Unfortunately, however, Robert the Bruce was more Norman French than Scottish. The Bruce (or de Bruis) family almost certainly first arrived on these shores as part of William the Conqueror's invading army in 1066.

In return for helping William grasp the throne away from the Saxon King Harold, his Norman knights and lords were granted lands and baronies, seized from their existing owners, throughout the length and breadth of the country.

In time, even remote and troublesome Scotland fell subject to the march of Norman occupation and the De Bruis family "inherited" the Earldom of Carrick in Ayrshire, from where Robert mounted his campaign for the crown left vacant by the accidental death of the heir-less King Alexander in 1286.

The rest, as they say, is history, and Bruce will forever be remembered for his victory over the English King Edward at Bannockburn in 1314 and for "The Declaration of Arbroath" in 1320.

So, sorry to disappoint all you proud Bruces out there, but you're actually related to French invaders, so bugger off back to Normandy where you belong and grow apples.

Famous Bruce's include;

Jack Bruce Bass player in "Cream"
Lenny Bruce Foulmouthed Yank & brilliant mould-breaking comedian
Bruce Forsyth Entertainer extraordinaire