The Robertsons claim to be descended from Crinan, Lord of Atholl, from whom sprang the royal house of Duncan I, the King of the Scots. The Robertson clan is more properly called ‘Clan Donnachaidh’ from their ancestor Duncan, who was a staunch supporter of Robert the Bruce, and who led the Clan at the Battle […]
The name Matheson has been attributed to the gaelic ‘Mic Mhathghamhuin’ meaning ‘son of the bear’ or alternatively ‘son of the heroes’. Traditionally, the clan descends from a twelfth century Gilleoin, who is thought to have been a scion of the ancient royal house of Lorne. The Mathesons settled around Lochalsh, Lochcarron and Kintail and […]
This name originates from the lands of same name in Westerkirk in Dumfriesshire. Prior to 1286 a charter was granted by John Macgill of that Ilk to Adam de Glendonwyn of his part of the lands and baronies of Clifton and Mertobel in Roxburghshire. Sir Adam obtained a discharge of all bygone feu-duties from Archibald […]
The Armstrongs are a significant border clan whose origins lie in Cumberland, south of the frontier between Scotland and England that was officially established in 1237. The Armstrong name alledgedly has a mythological origin, in that it is said their heroic progenitor, Fairbairn, saves his king of Scotland in battle, and not from a wild […]
The name Malcolm derives from the gaelic ‘Maol’, meaning ‘shaven-head’, and was used generally as a term for a monk. Thus ‘Maol Chalum’ can be translated as ‘monk’ or ‘disciple of Columba’. The connection between the names Malcolm and MacCallum is shrouded in mystery although they are sometimes shown as alternative names for the same […]
The MacDonalds of Sleat are the descendants of Hugh, the third son of Alexander, 3rd Lord of the Isles. Hugh had ability and power and sat on the Council of the Isles. After the Lordship had been forfeited in the 1400s because of attempts to reclaim the MacDonald mainland possessions, Hugh obtained a charter to […]
Asserting themselves as independent of the main Clan Donald early in the 13th century, the MacAlisters were one of the earliest to do so. They are believed to be descended from Alisdair Mor, second son of Donald, Lord of the Isles, and younger brother of Angus Mor. By 1366 the Chief of the Clan MacAlister […]
The mythological motif of saving the King through a feat of strength, common to other clan histories such as Baird and Turnbull, is also at the origin of the Baird clan. The legend recounts that the first Baird saved William the Lion from a wild boar – the killing of a wild boar also bearing […]
It is said that a family of Smiths have been settled in the parish of Stathblane at Craigend for well over 400 years. Initially they were just tenants, but later became lairds of the land. Apparently, when surnames came into use, the family took theirs from their occupation: as smiths and armourers of the Barony […]
In its original Gaelic, Saint Columba’s name was Colm. MacCallum means ‘son of Colm’. The ancient Kingdom of Dalriada where the first Scots of Ireland settled was home to Columba and the ancestors of the MacCallums. Despite all this we should not see the two as relations in blood but interpret the name MacCallum as […]
