Scottish Clan Henderson

Clan Chief:            Alistair Henderson of Fordell, Queensland, Australia. 

Origin of Name:    Henry's son 

Gaelic Name:        MacEnnuig

Clan Crest:          A hand holding an estoile or a six-pointed star 

                          surmounted by a crescent.

Clan Motto:           Sola virtus nobilitat (Virtue alone ennobles)

Lands:                    Caithness and Glencoe

The Hendersons are an ancient Clan, tracing their ancestery back to the Picts, Scotland’s earliest people. Clan Henderson descend from the Pictish prince Eanruig Mor, meaning "Big Henry", whose family became known in the Gaelic tongue as Maceanruig, or "son of Henry". Through the course of time the name became anglified to the current form of Henderson, although Gaelic forms of the name exist. Eanruig Mor was the son of King Neachtain, who ruled the Pictish kingdom from 700 to 724, & is reputed to have contructed the great Pictish fortress of Abernethy. Clan Henderson lived amid the rugged splendour of Glencoe in the northern Highlands, while other branches of the Clan settled in the Scottish border territory & in the far north district of Caithness.

The border Hendersons soon rose to prominence, holding powerful positions in the mighty strongholds which were such an integral part to the defence of Scotland. One of these great men, William Henderson, was the chamberlain of Lochmaben Castle during the 14th Century. Another, James Henderson, became Lord Advocate in 1494, was appointed to the bench, and acquired the lands of Fordell in Fife for the Clan. Here he built the magnificent fortified mansion of Fordell Castle. The Hendersons were classed as a riding clan, but were sufficiently loyal to evade the Scottish Parliament’s 1594 list of turbulent border clans that were to be suppressed. The success of the Clan Henderson continued to escalate, and by the 17th Century the Clan boasted one of the most notable figures in Scottish politics and church affairs. Alexander Henderson draughted the National Covenant in 1638, in defence of the Scottish Church and denouncing the changes that Charles I intended to introduce. Alexander was elected moderator of the General Assembly, and was responsible for meeting and negotiating with the King after he surrendered to the protection of the Scottish army in 1646, during the Civil War. Another great Henderson, Thomas Henderson, was a 19th Century astronomer of the highest status, and was appointed as the first Astronomer Royal for Scotland.

The Hendersons of Glencoe were closely aligned to the great Clan Macdonald, for whom they acted as heriditary pipers. The Hendersons were renowned for their fighting ability, and they traditionally formed the bodyguard of the Macdonald chief. This duty they performed with verve, and many Hendersons were killed during the infamous Glencoe massacre. On this dark day, the Campbells villanously broke all the rules of Highland hospitality and murdered their hosts, the Macdonalds of Glencoe. The chief’s piper and right hand man, Big Henderson of the Chanters, a strongman over six and a half feet tall, was among those who laid down their lives to defend their friends and allies in the Clan Macdonald.

The chief of the Clan Henderson is Alistair Henderson of Fordell who resides in Queensland, Australia. He is recognized by Lord Lyon, King of Arms, and is a member of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.

The Clan Henderson crest is  surmounted by a hand holding an estoile or star surmounted by a crescent. The proud Hendersons clan motto reads "Sola virtus nobilitat" which means in Latin "Virtue alone ennobles".

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Clan Buchanan

Clan Chief:             Clan Buchanan has no current chief.

Last Clan Chief:    John Buchanan, 22^nd Chief, died in 1681 without

                          male issue. 

Gaelic Name:         Boghchanan meaning  House or seat of the cannon

Origin of name:     Through Anselan O Kyan, who landed in Argyll in1016

Clan Crest:             A dexter hand holding a cap with two laurel branches.

Clan Motto:          Clarior hinc honos meaning (Hence the brighter honour)

Lands:                 Loch Lomond-shire

The great Clan Buchanan are said to descend from Anselan, a warrior prince who fought for the Scots King Malcolm II in the early 11th Century. This was a critical time in Scottish history, with Viking armies occupying large tracts of land within the infant nation. Anselan's service against the invading Scandinavians was well rewarded by the grateful King, who granted him lands in Lennox, to the east of Loch Lomond. These lands were known as "buth chanain", which in Gaelic means "canon's seat", or "churchman's seat". The Clan Buchanan takes its name from this ancient area, forever bonding them with their heartland, and the gallant deeds of their forefathers.From these early warrior origins, the Buchanans continued to distinguish themselves in battle. Clan Buchanan was prominent in their support for King Robert the Bruce in the 14th Century, waging war on the English overlords for the sake of Scotland's independence. It is testament to the Buchanans' zeal that when the English were driven from Scottish territory, the Buchanans took their armies overseas in pursuit of more Englishmen to slay. Buchanans fought alongside the French during the Hundred Years War, helping to drive the English out of mainland France. The Buchanans were victorious at the Battle of Beauge in 1421, with legend accrediting the death of Henry V's brother, the Duke of Clarence, to the sword of Alexander Buchanan.

Clan Buchanan not only built power from physical strength, but were also important members of Scotland's intellegensia down through the centuries. One of the most notable scholarly figures was George Buchanan, who first tutored Mary, Queen of Scots, and then her son, King James VI. Buchanan was also a religious reformer who championed the cause of Protestantism in Scotland, following the impact of the Reformation in the 16th Century. Buchanans were also successful abroad, with James Buchanan, the son of a Scottish immigrant, becoming the 15th President of the United States of America.

Clan chiefship is currently unoccupied, but the Buchanans do boast one of the oldest Clan Societies in Scotland. Created in 1725, the Buchanan Society was set up as a charitable institution aiming to help needy Clansfolk and educate their children. The island of Clarinch, amid the splendour of Loch Lomond, in the Buchanan's ancient heartland, was gifted to the Society in the mid 20th Century by a wealthy Clan member. It is currently being used as an animal and bird sanctuary.

The Buchanan Clan crest is a hand holding a tasseled cap and the proud Buchanan clan motto reads "Clarior hinc honos" meaning "Brighter hence the honour".

Our Scottish Heritage is the common bond that unites our Buchanan family name forever.

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Clan Macnaughton

Clan Chief:              Sir Patrick MacNaghton of Macnaughton

Origin of Name:     MacNeachdain (Son of Nechtan, pure one)

Gaelic Name:         MacNeachdain

Clan Crest:              A castle tower

Clan Motto:            "I hope in God”.

Lands:                      Strathtay,Lewis and Argyll.

The blue blood of the ancient Pictish Kings flow through the veins of Clan Macnaughton, whose name means "the child of Nechtan". Nechtan, believed to mean "the Pure" in the lost tongue of the Picts, was a renowned early 8th Century Pictish King. The Picts were feared by the Romans during their occupation of Britain, and are regarded as the earliest known inhabitants of Scotland. From this proud bloodline, which flows into the very bedrock of Scotland, comes the Clan Macnaughton.

The earliest written record of the Clan appears in the 13th Century, and relates to the three sons of Malcolm Macnachton - Athe, Gilbert and Gilchrist. Gilchrist gained the favour of King Alexander III, and received a charter in 1297 granting him the keepership of the island castle of Fraoch Eilean in Loch Awe, situated amid the rugged splendour of the Pass of Brander. The Macnaughtons aligned themselves to the Macdougalls, who opposed Robert the Bruce's quest for the Scottish throne in favour of other contenders. While the Macnaughtens originally fought against Bruce, they finally rallied with him against the English armies at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, where the English overlords were driven from Scottish soil. However, Bruce's memory was long and the Scottish King swiftly placed the Campbells as the dominant Clan in Loch Awe. This did not deter the Macnaughtons, who retained much of their lands, and they set about building Dunderave Castle on Loch Fyne. This stronghold became the Clan seat. Clan Macnaughton continued to be supportive of the Scottish Crown, with Clan members being involved in many of Scotland's battles.

One Chief, Alexander, was knighted by King James IV, and fought beside his monarch at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. Another Alexander was in high favour with Charles I, and served as gentleman of the Privy Chamber. In 1627 Alexander raised a force of Macnaughten bowmen to fight beside the French Huguenot rebels in their struggle against Cardinal Richelieu, who was acting as the ruler of France. This expedition fought at the siege of La Rochelle. Alexander's grandson was a stauch royalist during the Cromwellian occupation of Scotland, leading his Clansmen in a rising against the Roundheads. He was knighted after the monarchy was restored in 1660. The Macnaughtons produced people of great calibre, and chiefs of the Clan have included renowned judges and distinguished men of letters.
The 19th Century Chief, Francis Macnaughton, a judge in Madras and Calcutta, was created a baronet in 1836. The 4th Baronet, Sir Edward, became a Lord of Appeal in 1887 and had the life peerage "Baron Macnaughton of Runkerry". In the 20th Century, two brothers succeeded to the Chiefship of Clan Macnaughton, only to be killed during battle in the First World War. The 9th Baronet is Sir Patrick Macnaghten of Macnaughton.

The MacNaughton Clan Crest is a castle tower and the proud MacNaughton clan motto, “I hope in God”. 

Our Scottish Heritage is the common bond that unites our MacNaughton family name forever.

Septs/Spelling Variations of MACNAUGHTON CLAN
HENDRIE of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    HENRY of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    KENDRICK of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    KENRICK of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MAACKENDRICK of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MACCRACKEN of MACNAUGHTON CLAN   MACHENDRIE of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MACHENRY of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MACKENRICK of MACNAUGHTON CLAN   MACKNIGHT of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MACNAGHTEN of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MACNAIR of MACNAUGHTON CLAN   MACNAUCHTON of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MACNAUGHTAN of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MACNAYER of MACNAUGHTON CLAN   MACNEUR of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MACNUIR of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MACNUYER of MACNAUGHTON CLAN   MACQUAKER of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MACVICAR of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    NEVIN of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    NEVINSON of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    NIVISON of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    PORTER of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MCQUAKER of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MCNUYER of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MCNUIR of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MCNEUR of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MCNAYER of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MCNAUGHTON of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MCNAUGHTAN of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MCNAUCHTON of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MCNAIR of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MCNAGHTEN of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MCKNIGHT of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MCKENRICK of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MCHENRY of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MCHENDRIE of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MCCRACKEN of MACNAUGHTON CLAN    MCVICAR of MACNAUGHTON CLAN  

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Clan Anderson

Clan Anderson:     No Current Chief

Origin of Name:    Andrew - a Greek name meaning manly.

Gaelic Name:         MacGill'Aindreis meaning "son of the servant of

                          St Andrew".

Clan Crest :           An Oak tree.

Clan Motto:           Stand sure.

Lands:                    Badenoch. 

Of all the Clans of Scotland, it is the Anderson name which is bound most intrinsically to the bedrock of Scottish culture. The origin of the name is linked closely to the exalted figure of St Andrew, the patron saint of Scotland, as the name means both "son of Andrew" and "servant of St Andrew". As is often the case with Scottish Clans there are two forms of the name and in the Highlands the Clan is known as MacAndrew ("mac" meaning "the son of" in the Gaelic tongue), with the name Anderson being more widespread in the lowland areas of Scotland. The Clan itself is recorded in the Kinrara manuscript as coming to the lands of Badenoch, in the heart of Clan Chattan territory, from Moidart around 1400.

The strength of the Anderson's was much enhanced by their association with other Clans. The Anderson’s are closely connected with Clan Ross, which is known to the Highlanders as Clan Aindreas, meaning "the children of Andrew" in Gaelic. Clan Aindreas draws its bloodline from the ancient Celtic people of Scotland, compounding the Anderson’s connections to the Scottish nation.Since the 15th century the Andersons have also been part of Clan Chattan, the mightyopposition. Clan Chattan, known as "Clan of the Wildcat" traditionally consists of sixteen Clans, including Clan Mackintosh (whose chief is also the chief of Clan Chattan), Clan Macpherson, Clan Davidson and Clan MacBean. The formidable power of this federation is demonstrated in Clan Chattan’s crest of a wildcat, and their foreboding motto "Touch not the cat bot a glove" meaning "don’t touch the cat without a glove", indicating to any enemies that they would have to be well protected before they rile Clan Chattan, or any of the Clans that belonged to it.

Of the famous Andersons, it is perhaps John MacAndrew of Dalnahatnich who reached the most legendary status in the annals of Scotland’s history. MacAndrew, known in Gaelic as Iain Beg (meaning "little John"), was a celebrated Bowman who struck terror into the hearts of those who came into conflict with him. Such unfortunates included a band of Lochaber cattle rustlers who raided Badenoch and drove off a large number of cattle, only to be pursued by a group of men, including the famed Ian Beg MacAndrew. When the thieves were overtaken and a fight ensued, MacAndrew killed most of the cattle rustlers, leaving only one of their number who escaped back to Lochaber to recount the tale.

The Anderson Clan crest is an oak tree with the proud Anderson clan motto "Stand Sure"

Our Scottish Heritage is the common bond that unites our Anderson family name forever.

Septs/Spelling Variations of ANDERSON CLAN 
ANDIRSOONE of ANDERSON CLAN    ANDERSONNE of ANDERSON CLAN    ANDERSOUN of ANDERSON CLAN    federation of Clans, which is renowned in Scottish history for its strength in the face of any ANDERSOUNE of ANDERSON CLAN    ANDISON of ANDERSON CLAN    ANDHERSON of ANDERSON CLAN    MACANDREWS of ANDERSON CLAN    ENDIRONE of ANDERSON CLAN    MCANDREWS of ANDERSON CLAN  

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Clan Mackinnon

Clan Chief:              38th Chief, Madam Anne Gunhild MacKinnon,

                           Bridgewater, Somerset, England.

Origin of Name:      MacFhionghinn (Son of the fair one)

Gaellic Name:         Mac Fhionghinn 

Clan Crest:              A boar’s head with the shank of a deer in its mouth

Clan Motto:             Audentes fortuna juvat (Fortune assists the daring)

Lands:              

      Mull and Skye

The Clan Mackinnon are an ancient people, tracing their ancestery back to the royal blood of Alpin, the famed 9th Century King of Scots.  The Mackinnons descend from Alpin’s great-grandson Fingon, whose name means “the fair born” in the Gaelic tongue, and it is from this great man that the Clan Mackinnon assumed their name.  The 4th Chief, Finadus, linked his own regal lineage with that of the Norwegian royal family through his marriage to a beautiful Norse princess. This blue blooded union held bountiful rewards for the Mackinnons when they received Dunakin Castle from their powerful Viking relatives.  The Clan Mackinnon made good use of this stronghold’s location, controlling the narrow sound that runs between Isle of Skye and the Scottish mainland. The canny Mackinnons ran a hefty chain across the Sound, and grew rich from the tolls they demanded from all passing ships. The Mackinnons were a great seafaring Clan, controlling land on the western isles of Mull, Tiree, Scalpa, Arran and Skye. It is little wonder that the Clan was closely involved with religious life in the islands, particularly in Iona, the cradle of the Celtic church, and christianity in Scotland. The Celtic church allowed their priests to marry, and a branch of the Mackinnon chiefs became the heriditary abbots of Iona. The last abbot was Iain Mackinnon, who died in 1500.

The Clan Mackinnon are remembered for their loyalty to the Scottish Crown, and they were never reluctant to take up arms for the sake of Scotland. The Mackinnons sheltered the mighty Scottish king, Robert the Bruce, during his time as a fugitive from the infamous English overlord, Edward I. The Clan supported Bruce at the glorious Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, where the Scots defeated the occupying English army and proudly affirmed their nation’s independence. This fealty to the Scottish kings continued down through the centuries, and the Clan Mackinnon were unswerving in their support of the Stuart monarchs. During the 17th Century Civil War, the Mackinnons were steadfast champions of Charles I against Oliver Cromwell’s Roundhead army, fighting for the king at the battles of Inverlochy in 1645 and Worcester in 1651. Such was the Stuart’s esteem for their fierce Mackinnon collegues that Charles II created the chief a knight baronet on the field of battle.

The Mackinnons continued to be loyal to the Stuart cause after their fall from the throne, and were active participants in the Jacobite Rebellions aimed at restoring the exiled monarchs. The Clan supported Bonnie Prince Charlie in his quest for the kingship, marching to Edinburgh to join with the Jacobite armies in 1745. After a campaign of mixed fortunes, the Jacobites were finally defeated on the fateful field of Culloden in 1746. The Mackinnons still stood beside the young prince, sheltering Charlie in a cave while the chief, Iain sent for his own personal galley to transport the prince to the coastal town of Mallaig. For his actions the aged chief was imprisoned in England for a year, but the old Mackinnon was still defiant on his release, saying of the Hanoverian sovereign, “had I the King in my power I would repay him the compliment by sending him back to his own country.” 

The current Mackinnon Chief is Madam Anne Gunhild Mackinnon of MacKinnon, who resides at Bridgewater, Somerset, England.

The MacKinnon Crest shows a boar’s head holding in its mouth a shank of a deer, and the proud MacKinnon clan motto “Audentes fortuna juvat” meaning (Fortune assists the daring).

Our Scottish Heritage is the common bond that unites our MacKinnon family name forever.

Septs/Spelling Variations of MACKINNON CLAN
LOVE of MACKINNON CLAN    MACINNON of MACKINNON CLAN    MACKINNING of MACKINNON CLAN    MACKINVEN of MACKINNON CLAN    MACMORROW of MACKINNON CLAN    MACSHERRIE of MACKINNON CLAN    SHERRIE of MACKINNON CLAN    SHERRY of MACKINNON CLAN    MCMORROW of MACKINNON CLAN    MCKINVEN of MACKINNON CLAN    MCKINNON of MACKINNON CLAN    MCKINNING of MACKINNON CLAN    MCINNON of MACKINNON CLAN    MCSHERRIE of MACKINNON CLAN  

WALLACE CLAN History

Clan Chief:            35th Chief is Ian Francis Wallace of Clan Wallace

Origin of Name:    Gaelic Uallas (Wallace) originates from a noth Gaul tribe.

Gaelic Name:        Uallas

Clan Crest:            A mailed arm holding a sword aloft

Clan Motto:           Pro libertate (For Liberty)

Lands:                    Ayrshire and Renfrewshire

Of the many names which grace the annals of Scotland's history, there are none which shine brighter than that of the great William Wallace, the greatest patriot that Scotland has ever known. This illustrious soldier is remembered by Scots to this day for his courage and unswerving loyalty to the Scottish cause. The Clan Wallace has its origins in the mists of antiquity, descending from the Britons that inhabited the ancient kingdom of Strathclyde in Scotland. These people were known as the Waleis, and are known to be of the same stock as the Celtic settlers of Wales. By the 12th Century the Wallaces were well established in Scotland, with Richard Walensis possessing land around Kilmarnock. 

The 13th Century saw Scotland succumbing to the overlordship of the infamous Edward I of England, after bitter disputes over the succession to the Scottish throne. As Edward tightened his grip on Scotland, the Scots realised too late that their bickering had resulted in their own subjugation. Edward demanded that the Scottish nobles swear their allegiance to him, but the Wallaces could not submit. Sir Malcolm Wallace of Elderlie was executed for his impudence, along with his eldest son, Andrew. The English neglected his widow and to their folly, his other son, William Wallace. Upon hearing that his father's executioner, John Fenwick, was plundering his way to Dundee, Wallace planned to take his revenge. He met Fenwick in Lanarkshire, and slew his father's nemesis on the road. Then, when William's wife was murdered at the hands of English troops, he attacked and slaughtered the English garrison at Lanark.

The English atrocities continued with the treacherous execution of a number of Scottish nobles, including Wallace's uncle, under the guise of negotiations towards a peaceful settlement. As the followers of William Wallace grew, he formed a highly organised guerrilla militia who were the terror of every Englishman on Scottish soil.

Wallace went from strength to strength, laying siege to Dundee and then shattering a superior English force at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. Wallace was knighted and was given the title "Guardian of Scotland", but his campaign fell prey to the same in- fighting that had precipitated the situation. Wallace was finally defeated at the Battle of Falkirk, although he managed to make his escape from the battlefield.

Eventually, Wallace was betrayed and was sent to London to be tried for treason. During his trial, he eloquently argued that since he had confessed no allegiance to the English king, then it was impossible for him to have committed treason against Edward I. The trial was soon shown to be the sham it was when Wallace was convicted of treason and then subjected to the grimmest fate that Edward could fathom. William Wallace was hanged, drawn and quartered and his body parts sent to the different ends of the kingdom. The Scots were ultimately victorious in their wars for independence, and the memory of William continued on.

The Clan continued to prosper, holding lands in Riccarton, Craigie, Cessnock and Cairnhill.

The thirty fifth chief is Iain Wallace of that Ilk.

The Wallace Clan Crest is a mailed arm holding a sword aloft and the proud Wallace clan motto, “Pro libertate” meaning (For Liberty).

Our Scottish Heritage is the common bond that unites our Wallace family name forever.

Forbes Scottish Clan History

Clan Chief:           Major Nigel Ivan Forges, 22nd Lord Forbes

Origin of Name:     Placename, Aberdeenshire

Gaelic Name:         Foirbeis

Clan Crest:            A stag’s head

Clan Motto:            Grace Me Guide

Lands:                     Aberdeenshire

Clan Forbes, known to be of ancient extraction, originated in the Aberdeenshire lands of Donside, which lies in the heartland of the Kingdom of the Picts, Scotland’s oldest race of people. The Clan derives its name from the ancient parish of Forbes, which in turn is said to have taken its name from the Gaelic "Forba" meaning a field, compounded with the Pictish suffix "-ais". The traditional origins of the Forbes holds that the founder of the Clan, Oconocher, slew a bear which lived in the Brae o’ Forbes, and he and his family took up residence there. The earliest Forbes on record is John of Forbes who held the lands of Forbes in the 13th century, and his son or grandson, Alexander, was killed while defending Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness against the English troops of Edward I. The tenure of the Clan Forbes over its lands was confirmed in a charter of 1271.

Sir John Forbes, known as "John of the Black Lip", lived during the late 14th and early 15th centuries, and had four sons from whom the four branches of the Clan descend - Forbes of Pitsligo, Waterton, Fovervan, and Culloden. The eldest of Sir John’s sons, Alexander, was created Lord Forbes by King James II in 1442, and this title, Scotland’s premier barony, is to this day retained by the chief of Clan Forbes. The Forbes’ relationship to the Crown of Scotland was strengthened when Alexander married King Robert III’s granddaughter. However, when the Gordons became the earls of Huntly, this led to conflict between the two rival Clans, although this was partially allayed when the 8th Lord Forbes married a daughter of the earl of Huntly.

Whilst members of Clan Forbes distinguished themselves in many of Scotland’s battles, from the Battle of Duplin in 1332 to the involvement of some branches of the Clan in the Jacobite risings of 1715 and 1745, it was during the 2nd Jacobite rising that the Forbes name became associated with compassion for humanity. Duncan Forbes, Lord Advocate (1725-37) and President of the Court of Session (1737-47) strove to dissuade a number of Clan chiefs from joining Bonnie Prince Charlie’s doomed army in the 1745 uprising. After the Battle of Culloden, where the rebellion collapsed, Forbes pleaded with the government to show mercy to the survivors of the battle and worked to help the situation of the prisoners.

Clan Forbes were great builders of castles, and many remains, notably Corse Castle (built in 1581) and Craigievar Castle (completed in 1625), still stand as testament to the Forbes’ industry.The present Forbes castle was built in 1815 by the 17th Lord Forbes.This is still currenty occupied by his great-great-great-grandson Malcolm, the Master of Forbes and his wife Jinny.

The current Chief of the Clan, is Nigel,the 22nd Lord Forbes K.B.E., and resides at Balforbes,beside the river Don within the Forbes Estate.

The Forbes Clan crest shows a stag’s head with the proud Forbes clan motto "Grace Me Guide".

Our Scottish Heritage is the common bond that unites our Forbes family name forever

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Clan Cameron

CAMERON CLAN History

Clan Chief:           The current Clan Chief is Donald Angus Cameron

                         of Lochiel.

Gaelic Name:       Cam-shron meaning (crooked nose)

Origin of name:   It is common in the Gaelic culture to adopted the

                         nickname as the family surname.

Clan Crest:           A sheaf of five arrows.

Clan Motto:         Aonibh ri cheile  meaning (Unite) 

Lands:                   Lochabaer.

There are few Highland Clans of greater antiquity than the mighty Clan Cameron. While the Clan is known to be of a much more ancient origin, the earliest recorded chief is Donald Dubh, who, with the typical ferocious spirit of his Clan, fought on the side of the Lord of the Isles in the Battle of Harlow in 1411. The origin of the Cameron’s name is said to derive from the Gaelic “Cam-shron” (crooked nose), which is believed to have been a nickname of an early chief, but over the course of centuries the name became more associated with an unquenchably fierce nature, than any physical attribute.

Clan Cameron’s bond with its lands in Lochaber were established in the mists of antiquity, and their estates expanded into the hills of Loch Lochy, Loch Arkaig and Loch Eil, as the Clan’s power grew. There was, however, intense competition for these sought-after lands and the Clan fought with a indomitable tenacity against all who challenged their sovereignty to this ancestral birthright. The Camerons became embroiled in a conflict with the powerful Clan Mackintosh over a territorial dispute in 1430, and remained fighting for over 200 years. Such was the ferocity of Clan Cameron that their war-cry struck terror into the heart of any warrior unfortunate enough to become their enemy - “Sons of the hounds come here and get flesh”. It was not until Ewen, the 13th Chief, was granted the barony of Lochiel in 1528 that the Camerons received legal title to their lands, and could fight with the right of law, as well as the power of the claymore.

The warlike nature of the Camerons also ensured that they were granted a special position in the history of Scotland. Clan Cameron was consistently loyal to the cause of the Stewart monarchs, and the 17th Chief, Sir Ewen, is renowned for being one of the few Highland chiefs that Cromwell failed to subdue.  Among other exploits, Sir Ewen is attributed with slaying the last wolf in Scotland, and with biting out the throat of a Roundhead officer during an attack on a government castle. Clan Cameron fought valiantly in both the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite Risings, and Sir Ewen’s grandson, Donald led the Clan at the Battle of Culloden under the banner of  Bonnie Prince Charlie.

The 27th Chief, Donald Angus Cameron of Lochiel, resides, as his ancestors have for centuries past, at the Clan seat of Achnacarry Castle.

There are four tartans associated with the clan: Cameron of Lochiel (the personal tartan of the chief and his immediate family), Clan Cameron, Hunting Cameron and Cameron of Erracht. This last was devised for the 79th Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, a regiment which was raised by Alan Cameron of Erracht in 1793.

The Cameron Crest shows a sheaf of five arrows tied and the proud Cameron clan motto, “Aonibh ri cheile’’ meaning (Unite) 

Our Scottish Heritage is the common bond that unites our Cameron family name forever. 

Septs/Spelling Variations of CAMERON CLAN
CHAMBERS of CAMERON CLAN    CLARK (SON) of CAMERON CLAN    CLARKE of CAMERON CLAN    CLARKE (E) (SON) of CAMERON CLAN    CLEARY of CAMERON CLAN    CLERK of CAMERON CLAN    LONIE of CAMERON CLAN    MACALONIE of CAMERON CLAN    MACCHLERICH of CAMERON CLAN    MACGILLONIE of CAMERON CLAN    MACILDOWIE of CAMERON CLAN    MACKAIL of CAMERON CLAN    MACKELL of CAMERON CLAN    MACLEAR of CAMERON CLAN    MACLERIE of CAMERON CLAN    MACMARTIN of CAMERON CLAN    MACONIE of CAMERON CLAN    MACOURLIE of CAMERON CLAN   MACSORLEY of CAMERON CLAN    MACULRIG of CAMERON CLAN    MACWALRICK of CAMERON CLAN    SORELY of CAMERON CLAN    SORLEY of CAMERON CLAN    TAYLOR of CAMERON CLAN    MCOURLIE of CAMERON CLAN    MCONIE of CAMERON CLAN    MCMARTIN of CAMERON CLAN    MCLERIE of CAMERON CLAN    MCLEAR of CAMERON CLAN    MCKELL of CAMERON CLAN    MCKAIL of CAMERON CLAN    MCILDOWIE of CAMERON CLAN    MCGILLONIE of CAMERON CLAN   MCCHLERICH of CAMERON CLAN    MCALONIE of CAMERON CLAN    MCSORLEY of CAMERON CLAN    MCULRIG of CAMERON CLAN    MCWALRICK of CAMERON CLAN   

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