Variations of the name Wallace are found in records by the 12th Century in Ayrshire and Renfrewshire/South of Glasgow. Richard Walensis of Riccarton held land near Kilmarnock/Ayrshire.

Richards’s grandson Adam de Walays had two sons, the eldest named Alan succeeded to the family estates in Ayrshire including Riccarton at Kilmarnock (also reffered to at times as Ellerslie).

Adam’s younger son Malcolm received the lands of Elderslie and Auchinbothie in Renfrewshire.

This is where the confusion begins as to whether Alan of Ayrshire or Malcolm of Renfrewshire was the father of the great Scottish patriot, Sir William Wallace.

Although Alan de Waleys appears on the Ragman Roll of nobles paying allegiance to Edward I of England in 1296, his brother Malcolm of Elderslie was one of only a few Scottish nobles who bravely refused to submit to Edward. He and his son, Andrew, were both executed as a result.

William was living with relatives near Dundee at that time being educated. William had to flee Dundee after either killing an Englishman there that had been taunting him for some time, or, as another story goes, he and some followers had tracked down Malcolm's executioner, Sir John Fenwick, and his men at Lowden Hill / Lanarkshire and slayed Fenwick. After whatever event was true, Wallace moved to Ayrshire where he lived as an outlaw.

Although his success in skirmishes with english troops in Ayrshire brought many new followers, to gain the support of the nobility, he allied himself with Sir Andrew Murray, who was raising a revolt in the northeast. They were later joined by the Graham’s, Campbell’s and the Earl of Lennox.

By 1297, Wallace had gathered enough support to challenge a mighty English Army on route to Stirling Castle at Stirling Bridge. His victory at Stirling saw him knighted and granted the title ‘Guardian of Scotland’.

Sir William Wallace was defeated in battle by Edward 1 (Longshanks) at Falkirk 1298. Although he escaped with his life, Wallace was captured at Glasgow August 5th 1305. After being tried for treason, was hung, drawn and quartered at Elms in Smithfield/London August 23rd 1305.

In 1999, the seal of Sir William Wallace was translated from its archaic latin. On his seal it says he is the son of Alan. His mother is believed to have been the daughter of Sir Hugh Crawford, Sheriff of Ayr, and he is thought to have had an elder brother named Malcolm. Because he was the second son, William did not inherit his fathers title or lands.