Seier de Seton (de Lens, in Flanders) founded the family of Seton.  He was the son of Count Lambert de Lens of Flanders who was the second son of Eustace I of the five Eustace fame.  Seier was granted lands in East Lothian by King Malcolm III, which were later named after the family's estate holdings Northumberland then called after the sea-town of Seaton-Staithes, Seaton.  This eventually was set in the Scots language as SETON.

Walter de Seton (known as Dougall) married the de Quincy heiress in the early 1100's.  Philip de Seton recieved a Charter from King William the Lion in 1169 re-affirming the Lands of Seton, Winton and Wynchburgh, one of the oldest Charters to exist in Scotland.  He was a prominent Knight and landowner who supported the King and the Royal House.  Sir Alexander de Seton witnessed a charter of David I to the Church of Saint Mary at Newbattle, and was a great favourite of this King.  He died in 1211.

Bertram (or Bartine) de Seton married Margaret Comyn, daughter of William Comyn and recieved a grant of the lands of Ruchlaw, confirmed by the King, February 22, 1172.  His second son, Alexander de Seton, witnessed a Charter to the Burgh of Glasgow by King Alexander II in 1225.  Adam de Seton was a Master Clerk in the reign of King Alexander III and is listed on a Charter of Marriage from Roger de Quincy in 1246.  His second son, Philip de Seton, was a Priest and Rector in Biggar, Lanarkshire.

The 1st Sir Christopher de Seton married Maud de Percy, daughter of Lord Topcliff in Yorkshire and managed the family's estates in England with great zeal during the lifetime of his father.  He was a pious man who was a great benefactor of the Church, so recognized by Pope Innocent IV.  His 1st son, Sir Christopher (2nd), was a famed Knight in the Wars of Independence and was a companion of Sir William Wallace and was killed at the Battle of Dillicarew, 12th June, 1298; and 2nd son John founded the Yorkshire Seton's in England.

The 3rd Sir Christopher Seton married Christina, sister of King Robert I (The Bruce) in 1301. He is renowned for saving the King's life at Methven when he was unhorsed.  He was known as, "The Good Sir Chrystell", and was the famed Knight who having sought refuge at Loch Doon Castle, was betrayed by MacNab and later executed in Dumfries by the English.

Sir Alexander Seton (2nd) succeeded his good father and was Knighted by King Robert before 1302.  He publicly signed an Oath at Lindores affirming the rights of Robert Bruce as King, and later joined Sir Gilbert Hay and Sir Neil Campbell in defending the rights of King Robert the Bruce and was one of the signatories of the Declaration of Arbroath, April 6, 1320, which confirmed the Independence of Scotland to Pope John XXII.  Present at the Battle of Bannockburn, June 24th, 1314, he was by the King's side during the victory celebrations.  He also accompanied the King's brother Edward Bruce in his claim of the crown of Ireland.

Sir Alexander Seton (3rd) succeeded his noble father and was the famed Keeper/Governor of Berwick in 1333 during the seige of the town by the English King Edward III, during which his sons were executed.  He was a signatory on the Charter to the Abbot of Lindores for the monks of Balmerino in 1331, and his curious dagger is in the possession of the Seton's of Parbroath.  He was succeeded by his son, Sir Alexander Seton, who's daughter was the famed Heiress of Seton.

John Seton, youngest son of the Keeper of Berwick, was married to the Ramsay of Parbroath heiress Elizabeth by award of King David II and founded the Seton's of Parbroath (Pitbroad, 1774) in Fife in approx. 1333.  This branch eventually became highly established in the United States (after 1770) and eventually, through the marriage of William Seton of New York to Elizabeth Ann Bayley, carried the name of Seton to Elizabeth Ann who founded the Sisters of Charity, which flourished along the Eastern Atlantic coastline, as far north as Halifax, Nova Scotia (and continue to this day) and became the 1st American Catholic Saint, as St. Elizabeth Ann Seton.  There are a great many Institutions, Churches, Colleges and Universities named after her in the United States and abroad.

The heiress, Margaret Seton, married Alan de Winton and their son William retained name Seton and became the 1st Lord Seton.  Alexander, Lord William Seton's second son, married Elizabeth Gordon, heiress of Sir Adam Gordon and became Lord Gordon and their son Alexander became 1st Earl of Huntly.

The second son of Alexander Seton, Lord Gordon, was William Seton who married the Meldrum family heiress and founded the Highland Seton's of Meldrum who flourished in Aberdeenshire and who were Chamberlains to the Earls of Huntly and Chancellors of St. Machar's Cathedral and of Aberdeen.  From this family branch came the Aquhorthies, Pitmedden, Menie, Mounie, and other Aberdeen Seton branches, as well as many of the Seaton's in Ireland and the Seeton's of Nova Scotia. 

John Seton, of Aquhorthies (prev. of Menie), was Chamberlain to the Earl of Dunfermline at Fyvie Castle, and Alexander Seton of Pitmedden, Baronet of Nova Scotia, became Lord Pittmedden of Session in 1677, and it was he who created the Great Garden of Pitmedden in Aberdeen.  Sir Alexander's son, Sir William Seton of 2nd Pitmedden, was the noted Scottish Commissioner of the House of Parliament who assisted in the drafting of the Act of Union between Scotland and England, the succession of the Crown, and the prime Scottish parliamentary agent responsible for the creation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain.  From Alexander Seton, Lord Gordon's descent came the Marquess's and Duke's of Gordon and the Duke's of Sutherland, all Seton's who changed their name to that of their inherited Houses.

The second son of the 1st Earl of Huntly was Alexander who also kept the Seton name and founded the Seton's of Touch in Stirling in the central region of Scotland, Hereditary Armour Bearer's to the King.  From the Seton's of Touch came the family branches of Gargunnock, Abercorn, Preston and Ekolsund, etc... as well as the Seton's in Dublin Ireland.  The Abercorn Seton's became Baronets of Nova Scotia as well, and Sir Henry-John Seton of Abercorn was a Groom-in-Waiting to Her Majesty Queen Victoria.  With the marriage of the daughter of Alexander, Viscount Kingston to the Hay family, which descent married the Abercorn heir, the Seton's of Abercorn are the bloodline representatives of the House of Seton, which also carry the name, and thus are the Head of the House.

John Seton, 2nd Lord Seton, was Master of the Household for King James I and died about 1441.  He was succeeded by his grandson, George (the 1st of the name George), who became the 3rd Lord Seton.  His youngest son, Alexander had a son John who was Baillie of Tranent.

John Seton, Master of Seton, was killed by robbers in Annandale.  His son became 4th Lord Seton.

George Seton, 4th Lord Seton, built Winton House and was an early "scientist" who was devoted to study and attended the University of St. Andrews after his marriage.  He founded the Church of Seton as a Collegiate one and was a constant figure in the house of King James IV.  He died before 1510 and was succeeded by his son George, who became 5th Lord.

George Seton, 5th Lord Seton, was very attached to King James IV as a result of the influence of his father, he was a great favourite of the King and as such, was present and died with his King at Flodden in 1513.  Before this, he had repaired much of the Palace of Seton, including the Great Dungeon of the Tower at Seton.

George Seton, 6th Lord Seton, succeeded his father in 1513.  He repaired the older parts of Niddry Castle and enlarged it.  He was an extraordinary Lord among the Senators of the College of Justice in 1533.  He was a favourite of King James V, and was active in the affairs between Scotland and France.  He married as his second wife, Marie Pyeris who came in the retinue of Marie de Guise in her marriage to King James V.  He was appointed to oversee the imprisonment of Cardinal Beaton before his execution during the struggles of the early reformation, and suffered much during the Rough Wooing of Henry VIII.  He had been a close supporter of Marie de Guise, and died in 1549.  John Seton, son of the 6th Lord Seton, married the heiress of Balfour's of Cariston and founded the Seton's of Cariston in the mid 16th century in Fife.

George, 7th Lord Seton (the 5th of the name George in succession) supported Queen Mary Stuart against the Lords of the Congregation and was Master of the Household after Queen Mary (of Scots) returned to Scotland. He was responsible for rebuilding the Palace of Seton, after the “Rough Wooing”, which became a frequent home to Mary Queen of Scots, it was there she spent much of her honeymoon with Darnley, and again with Bothwell went after Darnley's murder and here their marriage contract was signed. His portrait (by Frans Pourbus) hangs in the Scottish National Porttrait Gallery in Edinburgh and is the most spectacular painting of that period, and on many others.  His sister Mary Seton was one of the Queen's Four Marys and he was one of those who waited for Mary on the banks of Loch Leven when she escaped in 1568.

His second son, Robert, became 8th Lord Seton and was created 1st Earl of Winton in 1600; his 3^rd son, John, served in the courts of King Phillip of Spain and was so highly recommended for his services that King James VI and I called him home to serve in Great Britain, and Alexander, 3^rd son of the 1^st Earl of Winton inherited the Montgomerie Estates and his son, who took his mothers name of Montgomerie, succeeded as Earl of Eglinton.  The Montgomeries of Eglinton later claimed the title of Earl of Winton by right of eldest surviving male-descent, though not the lineal descent, and do not bear the Seton name, hence they are not head of the House.

Alexander Seton, 4th son of the 7th Lord Seton, was Prior of Pluscarden during the reign of Queen Mary Stuart.  Upon ascention to the legal bench he was created Lord Urquhart which was later followed by the title of Lord Fyvie, created in 1597, and Earl of Dunfermline in 1605. He became Chancellor of Scotland under King James VI and I, and it was he who rebuilt Pinkie House in Mussellburgh and the famous Fyvie Castle in Aberdeenshire.  His descent, the Earls of Dunfermline, were eventually attainted and forfeited for their part in the Jacobite Risings of 1689-90: James, 4th Earl of Dunfermline forfeited his estates and title, when he commanded a troop of horse under Viscount Dundee at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689.

Alexander, 2^nd son of George, 3^rd Earl of Winton, became Viscount Kingston and was the famed Captain who held Tantallon against the English and Cromwell.  His line joined the Jacobite rebellion of 1715 and like the majority of the Seton's there involved, forfeited their estates and titles.

George, 5th Earl of Winton joined the Jacobite rebellion of 1715 after the family's principle mansion was unlawfully rifled by the Hanoverian troops and the collegiate church ransacked and partly demolished.  He was captured and sentenced to death after the Battle of Prestonpans, though he escaped from the Tower of London, fled to Rome and was part of Chevalier's Cabinet.  He died in old age in 1749.