The Hays in Scotland are descendants of the important de La Haye family from the Cotentin Peninsula of Normandy, France, who followed the Norman invasion of Britain in 1066. William de La Hay was the first to settle in Scotland and became Lord of Errol in Perthshire c.1172. Sir Gilbert Hay, the 5th Lord of Errol, was made Lord High Constable of Scotland for his support of Robert the Bruce (1274 - 1329). This title was made hereditary in 1314 and is held to this day. It is the most important hereditary title after the royal family in Scotland, being responsible for the personal safety of the monarch. Sir William Hay of Errol was raised to the peerage in 1453, becoming the Earl of Errol. His wife Beatrix was the daughter of the 7th Earl of Douglas and became co-heiress with her brother, who was the last Black Douglas.
The Hays of Yester were most likely descendants of William de La Hay's second son and, in 1646, became the Earls of Tweeddale. This title was promoted to Marquess in 1694 and these Hays are also the Hereditary Chamberlains of Dunfermline.
Slains Castle was the seat of the clan until its destruction after the Hay's part in the anti-protestant rising in 1594. The ruins were used by Jacobite agents as a meeting point as the Hays were loyal to the Stuart monarchy in both the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite uprisings. Delgaty Castle, northeast of Turriff, is now the Clan Centre.
