Sir Alexander Scrymseor bore the Royal Standard under Sir William Wallace at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298 when the Scots were defeated by the English armies of Edward I. He was also one of the first Scottish landowners to declare in favour of Robert the Bruce and carried the Royal Standard at Bannockburn in 1314 where the Scots were victorious.

Sir Alexander's son, Sir Nicholas, was granted by Royal Charter, the office of hereditary Standard Bearer.

After Bannockburn the Scrymgeours built Dudhope Castle as a replacement for Dundee Castle.