 In the 13th century the Castle of Rattray was ""the principal seat of the Cummings"..." [alt.spelling of Comyn] ""Earls of Buchan"" who arrived at the start of that century.Between 1214 when he inherited the Earldom of Buchan and his own death in 1233, William Comyn, jure uxoris Earl of Buchan built upon the motte but it is unclear whether he upgraded the existing buildings or built an entirely new castle.