The Inverness-shire Mackays are usually called in Gaelic Mac Ai, that is, MacDhai, or Davidson; they formed a branch of Clan Chattan." MacDuff D4 [37] According to Sir Robert Gordon, in 1522, Alexander Gordon (the Earl of Sutherland's eldest son) overthrew John Mackay of Strathnaver at Lairg, and forced him to submit himself to the Earl of Sutherland, to whom John Mackay gave a bond of manrent and service. WebIn this century, the ancestors of these brave Scots have begun to recover their illustrious heritage through Clan societies and other heritage organizations. While the Scottish clan system may exist no longer, its undeniable that Scots and those of Scottish heritage across the world continue to look upon Scotland as the treasured land of their people. [50] In 1588, chief Huistean Du Mackay, 13th of Strathnaver joined the Earl of Sutherland and married his daughter the following year. Clan Mackay (/mka/ m-KY; Scottish Gaelic: Clann Mhic Aoidh [kln vkj]) is an ancient and once-powerful Highland Scottish clan from the far North of the Scottish Highlands, but with roots in the old Kingdom of Moray. As well as kinship and a sense of identity and belonging, being part of a clan was an important part of survival throughout the troubled centuries that would follow. This territory was also known as Mackay Country, because of the association with the clan. [30] This was followed by the Battle of Aldy Charrish where the Rosses were defeated by the Mackays and the Ross chief was killed along with many of his clan. Clans often had ancestral castles too, such as Clan Murrays Duffus Castle in Blair Atholl. [73] Independent Highland Companies formed from the Clan Mackay, that were led by Ensign John Mackay, fought at the Battle of Littleferry in 1746 where they defeated the Jacobites and also captured the Jacobite George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie at Dunrobin Castle.[74]. Chief Angus Du Mackay, 7th of Strathnaver joined the Stewart Confederacy and the Battle of Dingwall took place in which Donald of the Isles defeated Mackay. Early passenger and immigration lists reveal many Scottish settlers bearing the name McKay: McKay Settlers in United States in the 17th Century WebView the MacKay Clan crest, history, motto, maps, ancestral family lands and associated Scottish surnames. On our way to Inverness our timing was so perfect that we turned up exactly for the Atholl Parade at Blair Castle. Muir C5 C6 Sempill C5 Scottish Highlands is a company registered in Guernsey, number 69292. Strathnaver Museum is situated on the north coast of Scotland. Clan Mackay are famous for long-running feuds with a number of their neighbouring Highland clans, including Macleod of Lewis, Ross and Sutherland. Leighton E3 [61] Donald Mackay, 1st Lord Reay having fought for Charles I during the civil war was to be created Earl of Strathnaver but the royal patent was not completed and Reay went into exile in Denmark where he died in February 1649. [31] However, 19th-century historian Angus Mackay disputes the Sutherland's presence at the battle stating that it would be unlikely that the Earl of Sutherland at the time would have assisted against the Rosses as he was married to a daughter of the Ross chief of Balnagowan, and also that the feudal superiority of the Sutherlands over the Mackays "nowhere existed save in his own fertile imagination". They fought in many battles, both with their neighbouring clans and against the rebelling Jacobite forces, and occupied a large amount of territory in the north of Scotland in the area once known as Strathnaver. Gilles D3 Currie B4 B5 Fotheringham D4 [15] Later in the 14th century, in 1370, chief Iye Mackay, 4th of Strathnaver and his son were murdered at Dingwall Castle by Nicholas Sutherland, 1st of Duffus, head of one of the junior branches of Clan Sutherland. Castle Varrich was the ancestral seat of Clan Mackay, becoming the Adair E6 WebMap showing the territory of the Clan Mackay that was known as Strathnaver in relation to Sutherland and Caithness. Livingston B4 C4 D4 D5 [6]. Around 1427 an internal feud broke out within clan MacKay which split the the clan into two factions. The cathedral was once again set on fire and many Sutherland men were hanged in the town square. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Elphinstone C4 D4 Arnot D4 Forsyth E4 Stirling C5 D4 WebClan Mackay are an ancient clan originating from the far Highlands of Scotland. The clan system of Scotland has ancient origins in the Celtic, Norman-French and Norse traditions, and can be traced back to a time when people lived off the land, and border disputes were a common occurrence. The ancestors of those Scots can now experience much of their once-lost heritage through the Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up across North America in the last century. Jardine D6 We use cookies to enhance your personalized experience for ads, analytics, and more. Interestingly, the Macs rule the north and west coast, with the MacNeil, MacDonald and MacLeod clans populating the Outer Hebrides. Their lands historically encompass the northwestern area of Sutherland, and the area became known as "Strathnaver" after the River Naver which flows through the territory. [9] Angus Mackay analyses what evidence is available to support each of the two genealogies and concludes that the one given in Alexander Mackay's Blackcastle Manuscript is by far the most accurate. The chronicle of the name MacKay begins with a family in the Pictish clans of ancient Scotland. McLellan D6 Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Buy MacKay tartan wear, fabrics and family crests Turing E3 Richardson D5 [44], In 1555, the Siege of Borve Castle took place where the castle capitulated and chief Iye Du Mackay, 12th of Strathnaver was captured by the Sutherlands,[19] imprisoned at Dumbarton Castle,[45] and later in Edinburgh Castle. Sinclair D1 E3 Skene E3 The practice of reiving involved stealing livestock from neighbouring clans in the form of a raid. Kinnaird D2 D4 Gray D4 E3 E4 Please contact us if you would like Clans and Castlesto organise a tour of your clan lands. For example, certain people in the leading gentry were responsible for bringing up the children of the clan. Much like a clan, our Highland Titles community also shares the investment and attachment to the land, ourNature Reserves, which they have helped to protect when purchasing their souvenir plot of land. Morrison B1 Wemyss D4 E4 The crossing to North America did not seem so great in comparison with the hardships many Scots endured at home. Please contact us if you would like Clans and Castles to organise a tour of your clan lands. Notable amongst the Clan at this time was Hugh Mackay (c. 1640-1692), Scottish general, Major-General Commanding in Chief in Scotland in 1689, killed at the Battle of Steinkeerke; and Another 28 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacKay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Anstruther E4 In fact the clan is closely associated with Clan MacKay in the far North West of Scotland. Hunter C5 Clan Mackay supported Robert the Bruce in the Scottish Wars of Independence, but positioned themselves on the side of the British government during the Jacobite uprisings in the 18th century, fighting against the Jacobites at the Battle of Culloden. When surnames came into use in the 16th and 17th centuries, many took their clan leaders name as their own. The constant battle for land and resources, like livestock, between clans was often ferocious. The boundary is marked with a dashed line. Cameron C3 Seat of the, This page was last edited on 20 January 2023, at 17:20. King E3 Lockhart D5 Stuart C5 D2 C4 D4 D5 Feeding the family would be the number one priority, as well as keeping an eye on crops. [35], According to historian Sir Robert Gordon, who himself was a son of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, in 1517, the Battle of Torran Dubh took place where the Clan Sutherland defeated the Clan Mackay who were led by John Mackay, 11th of Strathnaver. Website by Pelican Design Consultants. MacAdam C5 D5 C6 D6 WebMap showing the territory of the Clan Mackay that was known as Strathnaver in relation to Sutherland and Caithness. While there are numerous versions of the clan maps of Scotland, most feature a clear division between Scotlands two peoples: the Lowland Scots and the Gaelic clans. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. [20] Soon afterwards James I of Scotland came to Inverness, intending to pursue Angus Du Mackay who submitted himself to the King's mercy, and gave his son Neil as a pledge of his future obedience. t: 01641 521418 A map of the principal Clan Lands created by Alastair Cunningham for the Colin Baxter publication 'Scottish Clans and Tartans'. Moffat D5 The boundary is marked with a dashed line. This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacKay research. The castle is thought to be over a thousand years old, and its thought that there are caves underneath Aeneas Mackay, Brigadier-General who had a prolonged military service in Scotland, Ireland and on the continent. Most notably, Castle Varrich in the village of Tongue in Sutherland is recognised as the ancient seat of Clan Mackay. Erskine C4 C5 D3 D4 E3 The authenticity of Scottish clan badges and crests has been called into debate, and many suggest they are perhaps more a remnant of Victorian romanticism, rather than rooted in historical fact. MacColl C4 MacKay Gaelic Mac Aoidh The name MacKay comes from the Gaelic Mac Aoidh meaning Son of Fire. The castle is thought to be over a thousand years old, and its thought that there are caves underneath WebClan Bain History < Return to previous page The Clan Bain has no connection with MacBain or MacBean. Duguid E3 Basket totals may not add exactly due to rounding. See Terms of Use for details. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. The current head of Clan Mackay is the 15th Lord Reay, Aeneas Simon Mackay, and the present seat of the Clan Mackay is Ophemert Castle in the Netherlands. This map was crafted by Sir Iain Moncreiffe of That Ilk, Bart., (1919 1985) Albany Herald and Don Pottinger (19191986), Unicorn Pursuivant of Arms. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto. WebClan Mackay are an ancient clan originating from the far Highlands of Scotland. Germany. [41] However, this is disputed by historian Angus Mackay. [36] However, historian Angus Mackay disputes Gordon's account and says that the battle was actually fought by the Mackays against the Rosses, Murrays and Gunns, and not against the Sutherlands. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of MacKay: Some of the first settlers of this family name were: 2000- 2023 Swyrich Corporation, all rights reserved. Duns, Berwickshire [9] Malcolm MacHeth, Earl of Ross may well have been related to the early rulers or Mormaers of Moray. Glendinning D5 D6 The House of Tongue was later acquired by the Dukes of Sutherland and is still held by them. Duff D2 Scottish Borders, TD11 3LT. Interestingly, the Macs rule the north and west coast, with the MacNeil, MacDonald and MacLeod clans populating the Outer Hebrides. Lyon D3 D4 MacCaskill B3 Within the clan, a chief would encourage members to marry each other to keep the bloodline pure. They lived in the northernmost regions of the country, mostly inhabiting the areas around Strathnaver. 1920), Scottish Seaman serving for the Royal Navy Reserve from Tolas-Dadh-a-Chaolais, Stornoway, Isle of, Mr. Hamish Mackay, American 2nd Class passenger from New York, New York, USA, who sailed aboard the. The Mackay clan were both numerous and powerful and theirs is a history of continual strife with their neighbours. There are a number of prolific MacKays in the world of sport and politics, particularly in Australia and North America. Your planning did match exactly. Keith D1 D5 E2 E3 E5 Drummond C4 D4 Fletcher C4 The clan chief was trusted to protect the territory of the clan, their dthchas (heritage) and all those within it. [31] According to 17th-century historian Sir Robert Gordon, who was a younger son of Alexander Gordon, 12th Earl of Sutherland, the Clan Sutherland joined the side of the Clan Mackay at this battle. Clanranald A2 A3 B3, Cochrane C5 Clans names, tartans and crests are recorded by Lord Lyon for official recognition. In 1806, the "Mackay's Society" was founded in Glasgow. [57] During 1632 Gustavus Adolphus, king of Sweden was killed at the Battle of Ltzen and Lord Reay was not repaid large sums of money due to him by the king. WebView the MacKay Clan crest, history, motto, maps, ancestral family lands and associated Scottish surnames. MacLeod found that his sister had been mistreated and he decided to spoil Strathnaver and Brae-Chat in Sutherland but in the ensuing battle MacLeod was killed. Sandilands D5 E4 The lands colored for each name indicate general spheres of influence, usually about the time of King James VI but taking the history of each district or family as a whole. 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