The name Ross is derived from the Gaelic Ros meaning promontory referring to the eastern portion of the county of Ross and Cromarty.

The Earldom of Ross dates back to 1234 when King Alexander II made Farquar Mac-an-t-sagairt Earl as thanks for his assistance in quelling a rebellion in Moray and Ross. The elevation to the Earldom with its attendant lands and rights made Farquar one of the most powerful men in the whole of Scotland.

Farquar was succeeded by William.

William was requested by Alexander III to subjugate Skye and Lewis on his behalf. He was subsequently given them as reward, this meant that almost the whole North of Scotland was part of the Earldom of Ross.

In 1296 the second Earl William, in conjunction with another two earls, rebelled against Edward of England who at this time was effectively the Overlord of Scotland. Their campaign started successfully and they managed to lay waste to the North of England, however their armies suffered a crushing defeat at Dunbar and Earl William was held prisoner in the Tower of London for seven years.

William's release was mainly thanks to the efforts of his wife the Countess Euphemia who campaigned unceasingly for his freedom. After his release Edward made him warden of the North, a role which he appeared to pay only lip service until Robert the Bruce's wife and daughter were captured by him while in sanctuary in Tain. The King's wife and daughter were then handed over to the English.

In 1307 Robert the Bruce invaded the North with an army of over three thousand, and after perceiving that the English were unable or unwilling to help, William came to terms. Robert the Bruce and William Ross were to become firm friends.

In 1320 William was one of the signatories to the Declaration of Arbroath.

The next Earl was Hugh who was a good friend (and Brother in Law) of King David and as a result Ross's lands were extended further by more Royal grants

In 1333 Hugh was killed in the battle of Halidon Hill near Berwick while leading the Scottish reserve on an attack against the English right.

Hugh's successor was another William son of Hugh and Princess Maud (Robert the Bruce's sister).

When leading a contingent of Ross's to a troop muster commanded by King David William murdered Reginald of the Isles in the Monastery of Elcho. This action caused loss of lands and resulted in the succession changing from heirs male to heirs general.

In 1587 a Roll of the Clans proclaimed that the name "Ross" was one of the most numerous in the country. It thought that this was due to the change from patronymics to fixed surnames by people living within the bounds of the Earldom.

During the fifteenth century there was a bitter feud between the Ross's and the Mackays of Strathnaver when the Mackays raided the Ross lands burning houses, slaughtering men women and children, and generally stealing everything they could. During one such raid the Ross's trapped the Mackays near Tarbat church and after being defeated in battle the Mackays took refuge in the church. In those days you were considered safe if you took sanctuary in a church unfortunately the Ross's did not accept this and promptly burned the church to the ground.

Five years later the Mackays took their revenge and defeated the Ross's in a battle in Strathcarron at a place called Alt a' Charrais. The Mackay raiding of Ross lands continued until about 1560 at which time the Mackays became embroiled in quarrels with their neighbours in Sutherland and as a result had no time or resources for further raiding.

At about the same time the Reformation was taking place and the Clan leaders adopted it wholeheartedly. Alexander (9th of Balnagown) was put to the horn as he had become to all intents and purposes an outlaw constantly defying authority, this resulted in him being imprisoned in Tantallon castle till he signed an agreement to live by the law. However Alexander on his release in 1583 returned to his criminal ways and Letters of Fire and Sword (effectively a death sentence) were issued against him. Alexander eventually died in 1592.

His heir was George who was educated at St Andrews University and he seemed to continue where his father left off. He eventually died in 1615 deeply in debt.

David his son and heir was a peace loving person and still managed to increase the family debts to such an extent that there was a serious threat of the family lands being seized. As a direct result of the family debt his son David had to be given government protection until he reached the age of seventeen., this was extended until he completed his studies at Edinburgh University.

In 1632 David died leaving his son David an estate greatly burdened by debt and the second David did not have the wits to solve the problem, and proved to be a very indecisive person. On the 26th of April 1638 David signed the Covenant at Inverness, he then switched sides to the Royalists, he then rejoined the Covenantors helping Colonel Strachan defeat the Marquis of Montrose at Carbisdale on the Kyle of Sutherland. In 1651 he is yet again on the royalist side marching with the Scottish Army and several hundred clansmen to Worcester, and defeat. From reports written by a gentleman called Braithwaite who captured David Ross it would appear that the Rosses were not wearing kilts but tartan trews. Ross of Balnagown was sent first to Windsor Castle then the Tower, eventually he was released on parole and died in London 29th Dec. 1653 after which he was buried in Westminster Abbey.

The thirteenth laird of Balnagown (also called David) was born in 1644 was awarded a pension in recognition of his fathers service in the royalist cause in 1688 David was made Governor of Inverness and Sheriff of Ross. David had no issue and as a result there was great rivalry between William, 12th Lord of Hawkhead and the Earl of Moray for succession to Balnagown. In 1711 David last of the line died and succession passed to the Rosses of Hawkhead who were in no way related to the Highland Rosses.

In 1715 Malcolm Ross of Pitcalnie (who some reckon should have inherited Balnagown) led 500 men against the Jacobites and as a punishment there lands were ravaged by Lord Seaforths men. in the 1745 rebellion the Rosses in the main were pro Hanoverian and garrisoned Inverness Castle which they promptly surrendered to the Prince on the appearance of his army.

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