About Us

Clay and Shay Patterson developed RoseCrag History of Family Names as a semi-retirement venture after successful careers in business fields. Their interest in the history of family names stems from many years of genealogy research on their own families. Attending Scottish Festivals in Texas & Colorado, they realized there was a significant demand for printed documents with histories and coats of arms. They became licensed dealers with the Swyrich Hall of Names in Kingsport, Ontario, and have become mainstays in Southeastern U.S. Scottish & Celtic festivals and Highland Games since moving to Tennessee in 2005.

Shay Patterson, a licensed Nursing Facility Administrator, came up through the ranks in the nursing home industry and served as an administrator at some of the finest facilities in East Texas the last 20 years of her career. She was honored for her achievements in 1998 in Who's Who of East Texas. Shay retired from this industry in 2000 (at quite an early age, we must say) and was the primary motivation in moving to Tennessee, her home state, in 2005. Shay's primary responsibility with RoseCrag is as our resident expert in Heraldry and the History of Family Names as well as business & tax management.

Shay's professional commitment to the Nursing Facility industry left little time for hobbies, however over the last five years she has come to enjoy the wonderful companionship, talents and intelligence of her prize Border Collies, Dixie & Mollie. Dixie is a very talented basketball player and there isn't a frisbie in Tennessee that Mollie can't run down. They've both been known to show off at a beach wedding or a Scottish festival.

Clay Patterson, CLU, ChFC, RHU, is a 34 year professional in the Life & Health Insurance industry having achieved educational certifications as a Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC) and Registered Health Underwriter (RHU) from the American College of Bryn Mahr, PA. He attended the University of Oklahoma and Stephen F. Austin University obtaining bachelors and masters degrees as well as an honorary PhD from Olympian International.

Clay has had various interests in his life that include: having been a World Cup Powerlifting Champion (1980); Secretary General of the International Powerlifting Federation (1976-1981); an Officer of the Old Fort Griffin Memorial Regiment - U.S. & C.S.A. Cavalry reenacting (1990-2005); and a recipient of the Lone Star Legends award from the Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife (1999); was elected a Fellow in the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland - FSA Scot (2005).

Clay has also been a genealogist for over 30 years and has evolved to serving clients professionally while obtaining certification as a Certified Genealogist from the Board of Certification of Genealogists in Washington, D.C. He is a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists of Westminster, Colorado.

Together, the Patterson's are members of the following organizations:

Association of Professional Genealogists (2003) Historical Scotland, Edinburg, Scotland (2001) Jefferson Co. TN Genealogical Society (2005) Sevier Co., TN Genealogical Society (2005) Kentucky Historical Society (2002) Knoxville, TN Scottish Society (2005) Natl. Archives & Records Admin. (2004) National Genealogical Society (1999) National Trust for Scotland (2000) Scots-Irish Society of the USA (2002) Scots Heritage Society (1999) Scottish American Military Society (2006) Society of Antiquaries of Scotland - Fellow (2005)