Outlandish Clan History Part 7

Hi! It’s been a while, but I’m finally back with the 7th installment of Outlandish Clan History! You can read the previous 6 posts HERE on our Outlander page and see if your family, or your fav clans, are delved into. So, I hope you enjoy this post!

Clan Kennedy

• Clan Motto: Avise la Fin- consider the end

This old lowland clan has quote the history! So let’s dive right in…

• The family supported Robert the Bruce’s claim to the Scottish throne in 1372 and were later granted lands and a chiefdom by Robert II.
• The Kennedy’s rapidly rose up in the ranks, staying close to the royal family. Gillbert Kennedy was even the regent to James III of Scotland when the young king was an infant.
• One Kennedy, a mercenary named Hugh, even fought for Joan of Arc!
• Dunure Castle was the original seat of the chiefs. It was built in the 13th century

Clan Douglas

• Clan Motto: Jamais Mrrière- Never Behind
• Clan War Cry: A Douglas! A Douglas!

Here’s a super ancient clan to explore that has so much history, you’ll want to look up the rest for yourself…

• They got their name from the Douglas Water region in South Lanarkshire and were related to the Murry Clan.
• They were one of the Lowland’s most influential clan, and are often acknowledged as being the true power behind the Scottish kings.
• During the Scottish Wars of Independence, the Lord of Douglas, Sir William, fought against the English. But the English took his castle and made him swear allegiance to the crown. He totally did…but he had his fingers crossed behind his back while he did it and immediately joined William Wallace against the British. He later died for his “crimes” in the Tower of London.
• Sir William had a son, who is widely known as “Black Douglas”. Black Douglas was friends with Robert the Bruce and was a top commander during the Scottish Wars of Independence. He was among the first to use guerrilla warfare against the British and was known for his brutality on the field. He’s even the topic of an English lullaby…
  • Hush ye, hush ye, little pet ye. Hush ye, hush ye, do not fret ye. The Black Douglas shall not get ye
• by 1440 the Douglas clan were thought to be getting too powerful. So, the “Black Dinner” was held by William Crichton, the Lord Chancellor of Scotland. William was pretty mad that his power being usurped a bit by the Douglas clan, so he invited teenage Earl of Douglas, along with his little brother, to dinner where he served them the head of a black boar. Then, against King James II’s wished, the boys were beheaded. This was the inspiration for the “Red Wedding” in Game of Thrones!

Clan Wemyss

• Clan Motto: Je Pense- I Think

Let’s take a look into the history of this lowland Scottish clan…

• This ancient clan got their name from the caves in Wemyss, on the south coast of Fife and are descended from Celtic nobility, through the MacDuffs of Fife.
• They originally pledged their allegiance to the English, but switched over to Robert the Bruce. In retaliation, the English sacked Wemyss Castle, their ancestral seat, but didn’t hold it long. Fun fact, Wemyss Castle is where Mary Queen of Scots met her husband Lord Darnley in 1565. (see castle below)
• During the Jacobite uprisings of 1745, James Wemyss married a woman by the last name of Charteris and took to the side of the Jacobites. He stayed close to Prince Charlie, even fleeing to France with him, and his lands were taken by the crown. His second son took his mother’s name, Charteris, and joined their teensy clan.

Clan Cathcart

• Clan Motto: I hope to speed

Are you a member of this lowland clan? Let’s learn a few things…

• They get their names from the River Cart, a tributary of the River Clyde. The first chief was Rainaldus de Kethcart, who was noted in history in the 1170s.
• During the Scottish Wars of Independence, they first caved to the English, but Alan de Cathcart’s wife was distantly related to the Bruce family, so they followed Robert the Bruce’s brother Edward into battle.
• The Cathcarts were loyal to the English crown, by the time of the 1715 Jacobite risings and even lead the Royal Scots Greys against the Jacobites, which were troops of royal dragoons.
• Their loyalty to the British made them successful and they were then made ambassadors to Russia, given command of the British army in Scotland, and given lands and titles for their continued successes in fighting for England in other wars.

Clan Grierson

• Clan Motto: Hoc Securior- Safer by This

This lowland clan, which is related to the Gregor clan, has a nice little history…

• It’s accepted that their name came from “Gregor” and was shifted over the years into it’s present form, but that is still under debate, as records in the 800s weren’t exactly perfect! But it is a face that the name, at one point, was “Grerson”.
• In 1408 they came into possession of the lands in Lag and lived, and married, closely with Clan Douglas.
• They fought alongside Mary Queen of Scots and James VI, giving them knighthoods, titles, and power.
• One man, Robert Grierson, got quite the reputation. He was so viscous in his persecution of the Covenanter (Scottish Presbyterians that were thought to be against the Scottish crown) that he’s become a local legend. Known as “Cruel Lag”, he is said to have denied executed men time to prey and made pacts with the devil.

Clan MacTavish

• Clan Motto: Non Oblitus- Not Forgetful
• Clan War Cry: Cruach Mor!- Refers to a meeting place in their ancestral lands

I know this name is familiar to many of you! But let’s take a moment to learn a few things…

• This ancient highland clan is as traditional as they come in many ways. It’s said they come from Taus, the illegitimate son of Colin Mael Maith, who claimed lineage from King Arthur. They’re also cousins of the Campbells and the McIvers, as the “fathers” of both clans were two other sons of Colin Mael Maith, which only the Campbell son being legitimate. I know, a bit confusing!
• They stayed out of the Jacobite uprisings, for the most part, with some members independently fighting with the MacIntosh clan with the Jacobites. But that didn’t save them from the Highland Clearances…
• However, unlike many chiefs, the leaders of the MacTavish clan’s didn’t sell off their lands, force their tenants to move, or mistreat them after the fall of the Jacobites. But many of the clan took on the Thompson/Thomson name to avoid persecution as highlanders.
• Now, let’s take a moment to appreciate Graham McTavish! While I’m not 100% sure what his alliance is to Clan MacTavish, the Glasgow born actor is proud of his roots and his last name is an alternate spelling of this clan’s. If you know if he claims membership, let me know!

Clan Ruthven

• Clan Motto:Deid Schaw- Deeds Show

This is a tidy little lowland clan for you to look at…

• Hailing from Norse stock, they got their name from the old “Ruadhainn” lands in Perthshire in the 12th century.
• In the 1200s then faked out the English, which is starting to look like a theme here, and later supported William Wallace and was rewarded handsomely.
• Remember the Charterises we talked about a bit before? Well, that clan and the Ruthvens didn’t get along. The Charterises were given some land by Robert the Bruce, but the Ruthvens thought that land was theirs. Soooo when the Charterises came to Perth, the Ruthvens barred the gates and all attempts to take the town were unsuccessful.
• By the 1700s the Ruthvens were basically gone from the public sphere and kept to themselves, as their line was taken over by distant cousins and the like.

Clan Primrose

• Clan Motto: Fide et Fiducia- By Faith and Trust

Here are some fun facts about this lowland clan…

• They come from the land of Primrose in Fife and the first recorded ancestor was Henry Primrose in 1490.
• Henry’s grandson, Gilbert, was the personal chaplain to King James VI of Scotland and Charles I of England. He also later became the Dean of Windsor.
• Mainly English supporters, like many lowland clans, they largely stayed out of the wars between Scotland and England. But at least one Primrose man was executed for being a Jacobite supporter.
• Their ancestral seat is fairly modern, but totally gorgeous! Take a look at Dalmeny house, where the Primrose earls still live. PS some parts are available for rent, if you’re planning a Scottish wedding!

Clan Johnstone

• Clan Motto: Nunquam Non Paratus- Never Unprepared

This border reiver clan has a fun little history…

• In their early days, somewhere in the 7-800s, they were the most powerful and ruthless border clan. They were tasked with keeping watch over the English and often raided the English villages that crept close to the Scottish border.
• But in the 1100s, their chief, John Johnstone, pledged his allegiance to the English crown and was gifted lands and made Warden of the border areas between the two countries. However, the Johnstones continued to only raid the English, never the Scottish.
• Still, They did fight with their neighboring clans, particularly those of Clan Moffat. in 1557 the Johnstones wanted to end the feud once and for all. So they killed their chief and trapped a bunch of the Moffat members into a church before burning it to the ground. It decimated the clan and the Johnstones took their lands and holdings.

Clan Lennox

• Clan Motto: I’ll Defend

This ancient earldom has a few fun facts surrounding it. So let’s take a look at their long history…

• This Lowland name is so old, they are said to have came from the ancient Celts. Still, it’s under dispute how exactly they came to be. Some say it was from a Saxon lord marrying a Scottish heiress, while others have said that they were granted lands by a king. They may have also gotten their name from the Scottish Gaelic, for “smooth stream”, “Leven-ach”.
• By the time of the Scottish Wars of Independence, they were one of the richest and most powerful nobles in Scotland. This is partly due to their ability to “bullshit” the English crown into thinking they were in support of them while actually backing Robert the Bruce.
• In the 15th and 16th century, their power stared to falter. This is partly due to the Lennox heiress marring an English lord, whose family had a hand in murdering the Scottish King Jame’s brother. King James got revenge of them and the Lennox title was passed around Scotland and England. But in the 19th century, the title was restored.

Clan MacArthur/Arthur

• Clan Motto: Fide Et Opera- By Fidelity and Work
• Clan War Cry: Eisd! O Eisd!- Listen! Oh, Listen!

Modern

Hunting

Here’s another old clan with a fun history!

• This clan is one of the oldest Highland clans in history, claiming heritage alongside Clan Campbell. And although they’re old, they didn’t obtain vast amounts of land until Robert the Bruce rewarded them for their bravery and support during the Scottish Wars of Independence.
• Butttt their power was short lived, as in 1427, the popular MacArthur chief was beheaded by King James as a show of power. As a result, the clan lost much of it’s land.
• In 1771 the clan chief died without an heir, and the clan was without a leader for more than 200 years until a Canadian man claimed the title in 2003. What a lucky guy!

Clan Spens

• Clan Motto:Si Deus Quis Contra-If God is for us, who is against us

This Lowland clan, part of which is a sept of Clan MacDuff, has an old history as well!

• The Spens came to be in in the late 1000’s when William the Conquer came to England, bringing with him a Normal knight named Robert d’Abbetot. Robert was made a steward in Scotland, the old French of that title being “Spens”.
• Going forward, members of the clan supported the English and the Scottish in turn, often playing both sides for power. But by the 15th century, they were firmly in support of the Scottish Crown, taking roles of bodyguards to King James, making affluent marriages to other Scotish nobles, and taking over various church positions.
• Later, they were sent to Sweden as ambassadors in the late 1500s, where they rose through the ranks to become Swedish nobility, as Count Spens.

Clan Hannay

• Clan Motto:Per Ardua Ad Alta- Through difficulties to Heaven

Let’s clan about Clan Hannay, who one of my favorite plaid patterns…

• The Hannay are an ancient family that came from old Galloway nobles, but because a true clan sometime in the 1200s.
• During the Scottish Wars of Independence, the Hannays were skeptical of Robert the Bruce and opted to support John Balliol for the crown. Balliol was a distant cousin of the Hannays, as they both came from Galloway nobles.
• They continued to amass power until they butted heads with Clan Murray. The Murrays crushed them in their many feuds and the Hannays lost all power.
• Sorbie Tower was their ancestral seat for years and is open for exploration today, for free.

Clan Grant

• Clan Motto: Craig Elachie – refers to a rallying point in time of war
• Alternative Clan Motto: Stand Fast, Stand Sure

Hunting

Modern

For our final clan of the day, lets learn about the Grants!

• The ancestors came from Normandy with the early conquerors and was descended from Aplin, the father of the fist king of the Scots, Kenneth MacAlpin.
• They became true Highland powerhouses when they supported both William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, being rewarded with vast swatches of land.
• They were such powerful forces, they often steamrolled other clans for coveted lands and castle, most notably Castle Grant, which had first belonged to Clan Comyn.
• But they also made powerful allies, such as Clan Gordon and Clan Gregor, keeping them in power though wit, as well as force.
• For the most part, they supported the English Crown during the Jacobite Rebellions, with only small factions fighting for the Jacobites. This was a smart move in maintaining their power and place in Scotland, as they weren’t affected by the Highland Clearances and were even given a spot on the Black Watch.
• Going back to Castle Grant, it’s said to be haunted by Lady Barbara Grant, who died of a broken heart after being imprisoned in order to keep her from marrying the wrong man.

♥♥♥

That’s it! Maybe I’ll do a part 8, but that’s really dependent on what you guys think. Do you want a part 8? Are there other clans I haven’t talked about that you’re interested in? Let me know! But check the past 6 parts HERE before naming them, in case I’ve already discussed them.

Sarah and I both have books out now, so if you like our posts, you’ll probably love our books! First Semester is a thrilling college romance that you can get HERE. Queen of Emeralds is a historic romance set in the highlands that you can get HERE. Both of them come in paperback, ebook, and Kindle Unlimited.

An Outlandish Clan History Part6

Wow, we certainly have a lot of readers with Scottish roots! Remember to look back at part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4, and part 5 of this little series to make sure you’re not missing any of the history goodness! Let’s dive right in and see what there is to learn about some of your own, personal, clans…

Clan Nicolson

• Clan Motto: Generositate- By generosity

• This lowland clan came from the Norse raiders, but there are two different lines it could have originated from, although both versions were seen as early as the 800s. The name may have come from the common name “Olson” with the added “Nic”, which in Scottish Gaelic means “Daughter”, and was seen throughout the middle ages. But it also might have come to pass during the Scottish-Norwegian War in the early 1200s, when Hakkon IV of Norway sent Anders Nicolassen into Scotland, where he stayed.
• While this cannot be verified, it is thought that before being the Nicolsons, they were members of Clan MacNeacail.

Clan Guthrie

• Clan Motto: Sto pro veritate- I stand for the truth

Ancient

Battle

Modern

• There’s no exact story of where this ancient Scottish name came from, but one of the more popular legend is that in the 800s-900s the Scottish king named a certain piece of land “Guthrie” after a poor fisherman “gut three” fish and served them for the king’s supper.
• Being an old family gave the Guthries a certain level of respect. Like during the Scottish War of Independence, the Laird of Guthrie was sent to bring William Wallace to Scotland, sparking more support for the side of Scottish independence.
• They were very close to the royal family throughout history, and were often given royal pardons when they wronged a rival clan. They were also often given titles, land, and certain privileges. However, that mostly ended when some of the Guthries began to take arms against the Scottish government, particularly the king, when they began to devote themselves to the Covenanter belief system in the 1630s.
• Guthrie Castle was built in the mid 1400s, with various additions being added on through history. It remained in the Gustrie family until 1983. But, now it’s a lovely golf course and event area where you can even get married!

Clan Macrae

• Clan Motto: Fortitudine- strength
• War Cry: Sgurr uaran- refers to the highest part of the mountain range within the Clan Macrae lands.

• This is an armegerous clan and the name comes from Macraith, which means “son of grace”. It is said that the clan came from Ireland and shares a common lineage with the Mackenzies and the MacLeans. However, that is under dispute.
• They participated in the Jacobite Rebellion in 1715 and it went terribly. Like, everyone died, even their strongest warrior, a man named Duncan Macrae, whose claymore was taken by the English and displayed in the Tower of London for a number of years. However, the sword has been missing for years and it is thought it was lost in the fire of 1841. It is because of their failure in 1715 that they opted out of the rebellion in 1745.
• At one point, their main clan rivals were the Frasers of Lovat!

Clan Nesbitt

• Clan Motto: I Byd It- I Endure
• Clan War Cry- A Nesbitt!

(It’s iffy what the actual Nesbitt tartan is, or if there even is one, but this one is recognized as largely being theirs. If you are a Nesbitt and know for sure what your tartan is, please let me know!)

• This Scottish border clan was originally titled “de Nesbit”, as seen in historic documents from the 11 and 1200s. They were also close to the royals from the time of Robert the Bruce and enjoyed favor from time to time.
• One of the most famous clan members was Alexander Nisbet. Nisbet was known as the expert on all things historic and herald. He is still regarded as the expert on Clan Nesbitt and many of his writings are still seen as valid today.
• By the 17th century, the Nesbitt clan were largely royalists, and in full support of England.

The Buchanan Clan

• Clan Motto: Clarior hinc honos- Henceforth forward the honour shall grow ever brighter
• War Cry: Clar Innes!- Refers to an island in Loch Lomond

ancient

hunting

modern

• This armigerous clan comes from the Loch Lomond area and gets their name from the parcel of land, which were given to Gilbert Buchanan in 1231. However, some members claim heraldry from ancient Irish kings, although that is widely accepted as myth.
• From the time of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, the Buchanans have been supporters of the Scottish crown, and due to their allegiance in battle, were often awarded more lands and titles.
• But the Buchanans didn’t just fight the British. In the 15th century, they were in many skirmishes with other clans. Particularly the MacLarens and Mackenzies. It is said that, more often than not, the Buchanans initiated these fights, battles, and sometimes executions.
• The clan, as a whole, didn’t participate in any of the Jacobite uprisings. However, there were several members of the clan that actively supported the Stuart cause in 1745/46.
• They have a rich history and numerous active members in dozens of national and international organizations that promote their particular history. If you’re a part of this clan, I suggest doing some looking into it!

The Dalrymple Clan

• Clan Motto: Firm

• This lowland armigerous Scottish clan is so small, most describe it as just a family, but it is recognized as a registered clan.
• Most of history only remembers the Dalrymple name due to the act of one man, the Lord Advocate John Dalrymple. in 1603 the Union of the Crown, where King James VI took charge of both England and Scotland. However, many clans still favored the Stewart blood line and that caused years of unrest. In 1691 King William III planned to pardon all the clans, if they pledged their allegiance to him by January 1, 1692. Some clans waited for the deposed Stewart king to give his permission before making the pledge and the MacDonalds of Glencoe ended up missing the deadline. While King William wasn’t too stressed, John Dalrymple wasn’t one to wait, although he himself was Scottish. He sent troops of redcoats to the Glencoe lands, where they pretended to want hospitality. Then they slaughtered a large number of unsuspecting MacDonald men, burned their homes, and caused the death of many women and children.

Clan Brodie

• Clan Motto: Unite

• No one quite knows where Clan Brodie came from, but it is widely accepted that they descended from the ancient Picts. The name is so old, it’s still under debate where the name comes from, what it may mean, and even what language it originated from.
• They were allies of Clan Mackenzie and they were staunch supporters of the Scottish crown. The English saw the Brodies as such a threat, Oliver Cromwell actively tried bribing and wooing Lord Bordie of Brodie to join their fight. But in 1650, Brodie told Oliver where to stick it and joined a party to fetch Scottish King Charlies II back to his throne.
• In the mid 1600s, one chief, Alexander, was a real witch hater. At least two are on record as having been burned executed on his order.
• Their traditional seat, Brodie Castle, was pillaged and overrun several times throughout history, but it has since been rebuilt…and it’s amazing. You can even get married there!

Clan Lamot

• Clan Motto: Ne Parcas nec Spernas – Neither despise nor fear

• This clan is super ancient and hails from the old Irish prince Ánrothán Ua Néill, who lived in the 500s.
• During the Wars of Scottish Independence, the Lamonts supported the MacDougall’s claim to the throne against Robert the Bruce. At the time, they ruled a large piece of land in the highlands. But after Robert won the war, he punished the Lamonts and gave parts of their lands to the Campbells. If that wasn’t bad enough for the clan, in 1646 the Campbells decided they wanted more and took a good portion, forcing the Lamonts into a tiny corner.
• Because the Campbells had the Lamonts boxed in and cut off from the world, they did not participate in any of the Jacobite rebellions, which ended up being a blessing in disguise, since they were spared afterward.

Clan Cunningham

• Clan Motto: Over fork over

• This is an old name, first being noted in the 6th century as “Canowan” but it was changed to the modern Cunningham in 1059. They gained most of their lands through grants from Scottish kings by fighting off Norse invaders.
• They also supported the English claim to Scotland until Robert the Bruce came along and wooed them over his side. However, that didn’t last long, as by the time of the Wars of Scottish Independence, they were were back on the side of the British. They were even involved in the later Battle of Culloden. Captain Cunningham’s Company shot Grapshot at the Jacobites.

Clan McIntyre

• Clan Motto: Per ardua – Through adversity
• Clan War Cry: Cruachan! (the name of a mountain in their lands)

• They get their name from a trade, as do many, and theirs means. It comes from the Gaelic  “Mac an t-Saoir”, which means “son of the carpenter”. It’s said that the McIntyres are descended from a man named Maurice MacNeil, a carpenter and shipwright who saved the ship, and life, of the King of the Isles (the Hebrides and the Isle of Man) Olaf the Red during a raid on the Isle of Skye. Fun, right?
• This clan was known for being great bagpipers and foresters. They often joined the MacDonalds, Menzies, and Campbells in battle as their official pipers and enjoyed a very close relationship to the Campbells throughout their history.
• When the Jacobite Rebellion of 1745 came, the McIntryes were asked to not participate by their allies the Campbells. So, as an official body, they didn’t fight for either side. However, a large enough number joined the Stewart cause that they caught the attention of historians and generally being Jacobites.

The Irvine Clan

• Clan Motto: Sub sole sub umbra virens- Flourishing in sunlight and shade

• This clan comes from the High Kings of Ireland and gets their name from the Irvine lands. They really began to rise in rank and power after really helped their neighbors, Clan Bruce, put Robert on the throne. Good call for them, since they began raking in the land. I mean, at one point, William Irvine followed Robert into hiding, literally hiding in bushes from the soldiers searching for the Scottish throne claimant. And Robert the Bruce isn’t one to forget a friend, so he even gave the Irvines the clan badge with three holly bushes to remember all the good times they had together.
• They were basically always on the side of the Scottish crown in all wars. They even helped ransom King James I from the English and participated heavily in the Battle of Culloden as Jacobites.
• If there was one thing the Irvines hated more than a British guy coming in and telling them what to do, it was a member of Clan Keith. The two clans were constantly warring with each other, even when a Scottish king would tell them to knock off the fighting or he was turning the country around and no one would get dessert. You know when they did finally declare an official end to their feud? 2002. Only, like, 600 years since they first decided they hated each other. Talk about commitment.
• Their family seat, Castle Drum, is beautiful, and also available for special events!

Clan Munro

• Clan Motto: Dread God
• Clan War Cry: Caisteal Folais ‘na Theine! – Castle Foulis in Flames! (Castle Floulis is their family home)

ancient

modern

• The Munros are of Irish stock, hailing from a line of Irish chiefs in the 1000s. Their name translates into something akin to “Man from Ro”, referring to an area in Ireland surrounding the River Roe. They got their lands from the Scottish king for their victory against Norse invaders. That began their close relationship to the crown.
• They were also known as a war clan, almost always participating in battles. This military way of living made them formidable enemies and often ensured they were on the winning side. Along with the Frasers, they even helped Mary Queen of Scots take Inverness Castle, which was thought to be impossible.
• But the Munros weren’t Jacobites. in 1715, they fought for the British, which pissed the Jacobite Mackenzies off. The Mackenzies invaded the Munro lands, who then invaded their in retaliation. in the 1745 rebellion, the highlands generally hoped the Munros would join the Jacobite cause, but they stayed with the English.
• Shout out to Hugh Munro, the bringer of dragonflies in amber and super spy extraordinaire!

Clan Colville

• Clan Motto: Oblier ne puis – I cannot forget

• The Colvilles come from ancient Norman stock, hailing from the Colville lands in Normandy. In the 1170s, a Colville was granted some land in the southern area of Scotland by William the Lion, who was then the king of Scotland.
• They were a small clan that followed nobles, no matter the crown. They can be seen through history serving both the Scottish and British kings. But they usually placed their allegiance to the British crown, and retained their titles and lands because of it.

Clan Turnbull

• Clan Motto: I saved the king

• This clan has a fun name origin story. One tale says that during the Scottish Wars of Independence, Robert the Bruce was being charged at by a giant bull. Well, this guy named William wasn’t having any of it, and tackled the beast to the ground, saving his king. He turned the bull around. Get it?
• The Turnbulls kept up their namesake, as they were always ready to fight. It’s said that a man from another clan went to the Turnbulls on behalf of his chief, to ask for their support for the chief’s claim to the throne of Scotland. The Turnbulls apparent answered something like, “we don’t give a flying haggis what you politicians do, we just wanna get out there and smash some skulls!” These brass balls stayed throughout the centuries, as one modern member of the clan, James Turnbull, held the German’s at bay for 24 hours with only a machine gun during WWI.

The Paterson Clan

• Clan Motto: Huc Tendimus Omnes – We all strive for this

• This armigerous lowland clan gets it’s name from the Gaelic “MacGille Phadraig”, which means “son of the devotee of Saint Patrick”.
• The Patersons are mega small, in the historical sense, but it’s one of the most common names in the lowlands in Scotland. Some even consider them to be a sept of the MacLarens.

Clan Davidson

• Clan Motto: Sapienter si sincere – Wisely if sincerely

• There are many stories of where this clan came from, but they all point to Clan Davidson being among the oldest in Scotland. But it’s generally believed that they are descendents of Gillichattan Mor, who was the first chief of the Chattan Confederation.
• They were a strong fighting clan until 1370 when Clan Cameron virtually wiped them out. But their numbers rose and by the time the Jacobite Rebellions came into play, the Davidsons fought for Scotland. In the end, a great number of them were banished to the North American colonies, where they settled mainly in the mountains of North Carolina.

Names asked for, but not included: Wilson (sepf of Clan Gunn), Achmoody (not a clan, but a last name), Mollahan (not a Scottish clan, but an Irish last name), Jeffrey (sept of Clan Donald), Harbinson (Scottish or Irish last name), Maynor (a Norman/English name with Germanic roots), Irwin (sept of Clan Irvine-see above), and McCracken (sept of Clan MacNaughton).

TKeep coming back every weekend to see what Scottish histories and Outlander articles and quizzes we have for you. Check out all the past Outlander Saturday posts here!

Finally, do you want to treat yourself and love FREE shipping? Check out our review of several bath and body products by Bellissima Bain here and see what super cheap and amazing products the lovely owner has for you. Arlene, the owner, is currently battling breast cancer, yet still pursues her passions. Nothing more inspirational than that♥

Sarah and I both have books out now, so if you like our posts, you’ll probably love our books! First Semester is a thrilling college romance that you can get HERE. Queen of Emeralds is a historic romance set in the highlands that you can get HERE.

An Outlandish Clan History Part5

Wow, you guys! I knew we got a ton of readers, but I had no idea so many of you had Scottish roots and it warms the cockles of my historically based soul to see people so interested.  What started out as just a little article has turned into a mini genealogy search, but I like to keep my historical research skills sharp, so it’s all in good fun. You can go back and read part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4 to see what other clans I’ve brought up. If you don’t see your clan and would like to learn more, maybe I’ll do a part 6, so let me know in the comments!

Clan Donald/MacDonald

• Clan Motto: per mare per terras- by sea and by land
• Alternative Clan Motto: fraoch eilean- the heathery isle

Ancient

Modern

Weathered

There’s a lot to learn about Clan Donald, so if you’re a member, you might want to dig about! Until then, here are just a few little tidbits…

• The Donalds were one of the larger Highland clans and even have clan connections in Ireland. They are also cousins, of sort, with the MacDougal clan, as their founders came from the same Norse family.
• They originated from the Norse leader Domhnall mac Ragnail and kept allegiance with the Norwegian kings for more than two hundred years until Haakon IV of Norway was defeated by Alexander III, who then became king of Scotland.
• Clan Donald was such a strong supporter of Robert the Bruce, once he became king, he proclaimed that the clan would always hold the right wing of his army in battle, a testament to his faith in their loyalty.
• At the end of the 1400s and the beginning of the 1500s, the Donalds lost the title of Earl Ross, which they had held for a few hundred years, meaning they lost their political holding as Lord of the Isles. In a bid to regain the position, chief Domhnall Dubh formed an alliance with King Edward VI of England against James VI of Scotland. While they didn’t get the titles back that they asked for, Edward began giving parts of the clan smaller titles, which kept them separated and lessened their threat to the British Crown.
• During the Jacobite uprising, many Donalds fought at Culloden. But when they saw the carnage and began losing many members, they fled, saving their numbers.

The Mackinnon Clan

• Clan Motto: Audentes Fortuna Juvat- Fortune Favors the Bold

modern

ancient

• This Highland clan had control of many of the Hebride Islands and descended from Alpín mac Echdach, the king of Dál Riata, although historical archives point them having branched off from Clan Gregor. Their name comes from the Gaelic “Mac Fhionghuin”, which means “fair born”.
• During the Jacobite rebellion, the Mackinnons threw their whole support behind Bonny Prince Charlie. But, after it failed, things went downhill for the small clan. They lost all of their ancestral land that was gifted to them by Robert the Bruce.
• And although the clan was small in size, their level of sass was out of this world! After the failed Jacobite rebellion, the chief of the Mackinnons was taken to England and put on trial. But, because he was so old, they freed him and sent him back to Scotland. As he was getting read to leave court, the English Judge asked him, “If the King were in your power, as you have been in his, what would you have done to him?” The chief replied, “I would do to him, as he has this day done to me; I would send him back to his own country.”

Clan MacDuff

• Clan Motto: Deus Juvat- God Assists

modern

hunting

• The MacDuffs originated from the royals of the Picts and the early chiefs were the Earls of Fife. The MacDuffs of Fife were considered the most powerful family in the middle ages, and even though they lost the title of Earl of Fife to the Stewarts in the late 1300s, it didn’t stop them from continuing to gain power.
• This Lowland clan does not currently have a chief, although the direct line hasn’t died off.

Clan Moffat

• Clan Motto: Spero Meliora- I hope for better things

• This clan is so old, it’s difficult to place exactly where they came from. It is thought their name is of Norse origins, but they were definitely around by the time William Wallace was fighting for independence. by the 12th century, they owned large swaths of land and were considered minor nobles.
• As most border clans, the Moffats were constantly fighting with other families, especially the Johnstones. in 1557 the Johnstones murdered the Moffat’s chief and then burned numerous other clan members alive after trapping them in a building. that was the end of the Moffat chiefs until 1983.
• Their clan tartan is rather new, created in 1983 when the chiefdom was reestablished. It’s heavily based on that of Clan Douglas.

Clan Gunn

• Clan Motto: Aut pax aut bellum- Either peace or war

ancient

modern

weathered

• Their name is among the oldest, coming from a Norse Jarl of Orkney named Gunni in the 1100s, whose wife had inherited the Jarldom of Orkney from her brother. Gunnis’ name meant “war”and he descended from Viking adventurers. Quite the interesting lineage if you’re a Gunn.
• Their biggest enemies were Clan Keith and were constantly as war with them. in the 1400s it is said that a member of Clan Keith was in love with the daughter of the Chief of Clan Gunn and kidnapped her to stop her from marrying another man, shortly before her wedding. The girl didn’t return his affection and threw herself off a tower. Obviously, the Gunns were pissed and retaliated, but failed. The two of them finally came to a truce, but when they were supposed to meet in an act of goodwill, the Keiths decided to ambush them. But the Gunns got the last laugh when they killed the Chief of the Keiths and his son.
• They participated in the Jacobite rebellion, but on the side of the British.
• Bonus: I’m not 100% sure if Timothy Mackenzie Gunn is Scottish, but his name makes me think he hails from the clan!

Clan Macqueen

• Clan Motto: Constant and Faithful

• This Highland bunch are an Armigerous clan and members of Clan Chattan. They claim relations with Clan Donald and often sided with them in small clan disputes. Another large part of the clan carried the last name MacSween.
• They did not participate in the Jacobite rebellion, but still ended up migrating into Ireland, and more notably Australia, beginning in the 1600s.

Clan Kerr

• Clan Motto: Sero sed serio- Late, but in earnest

ancient

modern

hunting

• The Kerrs were a border clan who has roots in ancient Norway, where they got their name. It comes from the Norse “kjarr” which means “marsh dweller”. It’s also origionally pronounced like “care” but when the mass migration to England and the Americas happened, the pronunciation turned into the modern “car”.
• The two largest sections of the clan, the Kerrs of Ferniehurst and the Kerrs of Cessford fought with each other a lot for supremacy, but came together in their feud against Clan Scott. When a Kerr was accidentally killed in the 1520s by the Scotts, who were trying to free King James from Clan Douglas, they waited for their revenge. They knew that the band had been lead by Walter Scott, and waited until 1552 to kill him. Looks like they take their motto to heart!
• Here’s a particularly fun fact, the Kerrs were known for being left handed. So much so, that their castles were often designed to suit left handed people. If you’re a Kerr, are you left handed?
• Let’s look at our favorite left handed guy!

You read my mind, Fraser

The Farquharson Clan

Clan Motto: Fide et Fortitudine – By Faith and Fortitude

clan

modern

• They were members of the Chattan Confederation and originated from the son of a Clan Shaw chief, named Farquhar.
• By the end of the 1500s, they were gaining power and took on the nickname, the “Fighting Farquharsons”. They overtook many castles and no one dared oppose them for fear of retribution.
• They supported the Stuarts 100% during the Jacobite rebellion and offered the large number of 500 men to the cause. They helped the Jacobites win many battles, but ultimately they couldn’t win the war. The Farquarson wife of the Mackintosh Chief even helped save Prince Charles Stuart’s life, earning her jail time after Culloden.

Clan Boyd

• Clan Motto: Confido- I trust

• They may be from Norman stock, as their name isn’t a traditional one, but more based on location. One possibility is that they got their name form the Scottish “buidh” which means “fair” or “yellow”. Or it could be a nod to the Isle of Bute.
• They were strong supporters of Scottish independence and their ties to Robert the Bruce laid out their future as friends of the nobility. By the 1400s, one Boyd was young King James II’s regent, another his military tutor, and a third married the king’s sister. But they came too close to the crown and were ousted from power. But they regained their standing in the late 1500s when they put their support behind Mary Queen of Scots.
• They fought for the Jacobites and the chief was later beheaded in London. His son then took the name Hay in order to try and retake the titles his dead father lost.
• Their ancestral castle, formerly Kilmarnock Castle, is now Dean Castle and hosted almost every Scottish royal since it’s building in the 1350s.

Clan Colquhoun

• Clan Motto: Si Je Puis – I will if I can

modern

ancient

• Colquhoun was a the name of a piece of land that was passed to Umphredus de Kilpatrick by Scottish King Alexander II.
• They were a small, but noble family that expanded into what we know as a clan. Their strong ties to the royal family kept them close to all fights between the larger clans, but out of harm’s way. But, they were still very vulnerable to to attack, as they were more strategic people and less physical. This lead to them being slaughtered in large numbers by Clan MacGregor, who as we said before, got a bit rowdy at times.

The Swinton Clan

• Clan Motto: J’espere, Je Pense- I Hope, I Think
  • There is no formally registered Swinton tartan, but some like this tartan and hold it as the Swinton plaid.

• This Lowland clan came from Northumbrian stock and was probably named for the village of Swinewood in the 1130s, but a more romanticized version has it getting their name for their bravery in clearing the area of wild boars.
• One member, John Swinton, is seen as the possible founder of the Quakers in the 1660s. Actress Tilda Swinton is also a member of this family and she can trace her lineage through the Swinton line, back into the middle ages!

Clan MacLellan

• Clan Motto: Think On

Regular tartan #1

Regular tartan #2

Hunting tartan

• This Lowland clan is considered Armigerous, as it does not have a chief. They got their name from the Gaelic “MacGille Fholain”, which means “son of the servant of St Fillan”, who was a missionary of the early Celtic Church.
• They were allies of William Wallace and followed him into battle. From that time on, they were friends of the nobility and were frequently knighted. by the 1500’s, they were still rising in the peerage and were made titled lords and often seen at court. However, their closeness to the crown took a toll on their wealth. During the Scottish Civil War, their clan was almost bankrupt by their chief, who was a staunch royalist.
• The title of chief has been dormant since 1832, so if you’re of the clan and think you have a shot, go for gold and see if you could claim it!
• Bonus: Here’s a pic of the Maclellan’s castle, which was built in the mid-late 1500s.

Clan Home

• Clan Motto: A Home! A Home! A Home!
• Alternative Clan Motto: True to the End

• The Home, or Hume as they are sometimes called, hail from the ancient earls of Northumbria that settled in a lard called “Home”, in the lower areas of Scotland.
• They were a particularly powerful border clan, partly owing to their wealth and ties to the nobility. By the 1400s, some members were even made Lords of Parliament and the Great Chamberlain of Scotland. But their noble ties and location near the border had a downside, as they were often on the front lines against the English. But even when the English would overtake their lands, the Homes would rally up and push them out like it ain’t no thang.
• The English seriously hated Clan Home. The Homes were always by the side of the Scottish kings and kicking English troops off Scottish land. So when Oliver Cromwell finally took some Home lands, and Hume Castle, he garrisoned troops there. (Pictured below). But Hume Castle’s history is really interesting. Built in the 12th century, it was the beacon of the south, responsible for overseeing the border and warning other clans about any English invasions. A fire would be lit in a tall tower, signaling it was time for battle. This was resurrected in the Napoleonic Wars.
• But when the Jacobite rebellion came to pass, the Home’s swapped sides and fought with the British. But, in the long run, it was good for the clan. They continued to hold power and even present day Home/Humes are very respected. Think Alec Douglas-Home, the former PM of the UK!
• One more tiny fun fact: in 1513, during the Battle of Flodden, the Home leader was rallying the troops by calling, “A Home! A Home!”. But as many under his charge weren’t Homes, they thought he was telling them to go home, so they did. Oops.

Clan Hamilton

• Clan Motto: Through

• The clan’s chiefs come from the noble Gilberts of Hameldone, appearing around the last 1200s, when Walter Fitz Gilbert was awarded the land, among others, due to his support of Robert the Bruce. This began their rise to power, alongside the Scottish royals.
• By the 1400s, they were tightly entwined with the Scottish royal family, as Lord John Hamilton married King James III’s daughter, Mary, adding more titles and land to their clan.This notoriety of being mixed with noble stock kept them largely out of normal clan disputes.
• But by the mid 1600’s, the chiefdom was in debt and the lineage so noble, there were fights over who would hold the coveted title. This weakened the clan and they began to drift apart.

Clan MacDowall

• Clan Motto: Vincere Vel Mori- To conquer or die

• They hail from Galloway and are of the earliest Scots clans in written history, their lineage being noted in the mid 8th century, but being mentioned as early as the 200s as being members of the noble house of Galloway. Bu the 1200s,  the name “M’douall” had appeared, which the modern MacDowall has hailed from.
• There is a large MacDowall number in Ireland, due to the English sending poor Scots to settle there and cultivate the land in the early 1700s.
• Through some smart marriages, this large, but mostly peaceful, clan has stayed largely out of the battles the clans are known from.

Names asked for, but not included in this list, which is focused on Scottish clans: Kirk (sept of Clan Maxwell), Paterson (sept of the Clan MacLaren and Clan Farquharson), Jack (not a clan, nor a recognized sept, but a last name), Byers (sept of Clan Lindsay), Day (derived from the Irish O’Dea), Fisher (not a clan, nor a recognized sept, but a last name) Tinley (not a clan, nor a recognized sept, but a last name), Alexander (sept of Clan Donald).

But if you’d like to know a bit about your last name, let me know and I’ll tell you a few fun facts! Also, keep an eye our for part 6, since I still have many more names to go, and let me know if your clan hasn’t been mentioned in any of these Outlandish Clan History posts, and I’ll see what I can do!

Sarah and I both have books out now, so if you like our posts, you’ll probably love our books! First Semester is a thrilling college romance that you can get HERE. Queen of Emeralds is a historic romance set in the highlands that you can get HERE.

An Outlandish Clan History Part4

Are you all caught up on the other three clan posts? Just in case, read Part 1 here, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here! While these might not be the biggest clans, they’re your clans, each one sent to me through this blog, or your Facebook comments. Let’s dive right in and learn a little about Scottish clan history.

Clan MacLea/Livingstone

• Clan Motto: Cnoc Aingeil- Hill of Fire
• Alternative Clan Motto: Ni mi e ma’s urrain dhomh- I shall do it if I can

Livingstone/MacLay tartan (old)

Modern Livingstone tartan

• Livingstone is the anglicized version of MacLea and came from an area of Scotland.
• The chief of the MacLea clan has been traditionally called the heir of Siant Moluag. Saint Moluag was a Scottish missionary who is credited with evangelizing to the Picts and may have been the first patron saint of Scotland. He is still the parton saint of Argyll.
• They weren’t so awesome when it came to battles. They lost almost every one they participated in, usually with heavy losses that decimated their population. Their inability to hold land and numbers for a prolonged period of time may be why they were not officially recognized as a clan until 2003.

Clan MacLaren

• Clan Motto: Creag an tuirc- The boar’s rock

Ancient

Modern

Hunting

• They are said to be descended from the Fergud MacErc, the founder of the Dál Riate kingdom. Even if they weren’t, they still hold strong ties to the royal families of Scotland.
• When the MacGregors and Campbells were driven from their lands in the 1500s, they settled in MacLaren lands. When the MacGregors began plundering MacLaren villages, the MacLarens asked the Campbells for help, as they continued to have a large number, but the Campbells refused unless the MacLarens pledged fealty to them.
• They were very active in the Jacobite uprising of 1745, losing a large number as a result. They also fought at the infamous Battle of Culloden.

Kirkpatrick

• Clan Motto: I make sure
  • They do not have a registered, nor an adopted tartan.
• They are an armigerous Lowland clan, although the term is meant to be used loosely as they have never been recognized, and their name has been interchanged with Kilpatrick throughout history. They have also been septs of the Douglas and Colquhoun and they got their name from Saint Patrick.
• Roger Kirkpatrick, the cousin of William Wallace and the cousin and attendant of Robert the Bruce. He saved Bruce several times and is credited for leading his men to overtake several castles from the English. After Bruce was crowned, he gifted the crest and motto to Kirkpatrick, which has since been adopted by the clan.

Clan MacInnes

• Clan Motto: Ghift dhe agus an righ- By the grace of God and King

Regular

Hunting

Dress

• MacMaster is a variant, as are dozens of other names, and were one of the first clans to settle in Scotland from Ireland. It is possible that these small sects fell under the Macinnes protection and were then adopted.
• They were accomplished seamen, but moved off of the western coast towards Argyll when the viking raiders became too much for them to handle. Still, they could not escape the vikings and formed an alliance with other small clans known as “Siol Gillebride”,  or the “Seed of the Servant of St. Bride”, under the leadership of a Celtic-Norse warrior named Somerled.
• The last chief dies in the 14th century and in the 16th, the remaining members of the clan moved the Sleat in the Isle of Skye. They were adopted loosely into some larger clans, such as the Campbells and Mackinnons, and fought on both sides during the Jacobite uprising.

Clan Maxwell

• Clan Motto: Reviresco- I grow strong again

• Maxwell is another Lowland armigerous clan without a chief.
• The name comes from “Maccus well”, a poor part of the River Tweed and an old Norse king Maccus.
• The Lord John Maxwell was very Catholic and participated in the attempts to restore Mary Queen of Scots to the throne. It didn’t go well, but even after Mary was executed, John petitioned Spain for help in restoring Catholicism in Scotland…that didn’t go well either.
• One of the last Maxwell Lords, William, was a proud Jacobite supporter. After he was captured in battle and imprisoned in the Tower of London, he escaped in such a move way. His wife dressed him up as a servant woman and they just walked right out of there and into Rome like a boss.

Actual historical footage of William’s escape

The Malcolm/MacCallum Clan

Clan Motto: In Ardua Tendit- He aims at difficult things

• The MacCallums were a separate clan until the 18th century when the MacCallum chief inherited the Malcolm estate, uniting the clans. MacCallum comes from the Gaelic “Mac Ghille Chaluim”, which means, “son of the disciple of Columba”.
• The clan largely stayed out of large wars and battles, only participating in small skirmishes between clans.
• Book readers will recognize a variant of this name 😉 BTW here’s a gif of our fav man with Malcolm in his name…

yes, please

The Hay Clan

• Clan Motto: Serva Jugum- Keep the Yoke
• War Cry: A Hay! A Hay!

Dress

Regular

• The Hay clan came from Normandy, with the original name of Haye. They settles throughout Scotland.
• They were staunch Catholics and fought Protestant rule throughout history, constantly trying to overthrow Queen Elizabeth with Spain’s help and even trying to convert King Edward I. There were even Hays involved in the Hundred Year’s War under Joan of Arc.
• They supported the Jacobites in both rebellions, but became loyal British citizens when they failed.

Clan Rose

• Clan Motto: Constant and True

modern

ancient hunting

modern hunting

modern dress

• Unrelated to Clan Ross, they came from the de Bisset and the de Bosco families of Ros Normandy.
• They were very politically savvy. They expanded their lands through good marriages and royal favor. They were very close to Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots. It’s said that her own son, King James VI, thought of Hugh Rose, the chief, as a father. But the clan was split during the Jacobite rebellions. Since many of them supported the British, they didn’t have many issues after the rebellion ended.
• Kilravock castle housed the chiefs of Clan Rose from the 13th century until 2012, when it was gifted to a Christian group.

Clan MacQuarrie

• Clan Motto: An T-arm Breac Dearg- The Red Tartaned Army (Also used as a war cry)
• Clan Motto #2: Turris fortis mihi Deus- God is to me a tower of strength

• They are one of the oldest of the Highland clans and are descended from both the kings of the Picts and the Dál Riata. In fact, they can be traced back to Kenneth MacAlpine, who was the first King of Scotland.
• They owned many islands in the Scottish Hebrides and had powerful allies in Clan MacLean.
• Since they don’t have an active chief, and haven’t since the 1700s, they’re technically an armigerous clan. The last chief had crazy debts and sold off a bunch of clan lands, then joined the British army. So if you’re a part of this clan and want to do some digging, see if you’re in the line and can prove a direct link back to a former chief. This Clan is too interesting to let go on without a chief.
• BTW here’s a pic of Taran MacQuarrie, the leader of the Watch, who was hanged at Wentworth Prison. He wasn’t in the books, but was created for the TV series.

The Erskine Clan

• Clan Motto: Decori decus addit avito- He adds honour to that of his ancestors

• They got their name from an area called Erskine, which may mean “green rising ground” in ancient British.
• They were very politically influential. Great supporters of the Bruce clan, they intermarried, gained great favor, and many Erskkine leaders were given political power within the cabinet when Robert the Bruce was named king. They also had a great hand in putting Robert II, Robert the Bruce’s grandson, on the Scottish throne. That means they basically created the Stewart line of succession.
• John Erskine, the leader of the clan during the Jacobite rebellion was known for changing his alliances like the wind, to keep his clan in favor of the winning side. At one point, he went to London, where he felt slighted by the English king. So John was all all “F*ck them!” and went home and immediately raised an army for the Jacobites.
• It’s said that John Erskine now haunts Culross Palace, an old holding of his BFF the Bruce Clan. The palace, and the surrounding area, was used for shooting locations for Outlander. This includes Geillis’s parlor, the village of Crainsmure, and the herb garden the two time traveling women meet.

inside the palace

the exterior (which was repainted grey and white for filming)

The Hunter Clan

• Clan Motto: Cursum Pericio- I have completed the course

• The Hunters are of viking stock. They came with Rollo to Paris in 896 and stayed on in the area, following the powerful nobles of Normandy, but went to Scotland with King David I in the 1100s, where they finally settled.
• The Hunters were largely gifted their land and didn’t participate in cattle raiding and the usual clan skirmishes. They were appointed the keepers of the royal forest, and this duty kept them fairly busy. They also didn’t participate in larger battles and many of their leaders ended up well educated.
• Hunterston Castle has been the clan’s seat for over 800 years. Finally, a clan that holds on to their castles!

Clan MacEwen/Ewen

• Clan Motto: Reviresco- I grow strong again

• There are five MacEwen septs and two of them are under Campbell and MacDougall leadership. Their tartan is even very similar to that of Clan Campbell.
• Because they were so divided, the clan was chiefless for a number of years, making it an armigerous clan. But a chief was selected in 2016, the first since 1493, so that may change in the near future.

Names asked for, but lacking strong Scottish clan presences outside of being a sept: Wotherspoon, Miller, McHugh (Irish clan), Brennen (Irish Clan), McMahon (Irish Clan), McCole (mainly Irish), Harvey (members of Clan Keith), McCracken (sept of the Macnaghten), Mackie, Gates, Nichols (sometimes associated with Clan MacLeod), Aitken, and Oliver…all awesome names! If your name was one of those listed, and you’d like to privately discuss your name and get some history, let me know and I’ll be sure to tell you what I have!

That’s all for today, and my list! If there’s enough interest, I’ll do another post, so don’t be afraid to post your clan name in the comments for me to review. And read all of our Outlander posts here!

Sarah and I both have books out now, so if you like our posts, you’ll probably love our books! First Semester is a thrilling college romance that you can get HERE. Queen of Emeralds is a historic romance set in the highlands that you can get HERE.

An Outlandish Clan History Part3

And the list goes on! I only thought there would be one post, but more and more people kept asking about their own clan and potential family history. You can see part one here and part two here, to see if your clan had been included before this. There was so much interest, a part four is also in the works, so if your clan wasn’t included here, let us know in the comments and I’ll add it in!

Clan Graham

• Motto: Ne Oublie- Do Not Forget

Let’s read a little bit about the Grahams!

• The Grahams originated, supposedly, from a single man named Greme, who broke through the Antonine Wall, helping to drive the Romans out of early Scotland.
• The Grahams were close with the Wallace clan and a certain man named Sir John de Graham was literally BFFs with William Wallace, himself and if known as one of the heroes of the Wars of Scottish Independence.
• The Grahams didn’t participate in the Jacobite uprising, staying decidedly neutral in the matter.
• Love the kilt? Then thank James Graham, who was instrumental in getting Parliament in repealing the Dress Act of 1746, which made it illegal for anyone to wear any form of Highland dress.

James Graham did the Lord’s work.

 

The Morrison Clan

• Clan Motto: Teaghlach Phabbay- Family of Pabbay (the name of a castle)

This is actually a varient of a MacKay tartan

This is most likely the actual Morrison tartan

Here are a few things to know about the Morrisons:

• The clan descends from the Normans and received their name form the regular, family, last name of Morris, or Maurice in France and Normandy. However, their lineage has been notoriously difficult to trace.
• There were many small small clans with the name Morrison throughout Scotland that weren’t related, and they only unified under one chief in 1965. That made it very hard to create one clan history, as many other, more unified, clans have.
• They were generally a peaceful people, but were often involved in feuds with the more aggressive Macaulay clan, who was always off stealing the Morrison cattle.

Bell Clan

• Clan Motto: Signum Pacts Amor- Love is the token of peace

Bell of the Border tartan

Bell South tartan

The history of the Bells is difficult to place and map, and they’re not the size of the larger clans, but are known as a “Armigerous clan”, one that has no chief and is not recognized by any Scottish law. Still, let’s see what we can find about them…

• They most likely originated from France, their name meaning “beautiful”.
• The Bells were first noted as supporters of the Clan Douglas, a larger and more powerful clan. But when the Douglases fell from power, the Bells struck out on their own.
• The last Bell chief died in 1628, leaving the clan without leadership. It lapsed and no one took up the title until the 1990’s, but it still chiefless. A fun fact about the last chief is that he was named William “Redcloak” Bell because he took an opposing leader’s cloak in battle and sometimes wore it around as big “F you”.

Clan MacThomas

• Clan Motto: Deo juvante invidiam superabo- God help overcome envy

Let’s get a little history lesson!

• They originated in the 15th century from Thomas Macintosh, who was grandson of the chief of the Macintosh clan. At that time, Clan Chattan, which we talked about in Part Two, was so large, Thomas decided to strike out on his own.
• Numerous names are encompassed under the MacThomas name, such as MacCombe, Thomas, and Combie. Even the MacThomas chiefs weren’t always a “MacThomas”. For example, one chief, John McComie, was a total badas*. He once killed a man for being rude to his wife. And another time, he runs off a group of tax collectors that are harassing a poor widow. Also, he is said to have loved wrestling bulls and even fought his own son to make sure he wasn’t raising a wimp.

Clan Anderson

• Clan Motto: Stand Sure

• This is another Armigerous clan, and is a sept of the Macintosh, as well as members of the Clan Chattan.
• They took their name from Saint Andrew, the parton saint of Scotland. Anderson means “Sons of Andrew”. The name MacAndrew is also covered under the Anderson name.
• The Andersons are also closely associated with Clan Ross. Because of this, the Anderson history was pretty much sucked up by the this larger clans.

The Cameron Clan

• Old Clan Motto: Mo Righ ‘s Mo Dhuchaich- For King and Country
• Current Clan Motto: Aonaibh Ri Chéile- Let Us Unite
• Clan War Cry: Chlanna nan con thigibh a so’s gheibh sibh feoil- Sons Of The Hounds, Come Hither And Get Flesh (Giving me Game of Thrones flashbacks. Anyone else?)

general use tartan

hunting tartan

• No one knows 100% where the Camerons came from. But it’s widely thought that they descended from a Danish prince, who was nicknamed “cam-shròn”, which is Gaelic for “Crooked Nose”. BTW, it’s been shown that a ton of Scots from Northern Scotland carry Viking blood in their veins.
• Their main enemies were the Chattan clan and the Mackintosh. This was mainly over land disputes, as each group was large and kept trying to gain more territories.
• The Camerons were instrumental in the Jacobite uprising. Their chief was great friends with Charles Stuart and the clan was on the front lines at the Battle of Culloden. But, since the uprising failed, the Camerons lost their lands to the government for several years, before being handed back in 1784.

Clan Broun/Clan Brown

• Clan Motto: Floreat Majestas- Let Majesty Flourish

• Broun, or Brown, is a very common name and probably refers to the colorings of the original Celts that made up a portion of their clan.
• There was one part of the clan, the Brouns of Colstoun, that were descended from the royal family of France. Because of this, they received favor from the Scottish nobles and enjoyed the benefits of intermarrying other royals.
• As a whole, they weren’t particularly active, as a clan, meaning they do not have a “pedigree” of sorts to widely trade. This is again highlighted by the fact that many Highlanders took on the name”Brown” when they were forced to abandon their own names. So, if you identify as a member of the Browns, you might actually be a from another clan, like the MacGregors!

Clan Kincaid

• Clan Motto: This I’ll Defend

• The name was more locational, then a reference to a particular person. But in the 12th century, when the Earl of Lennox was granted the Kincaid lands in the 12th century.
• A castle was added to their crest after they retook Edinburgh Castle from the English in 1692 and continued to maintain their seat at the castle as constable.
• A large portion of them stayed out of the usual raiding and battles that most of the clans participated in, focusing mainly on farming, after the failed Jacobite uprising of 1715.

The Mackay Clan

• Clan Motto: Manu Forti- With a Strong Hand

• They are descended from the Forbes and the Farguharson clans and the first chief was recorded in 1210. However, they maintained a strong relationship with the Forbes, strengthened by their mutual long-standing feud with clan Gordon.
• They were one of the most powerful clans for the better part of their existence, rarely going very long between battles. They even supported the royalists against the Jacobites. But their power and number all ended because of the Sutherlands…
  • The Mackay’s seat was north of the Sutherland lands and in the Highland clearances in the early 1800s, their lands were sold to the Countess of Sutherlands due to debts, and the people were forced off their lands to make room for sheep.

Clan Drummond

• Clan Motto: Gang Warily- This phrase means “Go Carefully”. It was said to members of the clan before departing and also meant as a warning against their enemies.
• Alternative Motto: Virtutem coronat honos- Honour crowns virtue

• They came from a Hungarian Prince named George, who was on the run from William the Conqueror. He took refuge with Scottish king Malcom III in the 1000s and married one of the king’s sisters.In fact, the Drummonds continues to marry into the royal family for generations, keeping them powerful and in royal favor.
• The name refers to the Scottish phrase “dromainn” which means a “ridge or high ground”. This is a nod to the place the Drummonds settled; Drymen in the highlands.
• This clan were firmly in support of Scottish independence from the beginning. They even were among the first in Scotland to use “caltrops”, a deadly spiked item that would be liberally spread in the lands to injure horses and men on foot during battle.
• They didn’t get on with Clan MacGregors all that well, as highlighted here…
• In 1589, some of the Drummonds captured some members of the MacGregors, who were caught poaching. The head of forestry in the lands, John Drummond,ordered their ears cut off. Well, that pissed the MacGregors off. so they rounded up some MacDonalds, kidnapped John, and cut off his head….but wait, there’s more! They went to John’s sister Maggie’s house with the head, gussied up like Thanksgiving turkey, and slapped it right on her kitchen table. Think that’s over? Not so fast. Maggie was super pregnant and upon seeing the bloody head of her brother set up like a roast, she freaked the hell out and gave birth to her son James in the forest. Well, I guess James Drummond Stewart grew up pretty pissed that the MacGregors poached on his family’s lands and took massive revenge on their punishment, driving his mom into insanity. Can you blame him? But he took the long con, rising through the ranks of the Scottish military, biding his time, until he saw his chance for revenge. When it came time for King James VI, who was super pissed at the MacGregors for always fighting against him, to ban the name, James Stewart finally got his chance to give the MacGregors the shaft and helped enforce the terms of the ban.
• Fun fact! Drummond Castle was used in the filming of Outlander season two as a placeholder for the gardens of Versailles!

The Mar/Marr Clan

• Clan Motto: Pans Plus- Think More

• They are also known as the Tribe of Mar, descending from the Mormear, the Earlship of Mar, which dominated an area ruled by the ancient Picts in Aberdeenshire.
• The Mars supported Robert the Bruce’s claim to the throne. In fact, Robert’s first wife was a Mar, and her brother married Bruce’s sister!
• They supported the Jacobites during the uprising, but their lands were later returned in 1824.

The MacMillan Clan

• Clan Motto: Miseris succerere disco-  learn to succour the unfortunate

old tartan

dress tartan

hunting tartan

Here are a few little fun facts:

• This clan originated from the Celtic church, whose early priests were allowed to marry, before the 1000s. They wore their hair in a specific style, as Saint John, who was called Mhaoil-Iain in Gaelic, was said to do. This made the clan MacMillan.
• They supported Robert the Bruce and even sheltered him while he was on the run. But their relationship wasn’t awesome with Robert’s son, David II, who ended up exiling from their lands in Loch Lay them due to their alliance with the Lord of the Isles. But it’s okay, because the Lord of the Isles gave them new lands.
• They weren’t particularly active in the Jacobite uprisings, with only random small groups participating on either side of the fray. On company of MacMillans from Tulloch actually surrendered to the English, after begin promised protection, and were send to the Caribbean to be sold as slaves.
• Fun Fact: Gwyllyn the Bard from Castle Leoch was placed by a man named Gillebrìde MacMillan

Clan Keith

• Clan Motto: Veritas Vincit- Truth Prevails (Also used as their War Cry)
• Alternative Motto #1:Quae amissa salva- What has been lost is safe
• Alternative Motto #2:Veritas vincit– Truth conquers

• The Name “Keith” comes from the Welsh word “coed”, meaning “wood”.
• A good deal of the Keith lands were acquired through advantageous marriages and royal favor. Marrying landed heiresses was somewhat of a hobby for the chiefs of the clan and their close relations.
• George Keith, 5th Earl of Marischal, is the one who hooked up King James VI of Scotland with Princess Anne of Denmark.

The Elliot Clan

• 
• Clan Motto: Fortiter et recte- Boldly and rightly

• A fire in their main castle in the 1700s destroyed all the clan records, making it relatively impossible to see where the Elliots actually came from. But the name was originally “Ellot, with the “i” being brought in the mid 1600s.
• Recent DNA testing of the Elliots showed that they are of Celtic-Brittonic origin and settled along the borders.

The Scott Clan

• Clan Motto: Amo- I love

• The Scotts may have come from Ireland, as the Latin “Scotti” was originally used as a name for the Celts.
• They were one of the, if not the top, most powerful border clans in Scotland during the 15th century, which came in handy since they were constantly at war with the Elliot and the Kerr clans. It also allowed them to hold a respected place in the eyes of the English. King Charles the II even married one of his illegitimate children to a Scott heiress, who took on the Scott name.
• Michael “The Wizard” Scot was a medieval philosopher and astronomer whose medical knowledge and ability to foresee the future made him a figure that commanded both respect and fear. He traveled Europe and the Middle East, teaching about his skills or at the courts of kings. It’s speculated that he also dabbled in black magic, but it’s uncertain, as is the date and way of his death…anyone else smell a possible time traveler??

 

That’s all the names I have room for today! You guys have been great at interacting on our social media pages, and it’s great how excited you all are to hear more about your clans! There is a part 4 in the works now, so if you didn’t see your name, dinna fash, just let us know what you’re looking for, and I’ll try tofit it in next time, or even do a part 5 if it comes to that! And, remember to read all out Outlander posts here!

Sarah and I both have books out now, so if you like our posts, you’ll probably love our books! First Semester is a thrilling college romance that you can get HERE. Queen of Emeralds is a historic romance set in the highlands that you can get HERE.

An Outlandish Clan History Part2

We received so much interest in our last clan history post, which you can read here, that we thought it was a good idea to do a second. This installment is made entirely of clans that you readers wanted to know more about! In fact, so many of our followers asked to learn more about their personal clans, a part 3 is currently in the works, so make sure to check back in!

Clan Armstrong

• Clan Motto: Invictus Maneo- I Remain Unvanquished

Let’s learn some fun clan facts!

• There hasn’t been an Armstrong chief since the clan was outlawed by the British in the 17th century, after decades of unrest between them.
• Neil Armstrong took a piece of the Armstrong tartan up to him when he went to the moon!
• The Armstrong clan was so wild with their raids and battles, it is said that in 1524 the Bishop of Glasgow cursed them. He said something like this…
  • “I curse their head and all the hairs of their head; I curse their face, their eyes, their mouth, their nose, their tongue, their teeth, their neck, their shoulders, their breast, their heart, their stomach, their back, their belly, their arms, their legs, their hands, their feet, and each and every part of their body, from the top of their head to the soles of their feet, before and behind…”
• Lord John Grey’s full name is John William Bertrand Armstrong Grey!

Clan Fergusson

• Clan Motto: Dulcius Ex Asperis- Sweeter After Difficulties
• War Cry: Clann Fhearghuis gu brath!- Clan Fergusson goes on forever!

• Here are some interesting things about this clan…
• They are widely known as “The Sons of Fergus”.
• They claim to be descended from Fergus Mór, the king of Dál Riata (an area that encompass parts of Scotland and Ireland. In turn, King Fergus claimed to be descended from King Arthur, the legendary British leader. So if you’re a Fergusson, there’s a chance you could be double royal!
• There aren’t any Fergussons in Outlander, but here’s a wee Fergus to tide you over!

Clan Donnachiadh/Clan Robertson

• Clan Motto: Virtutis Gloria Merces- Glory is the reward for valor
• War Cry: Garg ‘nuair dhùisgear!- Fierce when roused!

hunting tartan

modern tartan

Let’s learn a few fun things about this clan…

• One of the oldest clans, the Donnachiadhs took on the secondary name of Robertson when they were hearty supporters of Robert the Bruce, AKA King Robert I, in the 1300s.
• This clan is in possession of the Clach na Bratach, a sacred quartz stone that is said to have been pulled from the ground by their King Duncan in the 1300s on the eve of a battle. They say it has healing powers and has been carried into battle by every chief since.

Clan Ross

• Clan Motto: Spem suvvessus alit- Success nourishes hope

Here are a few things to know about this clan…

• In 1689, a hundred Ross men were sent to spy on the Mackenzies at Castle Leod to ensure there wasn’t any Jacobite uprisings in the works.
• Their traditional seat, Balnagowan Castle, is now owned by Mohammed Al-Fayed, former owner of the Harrod’s Department Store. If the name sounds familiar, it’s because his son Dodi was killed with Princess Diana in 1997. Thankfully, Al-Fayed is in the process of restoring it.

• Shout out to Ross!

Clan Gordon

• Clan Motto: Bydand- Steadfast
• Clan War Cry: A Gordon! A Gordon!

dress tartan

traditional tartan

Here are a few facts about the Gordon clan:

• They supported Robert the Bruce and William Wallace in the Scottish Wars of Independence.
• Clan Forbes were their bitter enemies and they spend decades killing each other. Like the Forbes once invited some Gordons to dine, only to murder them and then the Gordons turned right around and slaughtered a tower full of Forbes. It took two Acts of Parliament to get them to stop killing each other every other week.
• then chief of Clan Gordon is always known as the “Cock o’ the North”.
• And here’s Sir Fletcher Gordon, the governor of Wentworth Prison!

Clan MacNeil

• Clan Motto: Cuaidh No Bas- Victory or Death

Macneil of Barra tartan

MacNeil of Collonsay tartan

Let’s learn about the MacNeil Clan!

• They are said to be descendents of the Irish King Niall of the Nine Hostages, who lived in the 300s. In the legend of his birth, it’s said that his dad was such a d*ick, he forced Niall’s mom to do hard labor, hoping she would miscarry. When Niall was finally born, his mother abandoned him out of fear and he was brought up by a poet. He later returns to his rightful home and rescues his mom. When it comes time for his bio-dad to name his successor, he gives his sons, including Niall, different tasks. One was kissing a hideous monster. The other guys chickened out, but old Niall gave that nasty beast the time of her life and was rewarded by her turning into a beautiful maiden and giving him the fealty of the people for many generations.
• There is also a large number of MacNeil’s of African descent, more so than any other clan name. It came from the Scotch-Irish servants who served with them or the MacNeil slave masters. While there is no data showing exactly how many, a DNA test could prove to almost any MacNeil, regardless of race, if they had come from the historic MacNeil clan.

The Grant Clan

• Clan Motto: Craig Elachie- this was the name of the rallying point for the Grants. They would light signal fires at the bottom of Craig Elachie, also known as “The Rock of Alarm” to call the clan.
• Clan War Cry: Stand fast, stand sure!

New tartan

old tartan

Here are some fun things about the Grant clan!

• They most likely descended from Normans who came to Scotland with the British.
• During the 1600s, the Grants hid a number of MacGregor outlaws from the British crown, resulting in fines and threats.
• After the Battle of Culloden, eighty-four Grants were taken to Barbados and sold as slaves.
• Clan Grant was affected little by the great Highland clearance that affected many other clans. This is because their chief during that time cultivated a town called Granton-on-Spey that provided enough work to sustain the clan.

Clan Stewart

Clan Motto: Virescit Vulnere Vistus- Courage Grows Strong at a Wound

• The Stewarts originally came from Brittany, France, during the Norman conquest of England.
• During the Wars of Independence, they were originally sided with the British, then quickly turned to support Robert the Bruce.
• The Stewarts took the crown of Scotland when Walter Stewart married Robert the Bruce’s daughter, Marjorie. When Robert died, the crown passed to Water and Marjorie’s son, also named Robert. The Stewarts firmly held the crown until 1714.
• There are 21 sub-clans of Stewarts.
• Mary Queen of Scots and “Bonnie” Prince Charles Stuart descended from this line.
• Here are some lovely Charlie gifs…

The MacDougall Clan

• Clan Motto: Buaidh no bàs– Victory or Death

Let’s get a little historical up in here…

• They got their name from their first chief Dougall, who descends from the royals of Norway. In fact, one of his sons, was given the title “King of the Isles” by the King of Norway in the 1200s.
• The MacDougalls kept the vikings out of Scotland and even won the country the Hebrides from the Norse in the 1260s.
• The Bruces and MacDougalls hated each other, which made things pretty awkward during the Scottish Wars for Independence, when they both supported William Wallace and independence from England. The MacDougalls kept things chill until Robert the Bruce was crowned king, then they went wild and ambushed him, defeating the Bruces in battle and taking some rather expensive jewelry for their troubles. But Robert was like, “nah, f*uck this,”and overtook the MacDougals three years later. Robert gave all their lands to the Campbells, who have always been loyal to him.

Clan Shaw

Clan Motto: Fide et Fortitudine- By Fidelity and Fortitude

War Cry:Na Bean Ris A Chat! Touch not the cat! (Because even the Scots know that cats can be as*holes)

Clan Chattan tartan

Green Shaw

Red Shaw (most common)

• The history of how Clan Shaw came to be is fuzzy, and it seems to be as a result of a mixture of marriages, chiefs, and second sons wishing for power, but they’re greatly connected to the Macintosh clan.
• They are a part of Chattan Confederation, a federation of twelve smaller clans, who often worked together. The Shaws were known for their strength and bravery in battle.

Mackintosh Clan

• Clan Motto: Touch not the cat bot a glove-Touch not the cat without a glove (Scots and their cats…)
• Clan War Cry: Loch Moigh- the name of a lake where the clan would rally

• They are the chiefs of the Chattan Confederation.
• They are descendents from Shaw MacDuff, making them the “cousins” of the Shaw Clan.
• They were heavily involved in an ongoing feud with Clan Cameron that lasted 250 years.
• The clan saved Prince Charlie during the Jacobite Rebellion. When she heard that the British were coming to get Charlie, Lady Macintosh rallied the men to hide along the road. When the British troops passed, the Macintosh men began shooting and calling for the Cameron and Donald men to advance. It was a buff, neither of those clans were there, but it worked and British retreated.

The Forbes Clan

• Clan Motto: Grace, me guide
• Clan War Cry: Lonach!- a mountain on their lands where they would rally

• The name “Forbes” refers more to an area than a family name. The first record of Forbes referring to a person was in 1271.
• The Forbes, who were Protestant, were really salty that the Gordons remained Catholic after the reformation. So, naturally, the Fobes killed a bunch of Gordons then the Gordons killed the Forbes…they stopped, eventually, but it took two Acts of Parliament.

Clan Bruce

• Clan Motto: Fuimus- We Have Been

Ancient tartan

Modern tartan

Lets learn about the Bruce clan!

• This clan came from the French de Brus in Normandy.
• in 1219 Robert the Bruce married the wealthy Isobel of Huntingdon, the niece of King William the Lion, who has a king of Scotland. When King Edward I of England forced the King of Scotland, John, to abdicate, the Scots were left without a king. Robert, who was made the ‘Guardian of Scotland’ along with John Comyn after Willaim Wallace was executed was all, “hey, you know what Isobel? I should be king, not just guidian. I gotta ditch Comyn. He’s cramping my style!” So Robert stabbed him, was excommunicated by the Catholic Church, and crowned king. But the Bruce reign ended when Robert’s son David died without an Heir.
• Robert the Bruce  was the real “Braveheart” and had his heart removed from from his body after he died, because he wanted his heart to go on a crusade, because who said adventure ends when you die? It was taken for a ride, but the holder died in battle and Robert’s heart was sent back to Scotland all willy nilly. It finally found a resting place in Melrose, Scotland.

A reconstruction of what Robert the Bruce looked like.

Are you a member of any of those clans? Didn’t see your clan? Let us know, because a third installment of Outlandish Clan History is in the works and we can add your family name to the list!

Sarah and I both have books out now, so if you like our posts, you’ll probably love our books! First Semester is a thrilling college romance that you can get HERE. Queen of Emeralds is a historic romance set in the highlands that you can get HERE.

An Outlandish Clan History

Good morning, fellow Outlander fans! Today, I’m getting into one of my favorite things…History! Specifically, I’ll be talking all about the Scottish clans and giving you a little Outlander love along the way! Because there are numerous Highland and Lowland clans, I’ll be picking some of my favorites with the most amount of history fun.

The Gregor/MacGregor Clan

• Clan Motto: Roighal Mo Dhream-Royal is my Race
• Minor Motto: Een dhn bait spair nocht-Slay and spare not (this one is so metal)
• War Cry: Ard choille!-The woody height!

The Traditional Tartan

The “Primitive” Tartan

The Highland Dance Tartan

Here are several facts associated with this the MacGregors:

• They were among the first clans to adopt the bagpipe in the 1600s!
• In 1603 James IV outlawed the MacGregor name, forcing them to renounce their heritage or die. Many took on other Scottish names, but others were hanged.
• During the Jacobite Risings, the Gregor clan (which was not an outlawed name), fought with the Jacobites and was defeated at the Battle of Littleferry, making them unable to participate in the Battle of Culloden.
• The MacGregors were reestablished in the 1800s, finally bringing back the chiefs.
• The only MacGregor mentioned in Outlander is Alexander MacGregor, the 18 year old cattle thief who was a victim of Black Jack Randall, and the initial owner of Jamie’s bible.
• I’ve written a romance novel, The Amethyst Bride, featuring a MacGregor man. You can read about it here!

Clan Fraser of Lovat

• Clan Motto: Je Suis Prest- I am Ready
• War Cry #1: A Mhor-fhaiche!- The Great Field!
• War Cry #2:Caisteal Dhuni- Castle Dounie (referring to their ancestral seat)

Fraser of Lovat Tartan

Dress Tartan

Jamie Fraser Tartan (NOT an actual Fraser Tartan)

Here are several facts associated with this clan:

• There is also the “Lowland Fraser Clan”, which is entirely separate from the Frasers of Lovat.
• The Frasers fought with William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, who you might know from the (historically inaccurate) movie Braveheart, in 1303.
• The clan supported Mary Queen of Scots in the Siege of Inverness in 1562.
• A real man named James Fraser hid in a cave for years after surviving the Battle of Culloden. Read more about him here!
• The Frasers have participated, in force, in all of the wars based on American soil, such as the Seven Years War and the Revolutionary War.
• Here are some bonus pics of our fav Fraser…

Clan MacNaughten

• Clan Motto: I Hoip in God-I Hope in God
• War Cry: Fraoch Eilean!- The Heathery Isle!

The clan’s tartan…festive.

Here are several facts about this clan…

• This clan are descendents of the Picts, some of the earliest, tribal, dwellers of Scotland. Possibly with Celtic roots.
• They opposed Robert the Bruce (ya know…the Braveheart guy) and when he took the throne, they lost much of their lands to the Campbells.
• There are many forms of this clan, such as McNitt, Macnaughton, McNett…and McKnight! Yeah, it’s my family’s father clan!

The MacLeod Clan

• Clan Motto: Hold Fast
• Old Clan Motto: Murus aheneus esto- Be the wall of brass
  
  

  Their traditional tartan

  

  The hunting tartan

  Here are some interesting facts about the MacLeods:

• My first historical romance novel, Queen of Emeralds, follows a MacLeod Chief and a British Heiress. You can read about it here!
• They are the holders of the Fairy Flag. Shrouded in mystery, this flag is said to have come from the far east, possibly made by vikings, or have been used during the crusades. But in one popular MacLeod tale, the Fairy Flag was wrapped around a MacLeod Chief’s baby by a group of fairies. It has been artfully preserved and says to have the power to heal the sick, give military prowess to in battle, and protect the clan in times of famine or danger. But you’re not supposed to touch it, nor photograph it…but here’s a photo lol.

• In the early 1600’s, the Clan MacLeod of Lewis became extinct and the seat, Castle Leod, it fell into the hands of the Mackenzie clan. It then became the seat of the Mackenzies. It was also the inspiration for Castle Leoch in the Outlander book series. It would have been used for filming, as it is still in good condition, but another castle was selected instead.

Castle Leod

The Mackenzie Clan

• Clan Motto: Luceo Non Uro-I Shine Not Burn
• Clan War Cry:Tulach Àrd-The High Hill

Dress tartan

Regimental tartan

Outlander show Mackenzie tartan (NOT actual Mackenzie tartan)

Let’s look at some fun Clan Mackenzie facts…

• Mackenzie is actually an Anglicized version of “Mac Coinnich”, which means handsome.
• They were once the 4th most powerful clan in Scotland.
• In the 17th century, the Crahan Seer  foretold that the direct Seaforth Mackenzie line would die out after a deaf mute was born. A few years later there was a Seaforth Mackenzie named Francis. Wouldn’t you know, a bout of Scarlet Fever made him deaf and mute and he outlived all his sons, ending the line for good.
• Here are some bonus pics of your fav Mackenzies…
  

  

  Outlander Season 2 2016

The Wallace Clan

• Clan Motto: Pro Libertate- For Liberty
• Clan War Cry: Freedom!

The Wallace tartan

Here are a few little facts about the Wallace Clan…but mostly William Wallace.

• The Wallace clan came to Scotland in the 11th century from Normandy, France.
• The true William Wallace is nothing like what you saw in Braveheart!
  • Little Willie wasn’t a poor orphaned kid. He was raised a nobleman and even became a knight. Far cry from the ragamuffin living in a shack.
  • Wallace never met Isabelle of France. Girl was like…5 when he was participating in Scottish military endeavors.
  • Wallace wouldn’t have worn a kilt. Kilts didn’t become a thing in Scotland until the 1600’s. So no butt flashing in real life.
  • Scots in the 12 and 13,000s never painted their faces blue. The Picts did to scare off Roman invaders hundreds of years before Wallace was even a gleam in his noble father’s eye.
  • But he was hanged, drawn, and quartered…so that’s true. Yay?
  • Robert the Bruce was the real Braveheart. Literally. After he died, his heart was removed and given it’s own fancy casket.

Clan Murray

• Clan Motto:Furth, Fortune, and Fill the Fetters.
• Old Motto: Tour Pret- Quite Ready

Murray of Atholl Tartan

Murray of Tullibardine Tartan

Here are a few facts about this clan:

• They descended from Flemish and Norman lords and prided themselves on being from noble stock.
• After Culloden, there was a massive diaspora from the Highlands, due to persecution of the clans. A great number of Murrys settled in Nova Scotia.
• Their old crest featured a mermaid
• This clan maintains the old private regiment in Europe; the Atholl Highlanders. This is because Queen Victoria was so moved by the Murrays of Atholl’s greeting to her upon visiting the country, she repealed the man that outlawed Scottish military regiments, just for them.
• Bonus gif of our fav Murray…

Clan Campbell

• Clan Motto: Ne Obliviscaris- Forget Not
• Clan War Cry: Cruachan!- Referrs to a popular rallying spot in times of crisis

Here are some facts about this clan:

• At one point, they were the largest and most powerful clan in Scotland.
• Their name might have come from the phrase “cam bul”, which means “crooked mouth”, referring to a founder of the clan.
• They could be d*cks…especially to the MacDonald clan. But, that’s how you stay on top. We’ll talk about their issues in a bit.
• Their castle seat, Inveraray Castle, was used in some filming for the show Downton Abbey.

Clan MacLean

• Clan Motto: Virtue, Mine, Honor
• Clan War Cry: Bàa no Beatha- Death or Life

Here are some fun facts about the MacLean clan…

• They are one of the oldest clans in Scotland and are known for their fierceness in battle.
• in the 1500s a chief named Lachlan MacLean married a Campbell girl. He hated her so much, and instead of just ignoring her and getting a mistress like the other guys in the 1500s, tied her to a rock by the sea in hopes the tide would drown her. But much like a Batman villain, he was too cocky and didn’t see her death through. She was saved by a fisherman and one of her brothers killed Lachlan…but he deserved it.

Clan Donald/MacDonald

• Clan Motto: Per Mare Per Terras-By Sea and By Land
  Minor Clan Motto: Fraoch Eilean-The Heathery Isle

Here are some interesting things to know about the Donalds…

• One of the oldest on record, the clan is descended form both the Norse and the Celts.
• The MacDonalds were sneaky in the Battle of Culloden!
  • Many of them bailed when they saw how the Scots were being slaughtered
  • They also had two minor regiments fighting for the British, so some of the smaller groups were able to maintain their positions and lands.
• Remember how I told you that the Campbells and MacDonalds had some major bad blood?
  • In 1642, a group of Campbell soldiers in Ireland were ordered to kill all the MacDonald Catholics and threw dozens, possibly even hundreds, to their deaths over a cliff. This sparked a long series of battles between the two clans
  • And the Campbells kept being jerks…any Game of Thrones fans? Remember “The Red Wedding”? Well that scene was inspired by the Massacre of Glencoe, where a bunch of Campbells came to chill with the MacDonalds of Glencoe…as you can probably guess, it ended up with the Campbell forces massacring numerous people, burning homes, and allowing scores of woman and children to die of exposure.

    

    Shown: Frank Randall partying it up at the Red Wedding before it all went to shite.

Are you part of a clan? Which one?

That’s it for this week! I know I didn’t come close to covering a fraction of the clans, but I think we all had fun. Was your clan not mentioned? Let us know, maybe we’ll bring up the clans in a future post. And make sure to check out out Outlander page here to help you through Droughtlander.

Sarah and I both have books out now, so if you like our posts, you’ll probably love our books! First Semester is a thrilling college romance that you can get HERE. Queen of Emeralds is a historic romance set in the highlands that you can get HERE.

Scottish Holiday Traditions with an Outlandish Twist

Merry Christmas! Now, Christmas in America today (where Sarah and I live) is nothing like Christmas in Jamie’s time, especially in Scotland. So, let’s take a little trip through Christmas past and some holiday-themed passages in the Outlander series to see how to add an Outlandish twist to your season. Now, the passages are plucked from different parts in the series and contain small slivers of spoilers, but we’ll share them after our historical fun facts. If you don’t want to know a thing, stop reading ones you reach the naked Jamie and then take a look at our Outlander Saturday page for some Scottish goodness that is spoiler-free!

♦Yule♦

Let’s get into a time machine in the shape of a Viking longship and talk a bit about Yule. Yule was traditionally a Norse festival that centered around the Winter Solstice. There would be offerings to the gods, sacrifices, and toasts to Odin and people that had passed (sounds like Christmas at my house) and the revelries would last for days. It’s assumed that the Vikings brought Yule to pagan Scotland around 800AD. But around 1060AD, the Catholic church then adopted some of the customs, turning it into a holiday that venerated the birth of Christ. This focus on the Catholic religion is exactly why the practice was later banned in Scotland for 400 years, but we’ll get to that in a bit. First, let’s see a few festive things that we took from the pagans.

♦The Yule Log♦

The history of the yule log isn’t 100% clear. But it’s widely recognized as another pagan tradition where it was burned as an offering to the fertility goddess. It’s considered bad luck to have to relight the flame and you should let it burn completely out before daring to touch it. Side note, you can watch 90 minutes of a roaring yule fire in Lallybroch now on the Starz website! How cozy.

♦The Yule Tree♦

Before

After

Winter was biting, frigid, and cold, usually bringing hunger and sickness to the Norse region and Scottish Highland areas. Because of this, the plants that thrived in the winter, such as holly, mistletoe, and the evergreen tree were considered magical because how the hell else could something be bright green when the highlanders were freezing their bagpipes off? People would hang wreaths and ropes of these plants over their doors and throughout their homes to ward off the winter spirits. The tree, usually an outdoor one, would be decorated with offerings to the faeries and gods, such as lights to brighten their way and small offerings. The Christmas tree that we know today didn’t grow in popularity until King George III’s German wife introduced the indoor version in the early 1800’s. Unfortunately, there wouldn’t be a grand tree in Lallybrook’s halls because…

♦The Kirks Were Dicks♦

So, Mary Queen of Scots wanted to be a chill ruler and allow the Protestant and Catholic Scots to practice their religion as they pleased, because she was cool like that and said they were worshiping the same god anyway, so why dick around? But she lived mainly in France for a long time, so the Scottish parliament could kinda do what they wanted, mainly abolish the Catholic practices in Scotland in favor of the “Kirk”, the Scottish church. When the Kirk took over, even hosting or attending Catholic masses could be punishable by death. The banned all “Pope-ish” practices, which included the fun traditions like lighting a yule log and decorating their homes with holly. So for 400 years, until the 1960’s, the Scots treated Christmas just like any other day and went about their business. Of course, I’m sure many people still held some of the traditions quietly. When being Catholic was allowed again, Christmas was very subdued and was basically all about mass and prayer. So in Jamie’s later years, he would spend his time giving thanks to God and possibly praying in a church, if he thought about Christmas at all.

♦Hogmanay♦

or, like…presents are cool, too.

This fun little holiday was continually celebrated from the time of the vikings to present day Scotland. It acknowledges the final day of the year (New Years) and features a combination of things taken from Yule and Samhain traditions. It took the place of Christmas after the reformation banned the practice. It’s still a popular celebration today! The highland house was deep cleaned, gifts were given to friends and neighbors, who would visit after midnight to drink and eat together. In later years, Auld Lang Syne (discussed below) would be sung as well. There was also an additional tradition done called “First Footing”.

♦First Footing♦

At the strike of midnight, it was tradition for someone to be the first to step into the house, bringing with them the good luck of the year. It was said that a tall, dark haired man was best and that he should bring with some some silver, salt, or whiskey. A woman or fair-haired man could bring bad luck to the house. In Outlander…“A red-haired man, though, was frightfully ill luck as a first foot, and Jamie had been consigned to his study…” Poor Jamie. He’s welcome to be my first foot. Bad luck be damned! I live in New Jersey, how much worse can it get?

♦Auld Lang Syne♦

Sound familiar? It should. We recognize it as a traditional New Years Eve song we don’t know the words to, but we drunkenly belt out after kissing strangers at the stroke of midnight. The song originated in Scotland and the first mention of it was in 1711 by a guy named James Watson but this guy, Robert Burns, put it to music and made it the song we all know. It’s possible that the song was around before that, but as many people know, songs and stories were mainly passed down verbally. The song is also, traditionally, sung at a slower and more somber pace, giving it a sadder vibe. It’s played sung at the end of dances and at funerals in some parts of Scotland.

Now that we’ve talked a bit about the history behind Christmas, let’s get to some Outlander book goodness that might contain some wee spoilers, if you haven’t read a whole lot. If you’re averse to any and all hints of what happens, head over to our Outlander page and skim that instead! Now…about that naked Fraser…

♦From The Fiery Cross♦

“With a certain amount of forethought, Mrs. Bug, Brianna, Marsali, Lizzie, and I had made up an enormous quantity of molasses toffee, which we had distributed as a Christmas treat to all the children within earshot.  Whatever it might do to their teeth, it had the beneficial effect of gluing their mouths shut for long periods, and in consequence, the adults had enjoyed a peaceful Christmas.”

As a parent, I appreciate that even Claire Fraser needed to have a break from small children shrieking in her ear. Warms the cockles of my soul. Anyways, let’s chat about this sweet treat.

Molasses became a popular substitution for expensive refined sugar in the 16th and 17th centuries, particularly in North America. This was because the triangle trade brought the molasses from the Caribbean through the American ports on it’s way to England. Americans, being an inventive people, put it in everything they could; candy, birch beer, rum, baked goods, meat…hell, I bet our forefathers poured it directly into their freedom holes. The Americans kept on with their love affair of all things molasses until England said, “Hold up. You’re making all this money from exporting your molasses rum and we’re not getting a cut. That’s some shady shit, America. Here’s a molasses tax. Pip pip, cheerio!” And then, as you know, the Americans were all “Pip pip this, you tea loving f*cks”, and ruined some perfectly good tea, but not before smuggling in molasses because colonists were not about to give up on molasses rum. It’s tasty as hell.

No one taxes George Washington’s molasses and gets away with it. No one.

If molasses is your thing, The Outlander Cookbook has a recipe for old style molasses toffee that would have been very similar to the Fraser brand. If you’re feeling up to the challenge, the recipe is available on their website, here!

♦The Fiery Cross…♦

 Brianna makes a dozen geese…

 “What’s the occasion? For our homecoming?”
She lifted her head from his chest and gave him what he privately classified as A Look.
“For Christmas,” she said.
“What?” He groped blankly, trying to count the days, but the events of the last three weeks had completely erased his mental calendar.
“When?”
“Tomorrow, idiot,” she said with exaggerated patience.

I’m guessing that most of the Christmas celebrating readers have ham or turkey when they cook, instead of goose. But goose is still seen as a traditional Christmas dish. Why, you ask? Well, let’s chat about it.

Geese are “prime” to be eaten twice a year; as new gosling (if you’re a total monster) and in the fall and winter after they’re all chubby from finishing off the last of the corn. Their fat is delicious and it made for a fine feast throughout history. The Norse served it to Odin and Thor for giving them a good harvest. It was also eaten during the feast of Michaelmas, a minor Christian holiday, during Medieval times. The feathers were also used in all manner of bedding, particularly for winter blankets, so it only made sense to butcher the goose when it had the most down and then eat the meat. The goose swayed over to turkey thanks to the settlers in North America, as the bird follows the same cycle of maturation. And, as we know, Brianna was quite the good shot when it came to felling the turkeys!

 ♦Drums of Autumn♦

“What if I tell you a story, instead?”
Highlanders loved stories, and Jamie was no exception.
“Oh, aye,” he said, sounding much happier. “What sort of story is it?”
“A Christmas story,” I said, settling myself along the curve of his body. “About a miser named Ebenezer Scrooge.”
“An Englishman, I daresay?”
“Yes,” I said. “Be quiet and listen.”
I could see my own breath as I talked, white in the dim, cold air. The snow was falling heavily outside our shelter; when I paused in the story, I could hear the whisper of flakes against the hemlock branches, and the far-off whine of wind in the trees.

Hate to be the one that points this out, but Jamie will never read A Christmas Carol for himself or even lay eyes on the book. It wasn’t printed until 1843, far later than is possible for Jamie to have lived. Still, this classic is one that most people know by heart, and Claire is no exception. Let’s all be collectively glad that at least he will never know the disappointment that was Jim Carey’s version. Ugh.

♦The Fiery Cross♦

Catholic as many of them were–and nominally Christian as they all were–Highland Scots regarded Christmas primarily as a religious observance, rather than a major festive occasion. Lacking priest or minister, the day was spent much like a Sunday, though with a particularly lavish meal to mark the occasion, and the exchange of small gifts.

While Claire, Bri, and Roger would have remembered Christmas in their time as a celebration of food, gifts, drinks, and shopping, Christmas for Jamie would have been very different. In the books, while the Frasers are on the ridge, there’s usually a fine meal, a few drinks, and a plate of Claire’s molasses cookies for the bairns.

The Outlander Kitchen Cookbook has a recipe for Claire’s cookies here.

Lastly, in The Fiery Cross, a rather wintery book, apparently, Brianna asks Roger…

“Didn’t you see all the Greenery when you came in? Lizzie and I made all the Chisholm go out with us to cut evergreens; we’ve been making wreathes and garlands for the last three days.”

Sarah and I both have books out now, so if you like our posts, you’ll probably love our books! First Semester is a thrilling college romance that you can get HERE. Queen of Emeralds is a historic romance set in the highlands that you can get HERE.

What to Watch

I’ve heard tittering that Outlander season 3 is filming in late August. But, what can we watch until Jamie and Claire reenter our lives? Here’s a few fun shows you should give a try. Some are historical, others are fantasy, all are awesome.

The Pillars of the Earth

This show, which aired on Starz, is based on a book, The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett. It’s much more historically based than some others on this list, taking place in England during the 12th century and involving the tumultuous events that surround the building of a cathedral. There’s love triangles, violence, a hint of superstition, and characters you can really sink your teeth into (hello, Eddie Redmayne!). You’ll cry along with Tom the Builder when he buries his wife, you’ll root for Jack when he fights to win the hand of the girl, and you’ll be sad when it finally ends.

The Tudors

Is any historical series complete without The Tudors? It’s centered around King Henry VIII’s search for a wife to give him an heir and, while it does exaggerate to make parts of the story more interesting, can be oddly educational. It also features an all-star cast with Johnathan Rhys Meyers as King Henry, Natalie Dormer as Anne Boleyn, Henry Cavill as the Duke of Suffolk, and Maria Doyle Kennedy as Catherine of Aragon, among many other famous faces. The costumes and acting are on point and, since it aired for four seasons on Showtime, so there’s plenty of episodes to binge watch.

The White Queen

The White Queen, by Philipa Gregory, is another lovely historical-based novel that was made into a series. It follows Elizabeth Woodville, a widow with two young sons, who seduced, and married, the young king Edward IV. She, along with the other women in her family, are known for harnessing the power of Melusina, a legendary mermaid, to bend their lives to their making. However, Elizabeth can only use her powers so much, as they often come back around, sometimes putting her own family at risk. She lives during the infamous War of the Roses (1455-11487) and her marriage to Edward sparks the famous Tudor line. The show, which aired on Starz, did an awesome job of bringing the book, and the history surrounding it, to life.

Call The Midwife

No, there aren’t any sword and knights in this television take on memoir Call The Midwife by Jennifer Worth, but it deserves a place on the list as an awesome historical show. Set in the late 1950’s and early 1960’s, it followed a group of midwives out of Nonnatus House in London’s poor East End. The women go through the many trials of their time giving a platform of conversation to things that aren’t widely talked about now, such as the practice of doctors leaving disabled newborns to die and how dangerous back-alley abortions could be. Homosexuality, rape, violence, and new medical practices are tucked away in the lives of the young women who are just trying to make the East End a better place. On BBC, it’s a heavy show, but deserves a shot as it warms your heart as much as it moves you.

Reign

This show, which is still on The CW is a very, very, fictionalized version of the early life of Mary, Queen of Scots. If you’re able to look past the incorrect historical facts and fanciful costumes, it’s a really fun show. You’ll see her life in France as the fiance of young Prince Francis, hear about how ladies of the court would take lovers, and watch as her heart is broken, as well as renewed as she fends off would-be assassins. Even as someone who loves themselves some true facts, I was able to see the show as a worthwhile fantasy series that is good for a binge session.

Black Sails

This Starz period drama is one hell of a crazy ride. It’s like if Pirates of the Caribbean took ‘Molly’ and became slightly more historically accurate. It follows the early years of Captain Jack Flint, who is a fictional pirate from Treasure Island, during the ‘Golden Age of Piracy’ where gold was king and the laws were forged by blood. Mainly taking place on New Providence Island, one of the major shipping hubs of the 1700’s, fact meets fiction as some historical pirates try to lay claim to ships, sell their goods, and maintain control of the sea. The characters are complex and their story lines include a woman fighting for respect, the British fighting to retake the island, and men on the run, among numerous others. It’s currently setting up for season four, so there’s plenty of time to catch up.

Da Vinci’s Demons

This series is on the same vein as Reign; loosely historically-based, but awesome all the same. In the show, Leonardo Da Vinci works for the famous Medici family and uses his genius to try and help them gain total control of Renaissance Florence. This puts him at odds with the Catholic Church, as well as the Pazzi family, especially when he begins inventing things for the Borgias. It’s involved and can get a little fanciful at times, especially when Leonardo gets involved with a real-life cult known as the Sons of Mithras. The Starz show is over, but I hear there may be a mini series in the works.

Those are some of my top picks. So, tell me, what shows would you add to the list?

Read about Kelsey’s Scottish historical romances here and Sarah’s contemporary romances here!