Clan MacKay
Crest & Motto
The MacKay crest shows a dexter arm, couped at the elbow, holding a dagger erect. The clan motto is Manu Forti — “with a strong hand”.
History
Clan Mackay is an ancient highland clan whose territories are on the north coast of the Scottish mainland, in the region of Strathnaver. The first Clan Chief Iye MacKay was born around the year 1210 and was a descendant of Malcolm MacHeth. The MacHeths and their supporters fled to the North coast of Scotland after a dispute with King Malcolm IV of Scotland in the 1160’s.
The MacKays are listed among the support for Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and have had a colourful and often violent history through the clan conflicts of the 15th and 16th centuries . In 1415 the Lord of the Isles formally granted Strathnaver to Angus MacKay, Chief of Clan MacKay.
In 1624 Donald MacKay acquired Reay and in 1626 raised three thousand men to fight in the Thirty Years war in Europe. In 1627 Donald Mackay was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia and in the same year raised a further one thousand men for King Christian IV of Denmark and Norway. This resulted in him being created as the 1st Lord Reay in 1628. However, things later went downhill. In 1642. Lord Reay sold Strathnaver to the Sutherlands and after some further turbulent years, died in exile in 1649 in Denmark.
The area was hit hard during the Highland Clearances, a process which accelerated in 1829 when MacKay lands were sold to the Earl of Sutherland. Given the low population density of present-day Strathnaver, it gives pause for thought that this area was once able to raise so many thousands of fighting men.
Clan Chief
In 1875 Eric MacKay, the 9th Lord Reay died without an heir. The title of Chief of Clan MacKay passed to a Dutch branch of the family descended from the 2nd Lord Reay. The current Clan Chief is Aeneas Simon Mackay, 15th Lord Reay, who is is also Baron Mackay van Ophemert and Zennewijnen of The Netherlands.
Clan Tartan
Septs and Family Names
Many family names are counted among the septs of Clan MacKay. If your surname appears here, your family history leads back to this clan: Allan, Allanson, Bain, Bayne, Elders, Kay, Key, Keyes, MacAllan, MacBain, MacCaa, MacCaw, MacCay, MacGaa, MacGaw, MacGee, MacGhee, MacGhie, MacKay, MacKee, Mackie, MacPhail, MacQue, MacQuey, MacQuoid, MacVail, MacVain, MacVane, McCay, McCoy, McKay, McKee, McKie, McKoy, Morgan, Neilson, Nelson, Paul, Pole, Poleson, Pollard, Polson, Reay, Scobie, Williamson.
Unsure how clan names, crests and septs work? Our guide to Scottish clan names explains the rules.
Further reading
We suggest the Clan MacKay wiki page as a good starting point to follow the complex and turbulent history of the clan.
Clan MacKay Society has a webpage and sign-up options for clan members.
Clan MacKay Society of the USA
Clan MacKay Association of Canada
Clan MacKay Society – Western Australia
The MacKay Crest as a 3D Model
You can download the MacKay crest as a 3D model file (£10–£25) and print it on any 3D printer, or carve it in wood on a CNC machine — exactly as we did for the panel shown.
See the MacKay lands of Strathnaver on our interactive clan map of Scotland.
