Douglass, Robert. The Baronage of Scotland: Containing, An Historical and Genealogical Account of the Gentry of that Kingdom. (London: Cadell & Davies, 1798), Page 194.
I. William de Blair. He lived in the reign of King William the Lyon, who succeeded to the crown of Scotland in the year 1165, and died in 1214.
This William is mentioned in a contract of agreement between Ralph de Eglinton and the town of Irvine, anno 1205.
He died in the reign of King Alexander II. and left a son, William de Blair II.
Douglass, Robert. The Baronage of Scotland: Containing, An Historical and Genealogical Account of the Gentry of that Kingdom. (London: Cadell & Davies, 1798), Page 194.
The progenitors of this ancient and honourable family began to make a figure in this country above 500 years ago, and were undoubtedly chief of all the Blairs in the south and west parts of Scotland; which the appellation of de eodem, or of that ilk, denotes: but the Blairs of Balthyock in the north country, whose descent is already deduced, always competed with them for the chiefship; until at last King James VI. Put an end to their disputes, and determined, “That the oldest man of either family should have precedency of the younger.”
The following succession of this family is authentically documented.
The first that we have found upon record, is William de Blair I.
