The clan claim kinship with both King Kenneth mac Alpin (through his brother Fingon - hence "mac Fhionghinn" meaning "son of the fair one") and with St Columba. The clan slogan was "Cumhnich Bas Alpin" meaning "Remember the death of Alpin".
Their original territory was in the south of the island of Mull (and the clan provided successive abbots at Iona) but in the 15th century they moved to the north of the island, after losing out to the MacLean clan following a crime by the chief.
The clan also held land in Strathaird in Skye which may have been granted by Robert the Bruce after the clan had supported him during his time as a fugitive. The Mackinnons supported the efforts to restore the MacDonald Lordship of the Isles and Ewen Mackinnon was part of the council of Donald Dubh in the last rising in 1545.
The clan stronghold was at Dunakin which reputedly belonged to a Norse princess called "Saucy Mary" who married the Mackinnon chief. The castle (initially called Dun Haakon) overlooked the water between Skye and the mainland and the Mackinnons ran a chain across the narrows and levied tolls on passing ships. King Haakon IV gathered his fleet below the castle before sailing to his defeat at the Battle of Largs in 1263.
Later, the Mackinnons supported the Stewart kings and Lachlan Mackinnon, the 28th chief was knighted by King Charles II before the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Later chiefs supported both the Old and Young Pretenders in the Jacobite Uprisings of 1715 and 1745. After the defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the Mackinnons sheltered Prince Charles Edward and took him by ship to Mallaig. The chief was captured and imprisoned on the return voyage. When the chief was later released, he was told the king was being "generous". He replied "Had I the King in my power as I am in his, I would return him the compliment of sending him back to his own country". At that time the king was George II, who had German roots.
Within two generations of the 1745 Uprising, the clan had lost all its lands through debt. The direct line of chiefs died out and the title was claimed by a distant relative.
Some bearers of the name believed that the name came from the Gaelic "mac Ionmhuinn" meaning "son of the loved one" and when their name became anglicised, it became the surname Love.
The Mackinnon clan motto is "Audentes fortuna juvat" which means "Fortune assists the daring".
Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Mackinnon clan include MacKinney, MacKinning, MacKinven, MacMorran, Morren, Sherry. _________________ FOA BOB -
Derived from the Gaelic "mac an tiosich" or "son of the leader or chief" (similar to the Irish "taoseach" or prime minister). The clan claim descent from the royal house of Duff, through Shaw, the second son of Duncan Macduff, Earl of Fife, of the royal house of Dalriada. Shaw was part of a force led by King Malcolm IV which repressed a rebellion in Moray in 1160. Granted lands in the valley of the river Findhorn, the lands of Petty became the centre of clan territory. The 5th chief led his clan at the Battle of Largs in 1263, during the reign of King Alexander III. His son was raised by his uncle, the Lord of the Isles and he married the daughter of the chief of Clan Chattan in Lochaber, extending the clan lands to Glenloy and Loch Arkaig. After that, the Clan Chattan, which developed into a loose confederation of independent clans, was usually led by a Mackintosh (though challenged on occasions by the Macphersons).
The chief and his clansmen supported Robert the Bruce, particularly against the Comyns and they also supported the Marquess of Montrose in his campaign on behalf of King Charles I. 800 clansmen supported the Jacobite cause in 1715. Many Mackintosh clansmen were transported to America after the defeat of that uprising. When Prince Charles Edward Stuart landed in Scotland in 1745, the clan chief was absent (he was a captain in the Black Watch) but his wife raised men for the Prince's army. During the retreat in 1746, Prince Charles was received by Lady Mackintosh at Moy and the Prince's bed is still to be seen in Moy Hall today.
In more modern times, Charles Macintosh invented a fabric waterproofing process in 1823 which became the Macintosh raincoat. Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868-1928) was an innovative and influential architect, his works including the Glasgow School of Art, Queen's Cross Church and the Hill House in Helensburgh.
The Mackintosh clan motto is "Touch not the cat bot a glove" which is almost identical to that of the Macphersons and Chattan.
Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Mackintosh clan include Ayson, Crerar, Dallas, Doles, Elder, Esson, Glennie, Hardie, Hardy, Higginson, Hossack, MacAndrew, MacCartney, MacConchy, MacGlashan, MacHardie, MacHardy, MacKeggie, Mackieson, MacKilligan, MacLerie, MacNiven, MacRitchie, Niven, Noble, Paul, Ritchie, Smith, Thain, Tosh.
MacIntosh was the 68th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995. _________________ FOA BOB -
"Lachlan" was a popular first name in Celtic times. It came from the Gaelic "loch-lann" meaning "fjord land" and was used as the Gaelic word for Norway. There is good evidence that the MacLachlans in Scotland were descended from "Niall of the Nine Hostages" who was High King of Ireland around 400AD. The MacLochlainns ruled over the whole of Ulster until 1241 when they were defeated by King Brian O'Neill.
The Maclachlans were well established in Scotland in Lorne, Argyll, in the 13th century. Ewan Maclachlan was one of the 2,000 landowners and clergy who signed an oath of allegiance to King Edward I of England in the "Ragman Roll" of 1296. Gillespie Maclachlan was a supporter of Robert the Bruce and was one of the nobles who attended his first Parliament at St Andrews in 1308.
In the 15th century the clan had consolidated their position and became known as the "Lords of Strathlachlan". Somehow, they managed to avoid coming into conflict with their powerful close neighbours the Campbells. There is legend that following a marriage between a Campbell and a Maclachlan a local "Brounie" spirit was so annoyed that he made the wedding feast disappear! Relations with the Lamonts were not always so cordial and the Maclachlans may have been involved with the Campbells in the massacre of the Lamonts in 1646.
The Maclachlan lands ran along both sides of Loch Fyne (a sea loch) and branches of the clan became established near Loch Awe. The clan's centre was Castle Lachlan, south of Strachur, on the other side of Loch Fyne from the Campbell seat at Inveraray Castle.
Unlike the Campbells, the Maclachlans were staunch Jacobites, supporting Viscount Dundee at the Battle of Kiliiecrankie in 1689, James VIII in the 1715 Uprising and again in support of Prince Charles Edward Stuart in 1745. The chief was at the head of his clansmen at Culloden in 1746 and lost his life in the cannon fire; his son was also killed in the battle. News of the chief's death is said to have been broken at Strathlachlan when his riderless horse came home. Retribution after the Uprising resulted in Castle Lachlan being left as a ruin. The estates were forfeited but later returned (thanks to the intervention of the Duke of Argyll). A new mansion house was built not far from the ruined castle and it is today still the seat of the chief of the Maclachlans.
In the West of Scotland in particular the name is usually pronounced "MacGloughlin" and in Ireland, where the name is frequently found, it is often spelt that way or as "MacLaughlin".
The Maclachlan clan motto is "Fortis et fidus" which means "Brave and Faithfull".
Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Maclachlan clan include Ewing, Gilchrist, Lachie, Lauchlan, MacGilchrist, MacLaghlan. _________________ FOA BOB -
The name MacLean is derived from the Gaelic "mac gille Eoin" - son of the servant of John. The spelling "MacLaine" is perhaps a better guide to how it should be pronounced. In its early days, the clan was known as Clan Gillean (which gave rise to the surname Gilzean, more often found in the Lowlands). "Gillean of the Battleaxe" is said to be the founder of the clan and he fought at the Battle of Largs against the Vikings in 1263. His great-great-grandson settled in Mull and in 1390, Donald, Lord of the Isles gave land to his two brothers-in-law, thus starting the two main branches of the clan - MacLean of Duart and MacLaine of Lochbuie (both on the island of Mull where the name is still frequently found). The clan extended its influence to other Hebridean islands such as Tiree and Islay and onto the mainland. "Red Hector of the Battles" from Duart fought for the MacDonald Lord of the Isles at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411 and Lachlan of Duart was killed at the Battle of Flodden.
Sir Lachlan Maclean was made a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1631 and he brought his clan to support the Marquis of Montrose campaign on behalf of King Charles I. The clan was often in conflict with the Campbells and in 1679 the Campbells gained possession of Duart when the MacLeans fell into debt.
The MacLeans rose in support of the Jacobite Uprising in both 1715 and 1745 - the clan chief was killed at the Battle of Culloden.
Castle Duart, the traditional home of the MacLeans, fell into ruins but was restored early in the 20th century by Sir Fitzroy Donald MacLean and is once again the seat of the clan chief.
The exploits of soldier and diplomat Fitzroy Hew MacLean, who parachuted into Yugoslavia to assist the resistance in WW2, are said to have been the origins of Ian Fleming's James Bond and 007. Sorley Maclean, born in 1911, is a distinguished poet. Novelist Alistair MacLean is known for books such as "HMS Ulysses" and "The Guns of Navaronne"
The clan motto is "Virtue mine honour".
The Beath, Black, Clanachan, Garvie, Gillon, Lean, MacBeath, MacBeth, MacCormick, MacCracken, MacVeagh, MacVey, Paton, names are regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Mackenzie clan.
MacLean was the 46th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995. _________________ FOA BOB -
The name was derived from an Old Norse nickname "Ljótr" meaning "ugly" and the original "Leod" (pronounced "lodge" in Gaelic) was said to have been descended from the Norse King Godfrey of the Isle of Man and the Hebrides. The MacLeods became established on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and also on Skye, Assynt and Strathpeffer on the other side of Ross and Cromarty. Castle Leod in Strathpeffer was eventually taken over by the MacKenzies.
The MacLeods were supportive of the Lord of the Isles, including participating in the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, which did not endear them to the King of Scotland at the time. The chief failed to produce a charter confirming ownership of Lewis and King James VI attempted to establish immigrants from Fife. While this did not succeed, MacKenzie of Kintail obtained possession of Lewis following this.
It was a MacLeod chief who established a college for MacCrimmon pipers in the middle of the 16th century. Chief Rory "Mor" MacLeod who lived at Dunvegan Castle on Skye was knighted around 1613.
No friend of the Stewart kings, many of the MacLeods did not get involved in the Jacobite Uprisings of 1715 and 1745 (which may explain why Dunvegan Castle on Skye survived as the home of the clan chief for 700 years). Even so, it was Donald MacLeod who escorted Bonnie Prince Charlie for seven weeks, as he evaded capture after the Battle of Culloden. Another Donald MacLeod published a book "Gloomy Memories" in Canada of his experiences during the Highland Clearances in Sutherland.
In 1935, the chieftainship passed to Dame Flora MacLeod (who was the last person to be born at 10 Downing Street, the residence of the UK Prime Minister). Clan gatherings have been held at Dunvegan Castle which holds the "Fairy Flag of Dunvegan" and a medieval drinking horn (which holds a bottle and a half of claret) which is used at the inauguration of clan chiefs.
The clan motto is "Hold fast".
A number of clans are regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Mackenzie clan - Askey, Beton, Harold, Lewis, Macaskill, McCabe, MacCaig, MacCaskill, MacClure, MacCorkindale, MacLimmor, MacHarold, Mackaskill, MacLewis, MacLure, Tolmie.
MacLeod was the 45th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995. _________________ FOA BOB -
The MacMillans are descended from Gilchrist, one of six sons of Cormac, the Bishop of Dunkeld around 1100. Gilchrist was a monk in the Celtic church in Moray and his tonsured hair cut is rendered in Gaelic "Mhaoil-Iain" or "Gille Maolin". Around 1160 King Malcolm IV removed the MacMillans from Lochaber to Lawers in Perthshire. However, John, son of Malcolm Mor MacMillan returned to Lochaber in 1335 and the clan remained there for centuries until they were forced to leave by the Camerons.
The clan fought at the Battle of Bannockburn with Robert the Bruce in 1314 and were granted lands at Knapdale around 1360. A MacMillan tower, near Castle Sween is a reminder of their time there. Other branches of the clan settled in Galloway and Arran. It was Alexander MacMillan from Arran who established the publishing firm of MacMillan. Harold MacMillan, UK Prime Minister in 1957-1963 came from this family.
By 1742 the direct line of the MacMillan chieftainship had become extinct and the chieftainship passed to MacMillan of Dunmore at the side of Loch Tarbert. In 1951 Sir Gordon Holmes MacMillan of Finlaystone was recognised as clan chief by the Lyon Court. (The illustration here is of Finlaystone where clan gatherings have been held).
McMillan was the 67th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.
The clan motto is "Miseris sucurrere disco" ("I learn to succour the unfortunate").
The Brown and MacBaxter families are septs (sub-branches) of MacMillan. _________________ FOA BOB -
There was no prohibition on clerics in the Celtic Christian church marrying and so it came about that "mac an aba" - son of the abbot - became established in Glendochart in Perthshire. The progenitor of the clan is traditionally the abbot of Glendochart and Strathearn who was a younger son of Kenneth Macalpin. Since the abbots were hereditary, the first MacNab chiefs were also the abbots of the monastery.
The MacNabs supported the Comyns in the Wars of Independence (Angus MacNab was a brother-in-law of John Comyn who was murdered by Robert the Bruce in 1306) and their lands were confiscated by The Bruce. However, the barony of Bovain in Glendochart was restored to Gilbert MacNab by Bruce's son, King David II, in 1336. In 1954, when the Lord Lyon was looking at the succession of MacNab chiefs he named Gilbert as the first undisputed chief though there had probably been many generations before him.
In the 16th century the MacNabs expanded, stretching from Tyndrum in Perthshire to Dalmally in Argyll. The clan castle was at Eilean Ran on an island on the river Lochay. But by the end of the century all the land had been mortgaged to the Campbells of Glenorchy and they became a "broken" or landless clan.
In 1612, a party of MacNabs, led by "Smooth John" MacNab, carried a boat over the hills from Loch Tay to Loch Earn so that they could attack and slaughter the MacNeishes. The mountainous terrain suggests that this would be impossible but in 1965 a group of Black Watch territorials showed that it was feasible. "Smooth John" supported Montrose against the Campbells. At one point he was captured and managed to escape on the eve of his execution but died later in 1653 after surviving the Battle of Worcester in the Civil War. In the see-saw of power, the MacNabs lost their lands to the Campbells at that time - but regained them again after the Restoration in 1660.
The MacNab chiefs did not involve the clan in the Jacobite Uprisings of 1715 and 1745 but the 15th chief was a major in the Hanoverian army and was captured at the Battle of Prestonpans in 1745.
At the turn of the 18th century, Sir Henry Raeburn painted a famous portrait of the "The MacNab" a Chief of the clan, dressed as a colonel of the Breadalbane Volunteers. It shows a stern, forceful character, as befits a chief of a proud clan. But although he amassed considerable estates during his lifetime, he also consumed large quantities of whisky and he died in 1816 owing a large sum of money. Although he had many illegitimate children, he left no direct heir. His nephew Archibald tried to escape his creditors by fleeing to Ontario in Canada where he attempted, unsuccessfully, to set up a clan system amongst the many MacNabs who had already emigrated there. Later, a member of the clan, Sir Allan Napier MacNab, became Prime Minister of Upper Canada.
Some MacNab lands were recovered in the 20th century and the present chief lives in Kinnell House.
The MacNab clan motto is "Timor omnis abesto" which means "Let fear be far from all".
Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the MacNab clan include Abbot, Abbotson and Gilfillan. _________________ FOA BOB -
Origins
The name is derived from Niall, a descendant of an Irish prince who married into the royal house of Dalriada. He was said to be descended from "Niall of the Nine Hostages" a king of Tara in Ireland who ruled around 400. They were originally confined to the islands of the Hebrides, mainly Barra, Gigha and Colonsay and a small enclave in Argyll at Taynish.
MacNeil of Barra
The first Niall came to Barra around 1049 and is considered to be the first chief of the clan. Neil MacNeil was the fifth chief and was described as a prince at the Council of the Isles held in 1252. He was still chief after the Battle of Largs in 1263 which ended the domination of the Western Isles by the Vikings from Norway. Neil's son, Neil Og Macneil, is believed to have fought for Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn in 1314 and was given land in northern Kintyre.
Gilleonan, the 9th chief, was was given a charter of Barra and Boisdale in 1427 from the Lord of the Isles. In the 16th century, the 12th chief (also named Gilleonan) attended a meeting with King James V at Portree, along with a number of other island lords. He was promptly imprisoned for many years, despite being promised a safe conduct by the king. He was not released until 1542 when the Regent Moray tried to use the chiefs in the isles to inhibit the power of the Campbells in Argyll.
In the 16th century, the MacNeils augmented their income with a bit of piracy and were sometimes referred to as the "last of the Vikings". The 15th chief was denounced so many times that he was labelled a "hereditary outlaw". On one occasion the chief was tricked into appearing before King James VI for attacking the English ships of Queen Elizabeth. When asked why he had done so, he replied that he thought he was doing the King a favour by annoying the woman who had beheaded the monarch's mother (Mary Queen of Scots). Eventually, the king issued letters requiring loyal subjects to "extirpate and root out" both the chief and members of the clan. In 1610, the chief's nephews attacked the seat of the clan chief at Kiessimul Castle, captured their uncle and put him in chains. The chief's son became head of the clan and fought for King Charles II at the Battle of Worcester. The next chief, Roderick Dhu, was received at court in London and granted a royal charter for all the lands of Barra. The clan remained loyal to the crown - including the "Old Pretender" when the Jacobite Uprising of 1715 took place.
The MacNeil stronghold on Barra was Kisimul Castle. There may have been a building there as early as the 11th century but the present structure probably dates from the 13th century but the dates are uncertain. The castle was beseiged several time in the various clan wars. But when the 21st clan chief became bankrupt in 1848, it was sold along with Barra to the Gordons of Cluny who later sold it to the Cathcarts. The line of the hereditary chief passed to a cousin who had emigrated to North America earlier in the 19th century. In a romantic turnaround, a later clan chief, Robert Lister MacNeil, came back from America to Barra in 1937 and purchased the castle and subsequently devoted his life to restoring it. His son, Ian Roderick MacNeil (the 46th of the Clan MacNeil if you start with Niall of the Nine Hostages) is a distinguished lawyer and has continued that task. Recently the National Trust has taken over the restoration work on a long-term lease (for a Pound a year and a bottle of whisky!)
MacNeill of Colonsay
The members of the clan who lived on the island of Colonsay usually spelt the name MacNeill. They had come to Colonsay from Taynish (on the Argyll mainland) and the island of Gigha. Torquil MacNeill of Taynish was granted the islands of Gigha and Danna and on the mainland in 1440 by Alexander, Lord of the Isles. Torquil became keeper of Sween Castle in 1449 but the castle passed to the MacMillans through marriage to a female heiress when the male line failed.
Torquil MacNeill had a large number of children who formed many minor branches, creating a complicated genealogy (which the MacNeill children were said to be required to recite backwards every Sunday!). Gigha was sold to the Campbells in 1554 but was later repurchased by the end of the 16th century.
MacNeills had been established on Colonsay from early times and in 1700 Donald MacNeil of Crear acquired the island from the Earl of Argyll, in exchange for his own estates. But when the kelp industry collapsed in the second half of the 19th century, the island was sold to pay off debts. The chieftainship passed to a MacNeill in New Zealand.
MacNeills in Galloway
A separate family of MacNeills was founded by a Gilbert MacNeill and was granted lands in the Rhinns of Galloway by Robert the Bruce. Another Galloway family, the MacNeillys, are unrelated - their name is derived from "mac an fhilidh" meaning son of the poet.
The MacNeil clan motto is "Buaidh no bas" which means "Conquer or die".
Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the MacNeil clan include MacGugan, MacNeilage, MacNeiledge, MacNeilly, Neal, Neil, Neil, Neill, Neilson, Nelson. _________________ FOA BOB -
Dating from the time of the Celtic church, the name Macpherson is from the Gaelic "Mac-a Phearsain" meaning "son of the parson" in the days when celibacy of the priesthood was not enforced. The clan originated in Lochaber but Robert the Bruce gave them land in Badenoch as thanks for their assistance in defeating the Comyns (or Cummings). The clan later acquired land in Strathisla. The clan was part of the confederation of Clan Chattan. Indeed, Muriach, a main ancestor of Macphersons, was chief of the Clan Chattan in the 12th century. The Macphersons and the Mackintoshes were frequent rivals for the leadership of the Clan Chattan. As there would be other parsons in Scotland, the name is also found in other parts of the country (but in smaller numbers).
Tradition has it that the Macpherson who first obtained the Badenoch lands had three sons and the Macphersons are sometimes called the "Clan of the Three Brothers"
Macphersons were always fierce supporters of the monarch and fought with Montrose in the Civil War (1642-49). Euan Macpherson of Cluny (the line recognised as the chiefs of the clan) was a valiant leader of 600 members of the clan during the 1745 Jacobite Uprising and defeated a larger force at Clifton Moor in Westmorland during the retreat from Derby. Cluny Castle was burned in 1746 by Hanoverian forces (but rebuilt in 1784). Euan evaded capture for nearly ten years after Culloden but eventually escaped to France.
James Macpherson (1736-96) from Kingussie perpetrated the literary fraud of the "Ossian Verses" in which he claimed to have found a large number of lost Gaelic verses of the 3rd century by "Ossian" (most of which he had written himself). Even so, the "Works of Ossian" gave a stimulus to the Romantic movement in Scotland.
The Macpherson estate at Cluny was bankrupt by the end of the 19th century. In recent years clan members have purchased the main relics of the clan and these are the basis of a clan museum at Newtonmore, which opened in 1952.
The Macpherson clan motto is "Touch not the cat but a glove".
Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Macpherson clan include Carson, Cattanach, Clark, Clarke, Clarkson, Clerk, Cluny, Ferson, Gillespie, Gillies, Goudie, Gow, Lees, MacCunn, MacCurrach, MacFall, MacGowan, MacKeith, MacLeish, MacMurdo, MacMurdoch, Murdoch, Pearson, Smith. _________________ FOA BOB -
The name may be derived from the Gaelic "mac rath" meaning "son of Grace" and is found initially around Beauly, north of Inverness, in the 12/13th centuries before moving to Wester Ross in the 14th century. Staunch allies of the MacKenzies, they looked after the MacKenzie castle of Eilean Donan. At one time they were called "MacKenzie's shirt of mail" and they were well known for their fighting qualities. When the MacDonald Lord of the Isles attempted to regain his title in 1539, he besieged Eilean Donan Castle and a MacRae is reputed to have killed him with an arrow.
The MacRaes benefitted from the good fortune of the MacKenzies and became hereditary constables of Eilean Donan. The castle was restored by a MacRae descendant in the 1930s and may now be the most photographed castle in Scotland.
In the 17th century Duncan MacRae became known as a writer of Gaelic poetry and compiled an anthology of Gaelic verse known as the Fernaig Manuscript. Duncan also became known as "Duncan of the Silver Cups" because of his magnificent tableware.
The MacRaes were well to the fore supporting the Jacobites at the Battle of Sheriffmuir in 1715. In 1719, the chief of the Clan MacKenzie, the Earl of Seaforth, landed at Eilean Donan with a small force of Spaniards in support of the Jacobite "Old Pretender". But a government naval force arrived and bombarded and destroyed the castle. Perhaps as result of these earlier experiences, only individual clansmen rose in support of Charles Edward Stewart in 1745.
When the Earl of Seaforth raised the 78th Seaforth Highlanders in 1778, so many of the regiment were MacRaes that it became known as "the MacRaes."
In the Lowlands, the name was sometimes contracted to Reith - Lord Reith was the famous general manager of the BBC in its early days. He established the standards and ethos of that corporation.
The MacRae clan motto is "Fortitudine" which means "With fortitude".
Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the MacRae clan include Macara, MacCraw, MacCreath, MacGrath, Macra, Macrach, MacRaith, MacRath, Raith. _________________ FOA BOB -
The surnames Malcolm and MacCallum are both derived from the Gaelic word "calaman" which means a dove; this came to symbolise the Holy Spirit and the Latin equivalent was "columba" - the name of the Irish Saint Columba who established the monastery on Iona. Followers of Columba were "maol Chaluim" which gradually became the name Malcolm. While the two names may be from the same roots, there was no genealogical relationship between the two (although an early MacCallum chief did change his name to Malcolm, confusing the situation).
From the 10th century onwards, there were four kings named Malcolm and there were three landowners named "Maucolum" ( from Berwick, Perth and Montrose) who were signatories to the Ragman Roll in 1296.
The clan MacCallum became established in northern Argyll and in 1414 Sir Duncan Campbell granted lands to them at Craignish peninsula, not far from Kilmartin where family legend says one of the early branches of the name became established. The Campbells also made Ranald MacCallum hereditary keeper of Craignish castle. The Campbells also granted land to Donald, son of Gillespie MacCallum, another branch of the clan in Duntrune, adding to property already owned at Poltalloch in Argyll. The Poltalloch MacCallums have held the chieftainship of the clan from that time but later adopted the name Malcolm. The 15th Laird of Poltalloch was raised to the peerage as Lord Malcolm of Poltalloch late in the 19th century. However, the home of the present clan chief is now Duntrune Castle.
In the middle of the 17th century, Zachary MacCallum met a party of MacDonalds (enemies of the Campbells) and killed seven of them before being scythed down. Neil MacCallum, a nephew of Zachary, served in the French navy and is reputed to have been the father of the Marquis de Montcalm, who defended Quebec against the Highlanders who scaled the Heights of Abraham there, bringing to an end French rule in Canada.
The surname Malcolm is associated initially with Dunbartonshire and Stirling in the 14th century and later in Dumfriesshire. In the 18th century, George Malcolm of that county had three sons, all of whom became Knights of the Order of the Bath, two as generals and one as an admiral. General Sir John Malcolm was the British representative in the court of the Shah of Persia and published a history of that country in 1815 which is still highly regarded. His brother, Admiral Sir Pultney Malcolm commanded St Helena during Napoleon's exile there after the Battle of Waterloo.
The Malcolm/MacCallum clan motto is "In ardua tendit" which means "He has attempted difficult things".
Malcolmson is regarded as a sept (sub-branch) of the Malcolm/MacCallum clan. _________________ FOA BOB -
The name originated from the French word "maréchal" meaning "horse servant" though nowadays it would be a farrier or blacksmith. It was introduced into Britain following the Norman Conquest. As with the occupational names of "constable" or "steward", the role for some became high-ranking when working for the monarch - the Keith family, for example, became Earls Marischal of Scotland, though they did not adopt Marshall as a surname.
The earliest record of the name is Maledoni Marescal in 1136, who witnessed a gift of the lands of Partick to the church in Glasgow; Partick is still the name of a district in that city. Later in the 12th century, Gillecolm Marescald witnessed a charter by William, the Lion of Kinbethac to the earl of Strathern and Guidone Marescaldus witnessed a charter by the bishop of St Andrews. Early in the 13th century, Adam, marescallus of the bishop of Glasgow, witnessed a sale of land in Glasgow. All of these would indicate that the bearers of the name were people in responsible positions (and who could read and write in an age when illiteracy was the norm).
As landed gentry, a number of Marschals were amongst those required by King Edward I of England to pay homage and sign the "Ragman Roll" in 1296.
William "Billy" Marshall (reputedly born in Ayrshire around 1672 and lasting until 1792) was of gypsy (tinker) stock, who became famous as a boxer - and a bandit. He became "king" of the tinkers in Galloway and proceeded to terrorise much of the countryside. His legendary exploits also include deserting from the army no less than seven times and from the navy three times. He is reputed to have married on 17 occasions, had countless children (both in and out of wedlock) and fathered at least four children after the age of 100. His gravestone stands in the cemetery of St Cuthbert's in Kircudbright.
William Marshall, who was born in Fochabers (now in Morayshire) in 1748, was a real "Jock of All Trades". He was a butler to the Duke of Gordon for more than forty years but was also estate factor, surveyor, architect, justice of the peace - and a clock maker and astronomer. In addition to all that, he was a famous fiddler and composer for that instrument. He introduced a number of innovations in fiddle music. His best known composition is a setting of the Robert Burns piece "Of a' the airts the wind can blaw".
Keith is regarded as a sept (sub-branch) of the Marshall clan. _________________ FOA BOB -
he name comes from a pool on the river Tweed near Kelso and is thought to be named after Maccus, son of Undewyn, a Saxon lord who was given a grant of land on the Tweed by King David I before 1150. The fishery attached to it was called Maccus's Wiel (from the Old English "wael" or whirlpool). Not far away, in Roxburghshire, the town (and surname) of Maxton may have come from the same Maccus. His grandson, John of Maccuswell was Chamberlain of Scotland. John's brother, Sir Aymer, was also chamberlain and it is from him that a number of the Maxwell branches are descended.
In the Wars of Independence the Maxwells recognised John Balliol as king and Sir Aymer's grandson held Caerlaverock for the English. Later, however, he joined Robert the Bruce and was one of the signatories to the Declaration of Arbroath (Scotland's predecessor to the US Declaration of Independence).
As the Black Douglas family declined in power in the 15th century, the Maxwells rose in stature and held the title Lord Maxwell from 1424. John, the 4th Lord Maxwell was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513.
The Maxwells were frequently wardens of the Western Marches although at times they were in conflict with the Johnstons who also held the title at various times. The 6th Lord Maxwell (who was also Earl of Morton after the execution of the Douglas holder of that title and who was linked to a number of plots to restore Mary Queen of Scots to the throne) was killed in a battle with the Johnstons near Lockerbie in 1593. The 7th Lord Maxwell later killed Johnston of that ilk in 1608 and was executed for that in 1613.
The 8th Lord Maxwell was created Earl of Nithsdale and the 5th Earl of Nithsdale supported the first Jacobite Uprising in 1715. He was captured and sentenced to death for treason but his wife helped him escape from the Tower of London on the eve of the execution, disguised as a maidservant . _________________ FOA BOB -
The name originated from the barony of Malaville or Malleville in the Pays de Caux in Normandy. Guillame (William) de Malleville accompanied William the Conqueror to England and fought at the Battle of Hastings. Like many of major Scottish families, the de Mallevilles came to Scotland with King David I when he returned in 1124 after 30 years spent at the English court. They were granted lands in Midlothian, outside Edinburgh by King David. The first record of the name was as a witness to a charter granted by Malcolm IV, later in the 12th century. Galfrid de Maleville was a guardian of Edinburgh Castle in Malcolm's reign. A Richard Maluvell was one of those captured with King William at the Battle of Alnwick in 1174. Richard Maluvell's grand-daughter inherited the Barony of Melville which passed to the Ross family when she married Sir John Ross of Halkhead and the barony remained in that family until 1705.
Members of the family spread across Scotland and there are a number of documents with their signatures during the 12th and 13th century. When King Edward I of England demanded that all Scottish landowners and clergy should render homage to him and sign the "Ragman Rolls" in 1296, there were signatures from no less than twelve "Maleuill" (and other variant spellings), from as far afield as Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Stirling, Fife, Roxburgh and Peebles. Sir Johannes Maleuill, who signed the Rolls, was one of the major barons of Scotland at that time. His descendant, Sir John Melville of Raith was a favourite of King James V in the 16th century and obtained lands at Murdocairnie in Fife. Despite the royal patronage, he was an early supporter of the religious Reformation. As a friend of some of those who conspired to kill Cardinal Beaton of St Andrews, he was subsequently executed in 1550 on the evidence of a forged letter.
Sir Robert Melville of Murdocairnie was the keeper of the Palace of Linlithgow at the end of the reign of Mary Queen of Scots. Twenty years later, as an ambassador at the court of Queen Elizabeth, he was so outspoken about the sentence of death which had been pronounced on Mary by an English court, that he was threatened with imprisonment, despite his diplomatic status. Later, he became Vice-Chancellor of Scotland and took the title "Lord Murdocairnie". In 1616 he was created Baron Melville of Monymail. His son, also a judge, was given the title Lord Monymail in 1627 by King Charles I.
The fourth Lord Melville, a staunch Protestant, supported an unsuccessful rebellion by James, Duke of Monmouth, the illegitimate son of King Charles II. He had to flee abroad but returned with Queen Mary and William of Orange and became Secretary of State for Scotland and the first Earl of Melville. Despite trying to exercise a moderating influence on the conflict between the presbyterian and episcopal factions, there was nevertheless a witch-hunt of episcopalian ministers by the Church of Scotland. He married the granddaughter of the Covenanting general, Sandy Lesley and through his wife inherited the title of the earldom of Leven and the Castle of Balgonie in Fife (pictured here). Subsequent heirs have held the courtesy title of Lord Balgonie.
The family seat is Glenferness in Nairn. Melville Castle in Lothian, the original family home, was rebuilt by the Dundas family who took the title "Viscount Melville" although they have no connection with the Melville line.
The Melville clan has two mottoes - "Pro rege et patria" which means "For king and country" and "Denique coelum" which means "Heaven at last". _________________ FOA BOB -
Sadly, the correct pronunciation of this name - "mingis" - appears to be dying out. It originated in Mesničres in Normandy and passed through England after the Norman Conquest (where the name became "Manners," the ancestors of the Duke of Rutland). Sir Robert de Menzies rose within the ranks of the court of King Alexander II, becoming chamberlain in 1249. He and his son were granted lands in Glen Lyon, Atholl, Rannoch, and Weem in Strathtay (where Menzies Castle, originally called Castle Weems, has been restored by the clan society). Alexander married the daughter of James, the High Steward of Scotland (whose descendants would originate the Stewart dynasty). Throughout the history of the clan, the first names of Alexander and David crop up frequently.
Alexander's son, Sir Robert, was a companion-in-arms of Robert the Bruce. His rewards included land in Glendochart, Finlarig, Glenorchy and Durisdeer (some of it at the expense of the resident MacGregors). In 1320, Thomas de Meineris was one of the signatories to the Declaration of Arbroath.
Castle Menzies In the early 15th century, a David Menzies was a governor of Orkney and Shetland, at a time when they were still a possession of Norway. It was later in the 15th century that the 8th clan chief, Sir Robert Menzies, built the Place of Weem around 1488, not far from where Castle Menzies (pictured here) was created in the 16th century. The Menzies lands were made into a barony by King James IV in 1510.
As major landowners, the Menzies became involved in a number of feuds with their neighbours, including the Campbells and the Stewarts of Garth (who captured and destroyed the Menzies stronghold of Fortingale castle early in the 16th century). But in the 17th century conflicts involving Covenanters and the Civil War of King Charles I and Cromwell, the Menzies from Weems joined forces with the Campbells and the Covenanters and the Pitfoddels branch supported the Marquis of Montrose. Major Duncan Menzies of Fornock led the charge which broke the line of the government troops at the battle of Killiecrankie in 1689 (though there were also many Menzies on the opposing side). The Pitfoddels branch also supported the Jacobite uprisings in 1715 (Menzies of Culdares spent many years in exile as a result). In 1745, Menzies of Culdares was too old for active service but sent Bonnie Prince Charlie a fine, white horse. Nevertheless, many Menzies were at the battle of Culloden in 1746.
In 1665, Sir Alexander Menzies of that Ilk, from the Culdares line, was created a baronet of Nova Scotia, a title which became extinct in 1910. He had survived the Civil war, having received no less than nine serious wounds. His brother had died fighting on the side of the Royalists at the battle of Worcester in 1651.
In 1737, a member of the Weems family line of Menzies introduced the larch tree from the Austrian Tyrol and that variety is now spread across the whole of Scotland.
In more recent times, a Menzies family established a chain of bookstalls in Edinburgh in the 1860s, which grew to be one of the leading newspaper and stationery chains in the country. In the 1950s, Sir Robert Menzies, a grandson of a Scot who had come to Australia in the 19th century gold rush, became prime minister of that country.
The senior Weems line died out in 1910 and in 1957 the Lyon Court was petitioned by Ronald Steuart Menzies (a branch of the Culdares family of Menzies) and he was awarded the name and arms of Menzies of that Ilk (clan chief). The present chief returned from Australia to live in the clan lands in Perthshire.
The Menzies clan motto is "Vil God I zal" which means "With God I shall".
Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Menzies clan include MacIndeor, MacMenzies, MacMinn, MacMonies, Means, Mein, Meine, Mennie, Meyners, Minn, Minnus, Monzie, Murchie and Murchison. _________________ FOA BOB -
Originating from the Hebrew Michael, its introduction to Scotland was through the French Michel. The original pronunciation in Scotland was "Michel" with the 'ch' sounding as in loch. The name evolved as Mitchell in many parts of the country. It appears in 1354 on the Treaty of Berwick, freeing David II from imprisonment by the English and a John Michell was rewarded in 1489 for holding Dumbarton Castle. Mitchells became landowners in Ayrshire and Stirling and a bequest from Stephen Mitchell, a tobacco merchant in Glasgow, created the Mitchell Library in the city.
Helen Mitchell, the daughter of a Mearns farmer is better known as Dame Nellie Melba and James Leslie Mitchell, also from the Mearns, used the pen name Lewis Grassic Gibbon when he wrote "The Scots Quair".
Michie is a diminutive form of Mitchell found in Angus and Aberdeenshire and other derivatives of the name include Mitchison (as in Naomi Mitchison, the writer) and MacMichael.
Mitchell was the 15th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995. _________________ FOA BOB -
Montgomery Tartan Montgomery Crest
The Scottish Montgomery family originally came from Normandy. They held a castle called Sainte Foy de Montgomery in Calvados, Normandy and Roger de Mundergumbrie was rewarded for his support of William the Conqueror in 1066 with the Earldom of Shrewsbury in England. The first Montgomery in Scotland was Robert, a grandson of the Earl, who was granted lands in Eaglesham in Renfrewshire. He probably came to Scotland with Walter Fitzalan, the first high steward of Scotland in the reign of King David I. He died around 1177. The Eaglesham property remained with the family until the 19th century.
Sir John Montgomery, the 7th Baron of Eaglesham, was a hero at the Battle of Otterburn in 1388. He fought Sir Henry Percy (also known as Hotspur) hand to hand and was responsible for capturing the English knight. He obtained a large ransom as a result, which allowed him to build Polnoon Castle (Polnoon Street is still one of the main thoroughfares in the village of Eaglesham). He also married the heiress of Sir Hugh Eglinton which gave him the Barony of Eglinton and Ardrossan.
Sir John's grandson was created Lord Montgomery in 1449. The 3rd Lord Montgomery supported Prince James in the rebellion against his father, King James III and as a result was granted the island of Arran and keepership of Brodick Castle. These were later taken over by the Hamiltons.
Lord Montgomery became earl of Eglinton in 1507 and, after escaping from the defeat of the Scottish army by the English at the Battle of Flodden in 1513, participated in the Parliament at Perth which proclaimed James V king (aged eighteen months).
There was a long-running feud between the Montgomeries and the Cunninghams. It began over a relatively minor matter but continued over the centuries, despite legal judgements and government action. The Eglinton manor house was burned early in the 16th century and the 4th Earl was killed by the Cunninghams. The government of King James VI eventually managed to get the rival chiefs to shake hands.
During the Reformation, the 3rd Earl remained a staunch Catholic and supported Mary Queen of Scots. He escorted her back from France after the death of her first husband, the King of France. He fought for her at the Battle of Langside in 1568 and was subsequently imprisoned for treason. Religion continued to pose problems when the 6th Earl, a devout Protestant, fought on the side of the Covenanters against King Charles I in the middle of the 17th century. He was later captured and then imprisoned until the Restoration of King Charles II in 1660.
A branch of the Scottish Montgomeries settled in Donegal in Ireland in 1628 and Viscount Montgomery of Alamein came from this line.
The 12th Earl of Eglinton rebuilt Eglinton Castle and was created a peer of the United Kingdom in 1806 as Baron Ardrossan of Ardrossan. The 18th Earl of Eglinton also has the titles of Lord Montgomerie, Lord Seton and Tranent, Earl of Winton and Baron Ardrossan of Ardrossan as well as Hereditary Sheriff of Renfrewshire.
The Montgomery clan motto is "Garde bien" which means "Watch well". _________________ FOA BOB -
Since the Scots word "muir" means a moor or a heath and there are a multiplicity of place names incorporating the word, it is not surprising that the surname is found all over Scotland. It is particularly prolific in west-central Scotland and in Orkney the name is one of the top ten most commonly found names. In the reign of King Alexander II (1214-1249) a David de More witnessed a charter in Ayrshire. A Gilchrist More incurred the wrath of Sir Walter Cumyn but later married his daughter and secured the lands of Rowallan Castle, near Kilmarnock. A descendant, Elizabeth Mure, married Robert, Steward of Scotland who later became King Robert II. In the 17th century, Sir William Mure of Rowallan was a Covenanter who had seven sons and eight daughters; his youngest son was created a baronet of Nova Scotia in 1662.
In more recent times, Thomas Muir of Huntershill was an advocate and reformer who was transported to Australia in 1794 by a legal system which was concerned that his support for the French Revolution might take root. Sir John Moore was a military commander who fought against Napoleon and fell at the Battle of Corunna in Spain in 1809.
Pictured here is John Muir (1838-1914) who was born in Dunbar and after emigrating to the USA in 1849, not only explored the country but as a pioneer conservationist, was largely responsible for the founding of the Yosemite National Park. Alexander Muir (1830-1906) was born in Lesmahagow and after emigrating to Canada as a child, wrote the words and music of "The Maple Leaf Forever". Edwin Muir (1887-1959), a major poet of the 20th century, was born in Orkney.
There is a Clan Muir Society Web site.
When the two spellings Moore and Muir are taken together, the name was the 24th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995. _________________ FOA BOB -
here are a number of different origins of this Scottish name which is currently the 21st most common surname in Scotland. Firstly, "Maurice" was an early Christian saint (the name came from "Moorish" or swarthy) and was also common in England. It became frequent in Aberdeenshire from the 14th century, possibly from a Maurice from Normandy. In 1591 the hangman in Dundee was named Michael Morris and in 1635 Alexander Morrison obtained the lands of Bognie.
Meanwhile, in the southern Inner Hebrides, mainly Mull, descendants of the O'Muirgheasains from Ireland became established. Ghille Mhuire (servant of the Virgin Mary) survived a shipwreck and has been claimed to be a natural son of King Olav and thus a half brother of Leod, the founder of the Macleod clan. Others dismiss this claim and believe that the clan were Gaelic/Irish in origin. Ghille Mhuire married the heiress of the Gows and became established in the sound of Harris. The Lords of the Isles appointed a family of Morrisons to hold the position of Brieveship, a kind of hereditary guardian and interpreter of the old Brehon Laws, in the Butt of Lewis (Dun Eistein) on a hereditary basis.
The Morrisons, as they became, were not numerous and tried to live at peace with their more powerful neighbours but nevertheless sometimes became embroiled in fueds with the Macauleys and Macleods and were eventually driven from their lands in the 16th century. In the 20th century the chieftainship was vested in the Morrisons of Ruchdi.
The Morrison tartan is similar to that of their erstwhile neighbours the Mackays, but with a red line through it.
The motto of the Morrisons is "Teaghlach Phabbay" ("Pabbay Family" - Pabbay is a small island at the north end of the Sound of Harris, now uninhabited). _________________ FOA BOB -
Legend says that the original Munro lands in Ross-shire were given as a reward for assisting King Malcolm II repel Viking invaders from Scandinavia in the 11th century. The Munros were well established in Easter Ross by the 14th century where they owed allegiance to the earls of Ross. The clan grew in stature and the chiefs of the clan became known as Munros of Foulis - Foulis Castle overlooks the Cromarty Firth, north-east of Dingwall. The clan also spread to the west coast to Loch Broom.
Members of the clan participated in the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and Halidon Hill in 1333. In 1547 the chief and many of his men fell at the Battle of Pinkie. A number of Munros, including the clan chief, served in armies abroad, particularly in Sweden during the Thirty Years' War.
During the Civil War in the 17th century, a number of Munros fought at the Battle of Worcester in support of Charles II. Following this, Oliver Cromwell transported a number of Munros to New England where they flourished - James Monroe became fifth President of the USA.
Like a number of presbyterian clans (Campbells, MacKays and Grants) the Munros supported the Revolution which saw James VII deposed in 1689 and William and Mary accede to the throne. They did not support the Jacobite Uprisings by the Catholic Stewarts in 1715 and 1745. Colonel Sir Robert Mumro, the 6th Baronet, was killed at the Battle of Falkirk in 1746, fighting on the side of the government forces against Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Foulis Castle was badly damaged in the Jacobite Uprising of 1745 by the Mackenzies but has been restored.
The Munros of Foulis have a unique family tree which covers 1333 to 1746. In more recent times, General Sir Hector Munro of Novar was a soldier who gained fame in India in the 1770s and 1780s.Hector Hugh Munro wrote books under the pseudonym of "Saki" and was killed in the 1914-18 war. Mountaineer Sir Hugh Munro was responsible for creating the list of mountains in Scotland above 3,000 feet which are named after him - the Munros. Jay R Monroe, founder of the Monroe Calculating Machine Company of the USA was one of the first to put mass produced calculating machines on the market in 1919. His son presented one of these machines to the Clan Munro museum in 1982.
The Munro clan motto is "Dread God".
A number of clans are regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Munro clan - Dingwall, Foulis, MacLulich, Vass and Wass.
Munro was the 70th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.
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