allegiance between the Scottish and English thrones depending on what was most favourable for the members of the clan.
This made the Borders into a lawless hive of thieves, outlaws, robbers, cattle plunderers, and the like. Lowland clans should not be confused with the Highland clan; the Lowland clan was a much looser structure, with far less in the way of clan culture or a recognition of clan history.
Well-known Border clans include the following: Armstrong, Bell, Carr, Elliot, Graham, Kerr, Ogilvie, Robson and Scott. In addition, there were Lowland families associated with these clans, including the Ballantyne, Fraser, Jamieson, Henderson, Irvine, Jardine, Moffat, Tweedie, and Veitch families, amongst many others.
See also: Border Reivers.
