The name Haliburton comes from the lands of Berwickshire. They were originally called Burton or Burghton, but after a chapel was built there, people started calling the place Holy or Haly Burton.
Sir Henry Halyburton swore allegience to Edward I of England and his name appears on the Ragman Roll. In the Battle of Durham in 1346, Sir Walter, Henry's grandson, was taken prisoner by the English and ransomed in 1357.
A different Walter Halyburton became Treasurer of Scotland in 1439, then a year later, became a Lord of Parliament. His wife was the eldest daughter of the Regent Albany and was the widow of the Earl of Ross.
The second Lord Halyburton was John. He married the daughter of Sir William Seaton of Seaton, Janet. They had 2 sons who both eventually became Lord Halyburton.
In 1506, the sixth Lord Halyburton died and left 3 daughters. Janet, the eldest, married Lord Ruthven and the title then descended through her. Janet's grandson, William, became Earl of Gowrie in 1581.
This clan is presently without a chief.