Clan MacDonald
Crest & Motto
The MacDonald crest shows an armoured hand holding a cross crosslet, with the motto Per Mare Per Terras: by sea and by land. It suited a clan whose galleys once ruled the western seaboard.
History
Clan Donald, the largest of the Highland clans, descends from Domhnall, grandson of Somerled, the 12th century Norse-Gaelic King of the Isles. From their power base on Islay, with the council seat at Finlaggan, the MacDonalds built the Lordship of the Isles, a semi-independent maritime realm ruling the Hebrides and much of the west coast.
In 1493 James IV forfeited the Lordship, and Clan Donald fractured into powerful independent branches: MacDonald of Sleat on Skye and North Uist, Clanranald in Moidart, Arisaig, Morar and the southern Outer Isles, MacDonell of Glengarry, MacDonald of Keppoch in Lochaber, and MacDonald of Glencoe among others. Attempts to restore the Lordship shaped Highland politics for generations.
The Massacre of Glencoe in February 1692, when government soldiers slaughtered 38 members of the Glencoe MacDonalds who had given them hospitality, remains one of the darkest episodes in Scottish history. Clan Donald was heavily committed to the Jacobite cause: Clanranald, Glengarry, Keppoch and Glencoe men fought through the risings of 1715 and 1745, and Flora MacDonald famously helped Prince Charles Edward Stuart escape after Culloden.
The 19th century brought severe Clearances across MacDonald lands, particularly in Skye, the Uists and the western mainland, driving mass emigration to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, the Carolinas and Australasia. MacDonald remains one of the most common surnames of the Scottish diaspora, and the Clan Donald Lands Trust maintains Armadale Castle on Skye as a clan centre.
Clan Chief
The High Chief of Clan Donald is Godfrey James Macdonald of Macdonald, 8th Lord Macdonald, chief since 1970. The great branches (Sleat, Clanranald, Glengarry, Keppoch, Glencoe) each have their own chiefs, who sit together on the High Council of Clan Donald.
Clan Tartan
Septs and Family Names
Many family names are counted among the septs of Clan MacDonald. If your surname appears here, your family history leads back to this clan: Alexander, Beath, Beaton, Bethune, Bowie, Budge, Colson, Conn, Connall, Connell, Coull, Cram, Crum, Danalds, Darroch, Donald, Donaldson, Donillson, Donnelson, Drain, Galbraith, Galt, Gilbride, Gorrie, Gowan, Gowrie, Hawthorn, Hewison, Houstoun, Howison, Hudson, Hughson, Hutcheonson, Hutchinson, Hutchison, Isles, Kellie, Kelly, Kinnell, Leitch, Mac a’ Challies, MacBeath, MacBeth, MacBheath, MacBride, MacBryde, MacCaishe, MacCall, MacCash, MacCeallaich, MacCodrum, MacColl, MacConnell, MacCooish, MacCook, MacCrain, MacCuag, MacCuish, MacCuitein, MacCurry, MacCutcheon, MacDaniell, Macdonald, Macdonalds of Belfinlay, Macdonalds of Boisdale, Macdonalds of Borrodale, Macdonalds of Glenaladale, Macdonalds of Kinlochmoidart, Macdonalds of Knoydart, Macdonalds of Morar, Macdrain, Maceachainn, MacElfrish, MacElheran, MacGorrie, MacGorry, MacGoun, MacGowan, MacGown, MacHugh, MacHutchen, MacHutcheon, MacIan, Macilleriach, Macilreach, Macilrevie, Macilriach, Macilvride, Macilwraith, MacIsaac, MacKean, MacKellachie, MacKellaig, MacKelloch, MacKiggan, MacKinnell, MacLairish, MacLardie, MacLardy, MacLarty, MacLaverty, MacLeverty, MacMurchie, MacMurdo, MacMurdoch, MacO’Shannaig, MacQuistan, MacQuisten, MacRaith, MacRorie, MacRory, MacRuer, Macrurie, MacRury, MacShannachan, MacSorley, MacSporran, MacSwan, MacWhannell, Martin, May, McCool, McReyolds, McRuer, Murchie, Murchison, Murdoch, Murdoson, Murphy, O’Drain, O’May, O’Shaig, O’Shannachan, O’Shannaig, Patton, Purcell, Reoch, Revie, Riach, Rorison, Shannon, Sorley, Sporran, Train, Whannel, Wheelans, Wheelens, Whillans, Whillens, Wilkie, Wilkins, Wilkinson, Willans, Willens.
Unsure how clan names, crests and septs work? Our guide to Scottish clan names explains the rules.
Further reading
The High Council of Clan Donald
Clan Donald Society (Scotland)
Armadale Castle and the Clan Donald Lands Trust
The MacDonald Crests as 3D Models
You can download the MacDonald crest or the MacDonald of ClanRanald crest as a 3D model file (£10 to £25) and print it on any 3D printer, or carve it in wood on a CNC machine.
See the MacDonald territories, from Islay north through Skye and the Uists, on our interactive clan map of Scotland.
