One of the three Scottish clans from which Starfleet Admiral Robert Lyon III descended.  The Farquharsons are a branch of the Shaws of Rothiemurchus, having been descended from Ferquhard Shaw, fourth son of that Shaw Corshiacalich who led the Chattan men in the Great Clan battle on the North Inch of Perth In 1396.  For his support of Robert Bruce the Shaw Chief had received certain lands in Brae Mar along the isolated thickly wooded valley of the Dee River in Aberdeenshire, and his son Ferquhard settled there in the reign of Robert the third, during the latter part of the fourteenth century.

     Ferquhard married a daughter of Patrick Donnacha, Chief of the Clan Donnacha (or Robertsons) and his son also married a Robertson of the Calveen Branch.  Ferchar, the next chief, married a daughter of the Chisholm of Strathglas, by whom he had a large family of children who settled in Brae Mar and the Braes of Angus, nearby.

     The Farquharsons were a sept of the great Clan Chattan, and marched with them to battle.  From Ferquhard Shaw they took the name of Farquharson, and the Farquharsons of Invercauld are of the Chief's family.  Those of that name residing at Inverey and Monaltrie are also descended from Ferquhard.

     The great grandson of Ferquhard was Finnula Mor, or Great Findlay, and from him the Clan took the appellation "Clan Fhiunnla" though they also retained the old patronym of Mac'earchar, or Farquharson.

     Findlay, who was a great warrior, bore the Royal Banner for the King at Pinkie, where he was slain with many of his followers, 1547.  His wife was Beatrice Gordon, and their son John, was the next Chief.  Findlay's brother David lived at Monaltrie, and his three sons founded the families of Allanacoich, Inverey, and Finzean.  The Findlays, Findlaysons, and MacKinlays are also derived from the Clan Farquharson.  

     Two of the Chiefs of Clan Farquharson married into the family of the old and powerful Earls of Athol, and their lands were extensive.  In 1639 Farquharson of Monaltrie was opposed with his followers to the Covenanters, and marched with the Royalists under Lord Gordon.

     The Farquharson Clan joined the great Montrose in the campaign of 1645, and fought gallantly at Worcester.  They also served later with Viscount Dundee, and were first to respond to the summons of the Earl of Mar in the uprising of 1715.  With his allies, The Shaws, Mackintoshes and MacPhersons, the Chief called out his full force of five hundred Clansmen in support of Prince Charlie, and fought gallantly at Falkirk and Culloden.  Farquharson of Balmoral was accorded no mercy because of his zeal for the Stuarts, but the Chief was later pardoned and his estates restored.

     In the Battle of Culloden was an old Warrior known as Fearchar "Gaisgach liath" or the Grey Warrior, who had served with Montrose and the Earl of Mar in the previous campaigns, and been distinguished for his heroism.  But at Culloden Fearchar's only living son was among those who were slain after the Battle by order of the vicious British General Curnberland.

     The aged Farquharson lived to be well past a hundred years of age and in after years he roamed forlornly through the Highlands, visiting the graves of his fallen sons and comrades, and mourning constantly for the lost cause which had exacted such bitter toll of his people.

     The property being entailed, the estates in Brae Mar continued to remain in the family of the Chief, and for a long time the old Castle of Braemar was leased to the government as a military station.  It was once a hunting seat of the Scottish Kings, and was constructed in very early times.  The Earl of Mar once used it as a fortalice, but the Farquharsons owned the lands in later years.   Other strongholds of the Farquharsons was the castle known as Ballater House, and Invercauld House, the chief's mansionn, standing a little north of the configuration called the Lion's Face, in the sheltered vale of the Dee surrounded by lovely wooded hills.  All clansmen are entitled to wear this distinctive insignia: A lion issuing from a wreath yules, holding a sword in his dexter paw.  The crest is encircled by a strap and buckle bearing the clan motto, "Fide et fortitudine dine" (By fidelity and foritude).  (http://fiss.com/chattan/farqu/fi00019.htm).