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3 Celts & Company • "MACPHERSON OF CLUNY"

The name means 'son of the Parson': one Murriach or Murdoch who in 1153 succeeded to the Chiefship of Clan Chattan (see thereunder) and obtained special dispensation to marry. His third son evinced a skill that established one source of the numerous Smith families. Previously of Lochabar, the MacPhersons were settled in Badenoch by Robert Bruce on land they had wrested from his Comyn rivals. A great quarrel with the Davidsons was settled by winning that 1396 combat of the North Inch of Perth, with the aid of Hal Gow o' the Wynd--also doubtless by playing the clan's Fairy Chanter.
After Culloden, Cluny MacPherson shared his Benalder 'Cage' for weeks with Prince Charlie and remained himself in hiding for nine years. Despite large rewards offered, the loyal clansmen betrayed neither. James MacPherson (1738-96), with his version of Ossian's epic that first directed world attention to Celtic legends, instigated a new era of 'Romantic' taste.

Septs: ARCHIBALD, CATTANACH, CLARK, CLARKE, CLARKSON, CLERK, CLUNIE, CLUNY, CURRIE, ELLIS, ELLISON, FERSEN, GILLESPIE, GILLIE, GILLIES, GOUDIE, GOW, GOWAN, GOWANS, LEARY, LEES, MACCHLERY, MACCLAIR, MACCLEARY, MACCLAIR, MACCLEARY, MACCLEISH, MACCURRACH, MACCURRIE, MACGILLIES, MACGOUN, MACGOW, MACGOWAN, MACKEITH, MACLEAR, MACLEARY, MACLEES, MACLEISH, MACLERIE, MACLISE, MACLISH, MACMURDO, MACMURDOCH, MACMURRICH, MACVURICH, MACVURRICH, MURDOCH, MURDOSON, PEARSON, SMITH

"MACPHERSON." Scots Kith and Kin and Illustrated Map Revised Second Edition. Edinburgh, SCOT: Clan House, c.1970. p.75,76. Print.

keywords[x] tartan, wool, kilts, MacPherson, clan, septs

3 Celts & Company • "MOFFAT"

The Clan Moffat are an ancient family from the Scottish Borders who were powerful and influential as far back as the time of William Wallace. It is likely that the ancestor of the Moffats gave their name to the town of Moffat in Dumfriesshire. The name Moffat may be of Norse origin.
William de Movat Alto, progenitor of the Movats, married the youngest daughter of Andlaw, who came from Norway to Scotland in the tenth century. Over the years the name became Montealt, then Movat, then Movest then eventually Moffat in its modern form. By the twelfth century the family were recorded as "de Moffet" which showed that they were considered to be principal lairds or land owners.
Nicholas de Moffat was Bishop of Glasgow in 1286 and the armorial bearings of each branch of the clan indicates a connection with the church.
In 1300 the Moffats were granted four charters of land in the barony of Westerkirk from Robert the Bruce who was then Lord of Annandale. One of these charters was granted to Adam Moffat of Knock. He and his brother both fought at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, along with many of the Moffat clansmen during the Wars of Scottish Independence. In 1336 the king of England granted safe conduct to William de Moffete and others, described as coming as ambassadors to David de Brus (David II of Scotland). Walter de Moffat who was Archdeacon of Lothian was appointed ambassador to France in 1337.
Although there were Moffats in Moffat before 1300, their names are not known. In 1342 they were granted the feu of Granton and Reddings by Sir John Douglas, Lord of Annandale. These lands remained the principal holdings of the clan until they were passed over to the Johnstones because of overwhelming debt in 1628.

Septs: Maffat, Maffatt, Maffet, Maffett, Maffit, Maffitt, Moffat, Moffatt, Moffet, Moffett, Moffit, Moffitt, Morfit, Morfitt, Morphat, Morphatt, Morphet, Morphett, Morphit, Morphitt, Muffat, Muffatt, Muffet, Muffett, Muffit, Muffitt

"Clan Moffat". Wikipedia. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clan_Moffat]. November 2013. web.

keywords[x] tartan, wool, kilts, Moffat, clan, septs

3 Celts & Company • "MURRAY"

Though a few among the Galloway Murrays may derive from 'MacMurray,' most by far of this widespread clan take their name from the ancient province of Moray, which once included Inverness-shire besides the present county, and in the 12th century was the storm-centre of a series of clan rebellions against the nationally-organized feudalism of Malcolm Canmore's dynasty. Under David I the 1130 revolt was suppressed and a process begun of transplanting whole clans into and out of Moray. Freskin of Strathbrock (Broxburn) [see"DOUGLAS" p.54], said to be a Fleming, was one of the incoming leaders; he was installed at Duffus with the name de Moravia, and is claimed as founder to all Clan Murray. The earliest branches were Sutherland and Bothwell, and an important Perthshire section includes the Duke of Atholl as Chief of the Tullibardine branch. Murrays took a prominent place with Wallace and Bruce and in both Jacobite risings, as also in other spheres, such as founding the scientific Royal Society of London. The various Earls of Moray had little or no connection with Clan Murray.

Septs: BALNEAVES, DINSMORE, DUNBAR, DUNSMORE, FLEMING, MORAY, MURRIE, NEAVES, PIPER, PYPER, RATTRAY, SMAIL, SMALE, SMALL, SMEAL, SPALDING

"MURRAY." Scots Kith and Kin and Illustrated Map Revised Second Edition. Edinburgh, SCOT: Clan House, c.1970. p.78,79. Print.

keywords[x] tartan, wool, kilts, Murray, MacIntosh, Douglas, clan, septs