Clan MacLeod of Lewis
Clan MacLeod of the Lewes | |||
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Sìol Thorcaill | |||
Motto | I birn quil I se / Luceo Non Uro | ||
Profile | |||
District | Lewis | ||
Chief | |||
Torquil Donald MacLeod of the Lewes | |||
Historic seat | Stornoway Castle, Stornoway, Isle of Lewis.[1] | ||
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Clan MacLeod of The Lewes, commonly known as Clan MacLeod of Lewis (
The traditional
Today, Clan MacLeod of The Lewes, MacLeod of Raasay, and Clan MacLeod are represented by "Associated Clan MacLeod Societies", and the chiefs of the three clans.
Traditional origins
Olaf the Black
Today the official clan tradition is that the Macleods descend from
Leod, the traditional
Clan lands and the Nicolsons/MacNicols
Recently several historians have shown a connection between the early clan and the Hebridean Nicolsons/MacNicols. W.D.H. Sellar and William Matheson pointed out that in lands held by the clan (Lewis, in Wester Ross, and Waternish on the Isle of Skye), there were traditions of the Nicolsons/MacNicols preceding them.[9] Of Lewis itself, tradition had it that the Macleods gained the island through a marriage with a Nicolson heiress. Both Sellar and Matheson agreed that the traditional connection and the gaining of lands through the Nicolsons explains the Macleods of Lewis' identity "as a clan separate from the MacLeods of Harris and Dunvegan".[9] Also, even though the heraldry of the Macleod of The Lewes is very different from that of the Macleod of Macleod, there may be a connection with the Hebridean Nicolsons/MacNicols. In their coat of arms, the Macleods of The Lewes have "a black burning mountain on a gold field".[5] According to Sellar, when the Macleods married the Nicolson heiress of tradition, her arms would have likely passed to the Macleods as well.[5] The Hebridean Nicolsons/MacNicols were supposed to have held their lands in the Western Isles from the Norse rulers for their services as coast-watchers,[5] hence the burning mountain on the arms of Macleod of The Lewes.
History
14th and 15th centuries
The earliest reference to the Macleods of Lewis is found in a royal charter granted in the reign of
In 1406 a party of Macleods of Lewis were defeated at the
16th century
In 1528 the chief of the clan, John Macleod of The Lewes, supported his half-brother, Donald Gruamach MacDonald of Sleat, who had seized the lands of Trotternish from the Macleods of Harris and Dunvegan.[13]
Fall of the clan
The fall of the clan and loss of the Isle of Lewis, began with Ruairi and his marriage to a daughter of John Mackenzie of Kintail. This marriage had produced a son named Torquil Connanach (named after his residence among the Mackenzies in Strathconnan). Ruairi later disowned Torquil Connanach on account of the alleged adultery between his wife and the Morrison brieve of Lewis. Ruairi's wife later abandoned him and eloped with a cousin of his, John MacGillechallum of Raasay, after which Ruairi divorced her. In 1541 Ruairi married Barbara Stewart, daughter of Andrew Lord Avondale, and by her had a son named Torquil Oighre ("Heir" to distinguish him from the disowned Torquil).[10]
In about 1566 the legitimate son Torquil Oighre drowned along with sixty of his supporters while sailing from Lewis to Skye across the
Ruairi was only released from captivity by agreeing to recognise Torquil Connanach as his lawful heir.
Some time later Ruairi took for his third wife a daughter of Hector Og Maclean of Duart, and had by her two sons, Torquil Dubh and Tormod.
Upon the death of Ruairi Macleod of The Lewes, the chieftainship of the clan passed to Torquil Dubh. In 1596 Torquil Dubh, with a force of seven or eight hundred men, devastated Torquil Connanach's lands of Coigach and the Mackenzie lands of Loch Broom.[19] In consequence, Torquil Dubh was summoned to appear before the Privy Council and was declared a rebel when he failed to appear.[19] Torquil Dubh was finally betrayed by the Brieve of Lewis, chief of the Morrisons of Ness. Once captured, the brieve sent Torquil Dubh to Coigach where he and his companions were beheaded by Torquil Connanach, on the orders of Kenneth Mackenzie of Kintail in July 1597.[10][19] Following this, Lewis was commanded by Torquil Dubh's three young sons and his illegitimate brother Niall. The Macleods of Lewis were also aided by the Macleods of Harris and the Macleans.[10]
Loss of Lewis
Though Torquil Dubh had several sons, Donald Gorm Mor of Sleat considered himself an heir of the deceased chief of Lewis and invaded the island pursuing his claim.
During this era on Lewis the Macleods took part in the succession of feuds of their neighbouring clans such as the
End of Old Ruairi’s line
After the conquest of Lewis by the Mackenzies, Niall Macleod and his nephews Malcolm, William and Ruairi (the sons of Ruairi Og), and about thirty others took refuge on
Two of Ruairi Og's sons - Ruairi and William - were captured and hanged by Mackenzie of Kintail.[21] The one remaining son, Malcolm, was captured at the same time, though escaped and harassed the Mackenzies for years afterwards. Malcolm played a prominent part in Sir James Macdonald's rebellion in 1615, and later went to Flanders, in 1616 he was again on Lewis where he killed "two gentlemen of the Mackenzies". Later he went to Spain, returnining in 1620 with Sir James Macdonald. Commissions of Fire and Sword were granted to Lord Kintail and the Mackenzies against "Malcolm MacRuari Macleod" in 1622 and 1626. Nothing more is known of him. Tormod, the last legitimate son of Old Ruairi, was released from prison in Edinburgh in 1615, and left for Holland where he died with no known issue.[10][21] Nothing is known of the fate of Torquil Dubh's sons Ruairi and Torquil.[10][21]
After the Macleods lost control of Lewis, the title Lord Macleod was the second title of the Mackenzie, Earls of Cromartie. They claimed this right through their descent from Margaret, daughter of Torquil Conanach, who succeeded to her father's claim to Lewis. In time, the chiefship of the Macleods of Lewis passed to the Macleods of Raasay, near cousins of Old Ruairi. This line of Chiefs continues unbroken to this day.[10]
20th and 21st centuries
Torquil Roderick Macleod, 17th of Raasay, was a grandson of Loudoun Hector Macleod, and a farmer who lived in Tasmania.[23] He had an interest in the history of the clan and matriculated arms at the Court of the Lord Lyon as Macleod of Raasay.[23][24] Later in 1988 he was officially recognised as "Torquil Roderick Macleod of The Lewes and Chief and Head of the baronial House of Macleod of the Lewes" by Lord Lyon King of Arms.[24] In 2001 the chief of the clan died and was succeeded by his eldest son Torquil Donald Macleod of The Lewes.[24] The present chief of Clan Macleod of The Lewes lives in Sandy Bay, Tasmania, Australia.[25]
Today both the Clan Macleod of The Lewes and Clan Macleod are represented by "Associated Clan MacLeod Societies" (ACM), with the chiefs Hugh Magnus Macleod of Macleod, Chief of Clan Macleod, and Torquil Donald Macleod of The Lewes, Chief of Clan Macleod of The Lewes.[3] The association is made up of nine national societies across the world including: Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Switzerland and the United States of America.[4] The ACM last held Parliament in 2006 on the Isle of Lewis.[26]
MacLeod DNA
A recent study of DNA from MacLeods determined that, out of 45 men with the surname, almost half of these men (47%) were descended from the same man. The genetic marker of this group is rare in the British Isles, and has been found not only in "MacLeod territory", but also in Orkney, Shetland, and Norway. The study considered it to be evidence of a Norse origin of the clan's founder.[27]
Clan profile
Origin of the name
The clan surnames
Clan chiefs
# | Name | Dates | Ancestral Notes |
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1 | Torquil Og | bef.1320.[30] | |
2 | Roderick (Ruaidhri) Mor | c.1362.[31]
/* Clan chiefs */ |
|
3 | Torquil | c.1394–aft.1498.[32] | |
4 | Roderick (Ruaidhri) | c.1426–aft.1496.[33] | |
5 | Torquil
|
c.1450–bef.1511.[34] | |
6 | Roderick ("Old Ruari")
|
c.1500–c.1595.[35] | |
Chiefly line is lost. A new line is recognised in modern times. | |||
Torquil Roderick | 1919–2001.[36] | Matriculated arms as MacLeod of Raasay. Recognised by the Lord Lyon, in 1988, as Roderick MacLeod of the Lewes and Chief and Head of the baronial House of MacLeod of The Lewes.[24] | |
Torquil Donald[citation needed] | b.1948.[37] | Current chief. Eldest son of Torquil Roderick.[24] |
Branches of the clan
- The Macleods of Raasay.
- The Macleods of Raasay are descended from Gillicallum (Malcolm) Macleod, second son of the Laird of Lewis. Alive in the mid to late 15th century, he wed Marion, daughter of John Gorm Campbell of Craignish (Died 1498). In 1597 John Macgillichallum brother to the Laird of Raasay was killed at the Battle of Logiebride.[38] The present chief of the Macleods of Raasay is Roderick John Macleod, 18th of Raasay, who lives in Tasmania, Australia.[24][39] He is the brother of the present Macleod of The Lewes.
- The Macleods of Assynt.
- In the early 15th century the lands of Assynt were given in vassalage by Roderick Macleod of The Lewes to his younger son, Tormod.[40] This Tormod became ancestor of the Macleods of Assynt.[40] In the 16th century the MacLeods of Assynt supported the Mackays of Aberach, a branch of the Clan Mackay, in a feud against their chief Huistean Du Mackay, 13th of Strathnaver.[41] During this feud the MacLeods of Assynt fought against the Clan Gunn at the Battle of Leckmelm in 1586.[42][43] However, the MacLeods of Assynt later sided with Huistean Du Mackay of Strathnaver in a feud against the Earl of Caithness.[42] During the civil war of the 17th century, following the Battle of Carbisdale on 27 April 1650, where the Royalists led by James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose were defeated by the Covenanters, upon fleeing for his life the Marquess of Montrose was given shelter by the wife of Neil Macleod of Assynt at Ardvreck Castle and then betrayed him to the Marquess of Argyll.[44] Neil was the last Macleod chieftain to hold lands in Ayssnt. In 1672 he was denounced as a rebel and commission of fire and sword was obtained against him and his lands were conquered by the Seaforth Mackenzies.[45] During the Jacobite rising of 1745 while the MacLeods of Lewis supported the Jacobite cause, Hugh MacLeod of Geanies commanded an Independent Highland Company of the MacLeods of Assynt in support of the British Government.[46]
- The Macleods of Pabbay and Uig.
- The branch called the Macleods of Pabbay and Uig descend from Norman (Old Norman) Macleod, Ist of Pabbay and Uig, who was born probably ca. 1480 and a son of Torquil Macleod, born ca. 1380, VI Chief of the Macleods of Lewis and his wife Catherine Campbell. Old Norman held lands at Hacklete, Earshader, Pabbay and Baille na Cille. Members of this branch spell their name with a small l. Many Ministers of the Church and many doctors of medicine have been produced by this branch and even a Chancellor of the Exchequer.[citation needed]
Castles
Castles that have belonged to the Clan MacLeod of Lewis have included:
- Stornoway Castle, Earl of Argyll in 1554. It was demolished by Oliver Cromwell's forces in 1653. Cromwell's forces were themselves allegedly massacred by the islanders.[1]
- Brochel Castle, a small and ruinous stronghold, seven miles of north of Clachan on Raasay, was held by the MacLeod of Raasay branch of the clan.[1]
- Assynt Castle, also known as Eilean Assynt, four miles north-west of Inchnadamph on the mainland, was built on an island on Loch Assynt but little remains. It was held by the MacLeod of Assynt branch of the clan and was besieged by the Clan Mackay of Strathnaver in 1585 and by the Clan Mackenzie in 1646. The castle may have been used as a prison after the clan moved to Ardvreck Castle.[1]
- Ardvreck Castle a later seat of the MacLeod of Assynt branch of the clan. It was sacked by the Mackenzies in 1672.[1]
- Geanies Castle, near Tain, Ross, was held by the MacLeod of Geanies branch of the clan but passed to the Clan Sinclair in 1624.[1]
- See also: Castles of the Clan MacLeod.
Septs of the clan
Clan
Names | Notes |
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Allum, Callam, Callum, Challum, Gillecallum, MacAllum, MacAlman MacCallum, MacCalman, MacGillechallum, Malcolm. Malcolmson.[47] | Also attributed as a sept of Clan MacCallum and Clan Malcolm. According to George Fraser Black, Mac-ille-Challum is the patronymic of the MacLeods of Raasay.[47]
|
Lewis.[47] | Also attributed as a sept of Clan Stewart.[47] |
MacAskill, Kasky, MacAsgill, MacCaskie, Caskie, MacCaskill, MacKaskill, McCaskill, MaKasky, Taskill.[47] | The name MacAskill means son of Askell, with Askell being a Skye and held Dunscaith Castle in the fourteenth century.[48] William MacAskill, probably of Eabost, led the MacLeods in battle against the MacDonalds in the sixteenth century.[48] During the Jacobite rising of 1745 the Clan MacLeod supported the British-Hanoverian Government and John MacAskill was an Ensign in one of the Independent Highland Companies raised by the MacLeod chief to support the government.[49] Calgary Castle on the Isle of Mull was built for the MacAskills in about 1823 and is from where Calgary in Canada gets its name.[48]
|
MacAulay, Aulay, Calley, Caulay, Coll, MacAllay, MacAlley, MacAuley, MacCaulay, MacCauley, MacCorley.[47] | See Macaulays of Lewis. According to James Ayars, Genealogy coordinator of the Associated Clan MacLeod Society, "MacAuley is both a sept of Clan MacLeod and Clan Donald, and a clan in its own right", see Clan MacAulay.[47]
|
MacCabe, MacKabe.[47] | According to Black, McCabe as a branch of the MacLeods of Arran who immigrated to Ireland in the 14th century.[47] |
MacCorkill, MacCorkindale, MacCorkle, MacCorquodale MacKerkyll, MacKorkyll, MacOrkill, McCorkie, McKurkull.[47] | Also attributed as a sept of Clan Gunn.[47] See also Clan McCorquodale. |
MacCorkindale, Corquodale and MacCorcadail, MacCorkill, MacCorkle, MacCorquodale, MacThorcadail.[47] | Black also lists Corquodale though there is no evidence of any relationship between MacCorkindale and its derivatives and MacLeod. See also, Clan McCorquodale.[47] |
Nicol, deNicole, MacNichol, MacNickle, McNychol, Necolson, Nichol(s), Nicholl, Nicholson, Nickle, Nicoll, Nicollsoun, Nicolson, Nuccol, Nuckall, Nucolsone.[47] | Nicol is also associated with Clan Macfie. There is also a Clan Nicolson and Clan MacNeacail.[47] |
Norie, Noray, Nore, Norn, Norrey, Norreys, Norrie, Norris, Norye.[47] | |
Tolmie.[47] | Black wrote that the Tolmies of the Hebrides are called Clann Talvaich.[47] |
Clan symbolism
Crest badge
- heraldic crest and motto,
- Chief's crest: A golden sun in splendour.[50]
- Chief's motto: Note: there are two versions of the chief's heraldic motto,
- Note: the mottoes allude to the coat of arms of Macleod of The Lewes which contains a burning beacon or fiery mountain, which may have originally been the arms of the MacNicol coast-watchers.[5][23]
Tartan
Tartan image | Notes |
---|---|
Nicknamed "Loud MacLeod", this tartan is generally referred to as "MacLeod Dress" or "MacLeod of Lewis" and sometimes "Macleod, Yellow of Raasay", it's one of the most instantly recognisable of Scottish tartans. The first image of the sett, thought to date from the 1830s, is a portrait of clan tartans ".
| |
This tartan is sometimes known as "MacLeod hunting" or "MacLeod of Harris".[53] It was published in several early collections of tartan such as Logan's The Scottish Gael (1831) and Smibert's (1851). The tartan is derived from the Mackenzie tartan used by John Mackenzie in 1771, when he raised the regiment known as "Lord Macleod's Highlanders". The Mackenzies claimed to be heirs to the chiefship of the Macleods of Lewis, after the death of Roderick in 1595. The tartan was approved by Norman Magnus, 26th chief of the Dunvegan Macleods. It was adopted by the clan society in 1910.[54] | |
"MacLeod of Assynt". The Macleods of Assynt are a branch of Clan Macleod of The Lewes. The tartan is almost identical to the "MacLeod of Harris/Hunting" tartan (pictured above) and was first published as "MacLeod of Assynt" in 1906.[55] | |
The "MacLeod of Raasay" tartan is very similar to the Macleod tartan found in the Vestiarium (pictured top) and is thought to be based on that sett. It is therefore considered to date from sometime later than 1829. Alternatively its inclusion in the records of the Highland Society of London may indicate an earlier origin. In this alternative scenario the yellow "Vestiarium" tartan would trace its origin to the earlier Raasay sett. |
References
- ^ ISBN 9781899874361.
- ^ a b c d Matheson, William (11 April 1979). "The MacLeods of Lewis". macleodgenealogy.org. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
- ^ a b "Associated Clan MacLeod Societies: ACMS". Archived from the original on 28 January 2008. Retrieved 7 January 2008.
- ^ a b "National Society Links". Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
- ^ Campbell of Airds, Alastair. "A Closer Look at West Highland Heraldry". Heraldry Society of Scotland. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
- ^ "Sons of Leod". Archived from the original on 19 December 2007. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
- ^ Matheson, William (18 November 1977). "The Ancestry of the MacLeods". macleodgenealogy.org. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f MacLeod, Andrew P (November 2000). "The Ancestry of Leod". macleodgenealogy.org. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
- ^ a b Sellar, W.D.H (30 January 1998). "The Ancestry of the Macleods Reconsidered". macleodgenealogy.org. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 6 January 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Maclauchlan; Wilson 1875: pp. 191–196.
- ^ History of the House and Clan of MacKay by Robert Makay (1829). p.49 – 50
- ^ "Malcolm Gille-caluim Beag MACLEOD". macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 22 January 2008.
- ^ Roberts 1999: p. 36.
- ^ a b Roberts 1999: p. 29.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Roberts 1999: p. 132.
- RCAHMS. Retrieved 21 January 2008.
- ^ a b c d e "Roderick "Old Ruari" MACLEOD (VI of Lewis)". macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 8 January 2008.
- ^ Thomas 1876–78: p. 503–556.
- ^ a b c Roberts 1999: p. 134.
- ^ a b Roberts 1999: p. 138.
- ^ a b c d e f "Torquil Dubh MACLEOD (XII Baron Lewes)". Retrieved 23 January 2008.
- ^ Roberts 1999: p. 188.
- ^ a b c d e "History of the Clan MacLeod" (PDF). Retrieved 17 January 2008. [dead link]
- ^ a b c d e f "The 19th and 20th Centuries". clan-macleod-scotland.org.uk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2009. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
- Burke's Peerage and Gentry. Retrieved 19 September 2007.
- ^ "Clan Parliament 2006". clanmacleod.org. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 18 August 2008.
- ^ "Scotland's DNA: Who do you think you are? - Part 4 - the Scotsman". Archived from the original on 5 September 2011. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
- ^ Reaney; Wilson 2006: p. 2054.
- ^ "Mcleod Name Meaning and History". Ancestry.com. Retrieved 11 December 2008.
- ^ "Torquil Og MACLEOD (I of Lewis)". macleodgenealogy.org. Archived from the original on 27 July 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
- ^ "Roderick Ruaidhri Mor MACLEOD (II of Lewis)". macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
- ^ "Torquil MACLEOD (III of Lewes)". macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
- ^ "Roderick Ruaidhri MACLEOD (IV of Lewis)". macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
- ^ "Torquil MACLEOD (V of Lewis)". macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
- ^ "Roderick "Old_Ruari" MACLEOD (VI of Lewis)". macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 19 March 2009.
- ^ "Torquil Roderick MACLEOD (XV of Raasay)". macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
- ^ "Torquil Donald MACLEOD". macleodgenealogy.org. Retrieved 20 March 2009.
- ^ Gordon, Sir Robert. (1580 - 1650). A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland. Originally written between 1615 and 1630. Re-published in 1813. pp. 236.
- ^ "Clan MacLeod Society, USA Clan Council". clanmacleodusa.org. Archived from the original on 3 July 2008. Retrieved 4 January 2008.
- ^ a b Gregory 1881: pp. 72–74.
- ^ Mackay 1906: p. 108
- ^ a b Mackay 1906: p. 112
- ^ Gordon, Robert (1813) [Printed from original manuscript 1580 - 1656]. A Genealogical History of the Earldom of Sutherland. Edinburgh: Printed by George Ramsay and Co. for Archibald Constable and Company Edinburgh; and White, Cochrance and Co. London. p. 183. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
- ^ "MacLeod of Raasay Clan". scotsconnection.com. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
- ^ "Ardvreck Castle - The MacNicols and Macleods of Assynt" October 1978. Caithness Field Club Bulletin. Retrieved 29 January 2008.
- ISBN 0-85976-432-X.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r "MacLeod Septs". clanmacleod.org. Archived from the original on 25 February 2009. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
- ^ ISBN 978-1-899874-36-1.
- ISBN 0-85976-432-X. pp. 127 – 128 and 130.
- ^ a b c d "Clan Crest Badges". clan-macleod-scotland.org.uk. Retrieved 5 January 2008.
- ^ "Tartan Details - MacLeod of Lewis (VS)". Scottish Register of Tartans. Archived from the original on 26 July 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
- ^ Stewart; Thompson 1980: pp. 33–34.
- Scottish Tartans World Register. Archived from the originalon 4 October 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
- ^ "Tartan Details - MacLeod #4". Scottish Register of Tartans. Retrieved 22 March 2009.
- ^ "Tartan Details - MacLeod of Assynt". Scottish Register of Tartans. Retrieved 24 March 2009.
Bibliography
- Gregory, Donald (1881). History Of The Western Highlands And Isles Of Scotland, From A.D. 1493 To A.D. 1625 (2 ed.). London: Hamilton, Adams and Co. ISBN 0-7884-0420-2.
- Mackay, Angus (1906). Book of Mackay. 25 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh: Norman MacLeod.
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: location (link) - Maclauchlan, Thomas; Wilson, John (1875). Keltie, John Scott (ed.). A History of the Scottish Highlands, Highland Clans and Highland Regiments. Vol. 2. Edinburgh: A. Fullarton & Co.
- Reaney, Percy Hilde; Wilson, Richard Middlewood (2006). A Dictionary of English Surnames (3rd ed.). London: Routledge. ISBN 0-203-99355-1. Retrieved 25 February 2014.
- Roberts, John Leonard (1999). Feuds, Forays and Rebellions: History of the Highland Clans, 1475-1625. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 0-7486-6244-8.
- Stewart, Donald Calder; Thompson, J. Charles (1980). Scarlett, James (ed.). Scotland's Forged Tartans. Edinburgh: Paul Harris Publishing. ISBN 0-904505-67-7.
- S2CID 253274657.