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It is difficult to conjecture origin of family. They were a powerful family for 600 years in the county of Renfrew. Robert de Sempill the first of the family whom any record remains lived in the reign of Alexander II who was king of Scotland from 1214. In the reign of Alexander III Robert de Sempill was steward of the barony of Renfrew and witnessed a charter of Malcolm, Earl of Lennox c1280 and a grant of James, High Steward of Scotland and left two sons
1 Robert
2 Thomas de Sempill to whom Robert I granted a charter of the lands and pertinents in the town and tenement of Longniddry which belonged to Nicholas de Dispensa and which was forfeited by him following Scottish independence
The second Robert de Sempill had a charter from King Robert I of the whole land with pertinents which belonged to John Balliol lying in the tenement of Largs to be held in free barony. He witnessed a donation of the church of Largs to the monastery of Paisley for the welfare of his own soul and that of Marjory Bruce his deceased wife in 1318. Robert died before 1330
III William de Sempill steward of Renfrew who under the designation of Willielmus Sempill de Eliotstoun witnessed a charter of Adam de Fullerton in 13th April 1344
IV Thomas Sempill of Elliestoun witnessed a charter of Robert, High Steward of Scotland, Earl of Strathern and John, Lord Kyle his son and heir apparent confirming to the monastery of Paisley the lands of Sanquhar in 1367. He was succeeded by his son.
V Sir John Sempill of Elliestoun who received from King Robert II a charter confirming the grants which John, Earl of Carrick His Majesty's eldest son had made to him of the lands of Glassford etc in Lanarkshire on 22nd July 1375. He left a daughter Jean who married Sir John Stewart, sheriff of Bute (ancestor of the Marquis of Bute) and had a son who succeeded him
VI John Sempill of Ellieston who had a safe conduct to Durham to wait upon King James I of Scotland in 13th December 1423. He sat in the Parliament which met at Stirling in 1440 and in that at Edinburgh in 1441. He was succeeded by his son.
VII Sir Robert Sempill of Ellieston had a charter to himself and Elisabeth, his wife of the lands of Southannane in Ayrshire on his resignation 31st October 1451. He was succeeded by his son.
VIII Sir William Sempill of Ellieston who was made hereditary sheriff of the county of Renfrew and obtained from James III the baronies of Ellieston, Castleton, afterwards called Castle Sempill upon his own resignation dated 4 Oct 1474. He married Margaret, daughter of Lord Cathcart. He was succeeded by his son.
IX Thomas Sempill, sheriff of Renfrew sat in Parliament on 25th February 1483-4 being designed Thomas Simple, vicecomes de Renfrew. He fell at the Battle of Sauchie on the side of James III on 11th June 1488. He married Elizabeth, daughter or sister of John, 1st Lord Ross, by whom he had a son and 4 daughters
1 John who succeeded
2 Margaret married to Robert Crawford of Kilbirny
3 Marion married to Sis John Stewart of Glanderstoun
4 Elizabeth married to Sir Adam Mure of Caldwell
5 Margaret, Lady Houstoun
X Sir John Sempill was created peer by James IV in 1488. He sat as a peer in Parliament on 11th March 1503-4 and founded the collegiate church of Lochwinnoch near Castle Sempill in 1505. He was married firstly to Margaret Colville who died and then to Margaret Crichton. John, 1st Lord Sempill fell at the Battle of Flodden on 9th September 1513. By Margaret Colville, daughter of Sir Robert Colville of Ochiltree he had two sons
1 William who succeeded
2 Gabriel Sempill ancestor of the Sempills of Cathcart
He married Margaret, daughter of Sir James Crichton of Ruthvendeny, relict of Sir William Stirling of Keir.
XI William, 2nd Lord Sempill was one of the Privy Councillors of James V and Lord Justiciary and heritable baillie of the regality of Paisley. He died in 1548. He married firstly Lady Margaret Montgomery, eldest daughter of Hugh, 1st Earl of Eglinton. By her he had
1 Robert who succeeded
2 David ancestor of the Sempills of Craigbeth, a branch of whom settled in Spain
3 Helen married Alan, Lord Cathcart
4 Mary married to Sir John Stirling of Keir
He married secondly Elizabeth, daughter of Arnot of Arnot and thirdly Marian, daughter of Hugh Montgomery of Hazelhead
XII Robert, 3rd Lord Sempill commonly called the Great Lord Sempill. He was at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547 when he was taken prisoner by the English and after that sided with Queen Mary until the murder of Darnley. He was present with the Regent Moray at the Battle of Langside and obtained a charter of the Abbey of Paisley in 1569 upon the forfeiture of Lord Claud Hamilton. He died in 1572. He was governor and constable of the Castle of Douglas. He engaged on the Eglinton side in their feud with the Earls of Glencairn. He built the Peel on a small islet in Castle Sempill Loch. He married first Isabel, daughter of Sir William Hamilton of Sanquhar by whom he had
1 Robert, Master of Sempill
2 Andrew who was ancestor of the Sempills of Bruntehills and Millbank
3 Grizel married James Hamilton of Stenhouse
4 Margaret married first John Hamilton of Broomhill and 2nd John Whitefoord of Whitefoord
5 Marion married Hugh Montgomery of Hazelhead
6 Janet married Alexander Fleming of Barochan
He married 2nd Elizabeth Carlyle, a daughter of the House of Forthwald by whom he had
7 John Sempill who married Mary, daughter of Alexander, 5th Lord Livingston and one of the maids of honour of Mary, Queen of Scots. He acquired from his father the lands of Beltrees
8 Jean married James, 4th Lord Ross
9 Grissel married John Blair of Blair
10 Dorothea married Sir Robert Montgomery of Skelmorlie
XIII Robert, Master of Sempill predeceased his father in 1569 leaving by his wife Barbara, daughter of Sir Archibald Preston a son who succeeded
XIV Robert, 4th Lord Sempill was left under the tutelage of James, Earl of Morton regent. He had a charter as grandson and heir of Robert, 3rd Lord Sempill of the barony of Sempill and Cragenbeach confirmed on 15th December 1572. He was a Privy Councillor of James VI and in 1596 was constituted His Majesty's ambassador to Spain. He died 25th March 1611 having married 1st Lady Anne Montgomery, 2nd daughter of Hugh, 3rd Earl of Eglinton by whom he had issue
1 Hugh, Master of Sempill
2 Anne married Sir Archibald Stuart of Castlemilk
3 Beatrix married Sir Colin Lamont of Inneyne
4 Grissel married John Logan of Raiss
5 Margaret married Robert Brisbane of Bishopton
He married secondly Dame Johanna de Evieland, a lady of the Low Countries by whom he had a son
6 Sir James Sempill of Letterkenny in Ireland who had an only daughter and heiress married to Sir Francis Hamilton and ancestor of Viscount Southwell
XV Hugh the eldest son, 5th Lord Sempill was one of the peers who sat on the trial of Patrick, Earl of Orkney in 1614. He succeeded his father in the sheriffdom of Renfrew and in the office of baillie of the regality of Paisley whose jurisdiction encompassed the domains of the abbey in Renfrewshire, Ayrshire and Dunbarton. Both these heritable jurisdictions were acquired from Lord Sempill by Alexander, Earl of Eglinton in 1636 but appear to have been redeemable. Hugh, Lord Sempill married 1st Lady Anne Hamilton, eldest daughter of James, 1st Earl of Abercorn, by whom he had one daughter
1 Marion married Sir George Preston of Valleyfield
He married 2nd Lady Elizabeth Hay, 3rd daughter of Francis, 9th Earl of Errol by whom he had
2 Francis, Master of Sempill
3 Robert, 7th Lord Sempill
4 Archibald Sempill of Dykehead
5 James, who entered into a religious order abroad
6 Elizabeth married William, 2nd Lord Mordington
7 Jean married 1st Sir William Menzies of Pitfoddels
Hugh died on 19th September 1639 and was succeeded by his eldest son
XVI Francis, 6th Lord Sempill who married Lady Isobel Seton, daughter of George, 3rd Earl of Winton but died without issue on 3rd November 1644 and was succeeded by his brother
XVII Robert, 7th Lord Sempill was served heir male of Robert, Lord Sempill, his grandfather and heir of Francis, Lord Sempill, his brother on 16th February 1648 of the barony of Sempill etc, office of sheriff of the county of Renfrew and office of baillie of regality of Paisley. He died in 1675. He married Anne Douglas, daughter of James, 1st Lord Mordington and had issue.
1 Robert., Master of Sempill who died in his 18th year unmarried
2 Francis, 8th Lord Sempill
3 Anne, 9th Baroness Sempill
4 Jean married Alexander Sinclair of Roslin and was mother of William Sinclair of Roslin
XVIII Francis, 8th Lord Sempill the only surviving son was served heir of his father and his brother Robert, Master of Sempill 9th September 1680. He converted to Protestantism and took his seat in Parliament. During his minority he was placed under the care of the Earl of Dundonald. He married Grissel Primrose sister of the 1st Earl of Roseberry but had no issue. He died in 1684 and the title devolved on his eldest sister.
XIX Anne, 9th Baroness Sempill married Francis Abercromby of Fettercairn in the county of Aberdeen and he was in consequence created Lord Glassford for his life only in 1685. She was served heir of entail on 14th April 1685 and provision to her father and brother. A Great Seal charter of 16th May 1688 confirmed the family estates to Anne Lady Sempill and Francis Lord Glassford. She died in 1695 leaving issue
1 Francis, Master of Sempill
2 Hon Captain Robert Sempill, killed in wars abroad without issue
3 John, 11th Lord Sempill
4 Hon Alexander Sempill who died young
5 Hugh, 12th Lord Sempill
6 Hon Jean Sempill who died unmarried in 1743
XX Francis, 10th Lord Sempill the eldest son succeeded his mother taking his seat in Parliament in 14th May 1703. He was opposed to the Treaty of Union. He died unmarried and was buried in the abbey of Holyrood
XXI John, 11th Lord Sempill succeeded his brother and was active in promoting the Ayrshire Fencibles in 1715. He died unmarried in August 1716 and was succeeded by his only surviving brother.
XXII Hugh, 12th Lord Sempill went early into the army and became a distinguished officer, his first commission being in 1709. He was appointed brigadier general at the Battle of Culloden when he had command of the left wing of the government forces. He died on 25th November 1746. He married Sarah, daughter of Nathaniel Gashill of Manchester and had issue
1 John, Master of Sempill
2 Hon Colonel George Sempill who married 1st Miss Gordon of Wardhouse; 2nd his first cousin Anne, daughter of Richard Clive of Styche in Shropshire and sister of Robert 1st Lord Clive and 3rd he married the widow of Francis Joddrell of Yeardsley in Cheshire. He died at Bishopton in 1779 without issue
3 Hon Hugh Sempill in the army died at the Cape of Good Hope, 1764
4 Hon Philip Sempill died young
5 Hon Ralph Sempill died at sea
6 Hon Sarah Sempill married in 1750 Patrick Crawford of Auchinames and Errol MP for Ayr and Renfrew. Died at Errol leaving a daughter Sarah who died unmarried
7 Hon Jean Sempill who died unmarried at Edinburgh, July 1800
8 Hon Elizabeth Sempill died young
9 Hon Anne Sempill married in 1754 Adam Austin MD of Edinburgh. She died in 1793 leaving issue
10 Hon Marion Sempill who died in Edinburgh, 1796
11 Hon Rebecca Sempill who died in Edinburgh in 1811
XXIII John 13th Lord Sempill eldest son who succeeded his father and married in 1755 Janet, daughter of Hugh Dunlop of Bishopton by whom he had issue.
1 Hugh, Master of Sempill
2 Hon George Sempill born 1763 died in the East Indies in 1782
3 Hon Patrick Sempill died young
4 Hon Sarah Sempill married 7th June 1780 Sir William Forbes of Craigievar and died in 1799 leaving with other issue - Sir John Forbes of Craigievar who married in 1825 Hon Charlotte Elizabeth, 2nd daughter of General Lord Forbes by whom he had two sons and five daughters
5 Hon Janet Sempill
6 Hon Johanna Sempill who died in 1840
XXIV Hugh, 14th Lord Sempill born in 1758 married in London 1787 Maria, daughter of Charles Mellish of Bagnal and had issue
1 Hon Selkirk, Master of Sempill
2 Hon Francis Sempill who died at Calcutta on 2 January 1823
3 A son who died in infancy
4 Maria Janet, 16th Baroness Sempill
5 Hon Sarah Sempill
His lordship died at Boulogne in 1830 and was succeeded by his only surviving son
XXV Selkirk, 15th Lord Sempill born in London, 1788 sometime captain in Renfrewshire Regiment of Militia, died in 1835 unmarried when the title devolved upon his sister Maria.
XXVI Maria Janet, 16th Baroness Sempill succeeded her brother on 4th May 1835 and married 14th June 1836 Edward Candler of Morton-Pinkney in Northamptonshire. In 1853 they were both allowed by Royal license to assume the name and arms of Sempill only. However, they had no children and Maria was succeeded by her first cousin once removed Sir William Forbes, 8th Baronet, of Craigievar, who became the seventeenth Lord Sempill. He was the grandson of the Hon. Sarah Sempill, eldest daughter of the thirteenth Lord Sempill. In 1885 he assumed by Royal license the additional and principal surname of Sempill. His son, the eighteenth Lord, sat in the House of Lords as a Scottish Representative Peer from 1910 to 1934. His son, the nineteenth Lord, is known as an aviation pioneer and was also a Scottish Representative Peer between 1935 and 1963 (when all Scottish peers gained an automatic seat in the House of Lords). He fathered one daughter.
His father, the eighteenth Lord, had sired four children in total; the succeeding Lord and three daughters. The youngest daughter, Elizabeth Forbes-Sempill was born on 6 September 1912. On the death of her father, her brother, the new Lord and Baronet, entrusted the management of his Fintray and Craigievar estates into her hands. Elizabeth subsequently changed gender, becoming Ewan Forbes-Sempill in 1952. On the nineteenth Lord's death in 1965 the baronetcy and barony were separated; the lordship passed to his daughter Ann, the twentieth Lady Sempill, while his new younger brother, Ewan, succeeded in the baronetcy, which could only be inherited by male heirs, after a two-year legal dispute to determine if he was a legitimate male successor. After his death, the cousin born in 1927 became Sir John Alexander Cumnock Forbes-Sempill, bt. The twentieth Lady Sempill was the wife of, firstly, Eric Holt. They were later divorced and she then married secondly Stuart Whitemore Chant, who in 1966 by decree of the Lord Lyon assumed the additional surname of Sempill. As of 2010 the title is held by Lady Sempill's eldest son from her second marriage, the twenty-first Lord, who succeeded in 1995.
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