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3 Celts & Company • "MACBETH"

One of the exceptions among the 'Macs,' the name means not the son of any person 'Beth,' but 'Son of life' or a man of religion. It developed a separate form Macbean (see above), and has also become confused with forms of the Norman name Bethune. Shakespeare, playing his immortal light over the old Celtic throne of Scotland, brings to focus the ruler of Moray who enforced his family claim thereon by the murder of King Duncan in 1040. Macbeths, frequently called Beatons, held high repute and rank from the 14th century to the 17th, as physicians and chancellors to the MacDonalds of Islay and Macleans of Mull, sometimes also to royalty and elsewhere.

Septs: BEATON, BEATTIE, BEATTY, BELTON, BETHUNE, LEITCH, MACBHEATH

"MACBETH." Scots Kith and Kin and Illustrated Map Revised Second Edition. Edinburgh, SCOT: Clan House, c.1970. p.62. Print.

keywords[x] tartan, wool, kilts, MacBeth, MacDonald, MacLean, clan, septs

3 Celts & Company • "MACKENZIE"

Perhaps like the MacKays and MacLeans, one of the old transplanted tribes from Moray, though firmly rooted in Ross-shire ever since, this clan took their name MacKenny or MacKenzie after a 13th-century chief Kenneth, descended from Colin of the Aird who was ancestor also to the Celtic earls of Ross. When that earldom fell by marriage to the Lords of the Isles, the clan followed the MacDonald lead until these lords were suppressed. Independence attained, the MacKenzies became by the 17th century the most powerful clan of the West after the Campbells, and their chief, MacKenzie of Kintail, was raised to Lord Seaforth by James VI. This earldom was forfeited through the clans sharing the Jacobite ventures, but restored in 1778 when the Seaforth Highlanders regiment was founded.

Septs: CHARLES, CHARLESON, CLUNESS, CLUNIES, CROMARTY, IVERACH, IVERSON, IVORY, KENNETH, KENNETHSON, KYNOCH, MACAWEENEY, MACBEOLAIN, MACCONNACH, MACIVER, MACIVOR, MACKENNA, MACKENNEY, MACKERLICH, MACKINNEY, MACMURCHIE, MACMURCHY, MACQUEENIE, MACVANISH, MACVINISH, MACVINNIE, MACWEENY, MACWHINNIE, MURCHIE, MURCHISON, SMART

"MACKENZIE." Scots Kith and Kin and Illustrated Map Revised Second Edition. Edinburgh, SCOT: Clan House, c.1970. p.71. Print.

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

3 Celts & Company • "MACLEAN"

Though the name means 'son of a devottee of St. John,' MacLeans claim as legendary ancestor a 5th-century Gillean-na Tuaidhe, i.e. Gillean of the Battle-axe. They may have been transplanted by Malcolm IV from Glen Urquart, as one of the Celtic tribes then rebelling against centralised feudalism. A century later, the 13th, we find them in Mull, strongly established as vassals of Clan Donald, and son one of the most powerful clans behind the Lords of the Isles, as at Harlaw 1411 and until these lords' suppression in 1493 and an ensuing feud with the MacDonalds that lasted till 1498. Their territory ranged from Coll and Tiree to Ardgour on the mainland, though the main families remained MacLeans of Duart (Chief) and MacLaines of Lochbuie, both in Mull. Their Chief fell protecting James IV at Flodden, and with their maxim the MacLeans must never turn backs to a foe, the clan were prominent in all Stewart causes.

Septs: BEATH, BEATON, BEY, BLACK, GILLAN, GILLAND, GILLON, GILZEAN, HUIE, LEAN, MACBAY, MACBEATH, MACBETH, MACBEY, MACBHEATH, MACCLANE, MACCLEAN, MACCORMICK, MACFADYEN, MACFADZEAN, MACFAYDEN, MACFETRIDGE, MACGILLIVRAY, MACGILVRA, MACILDOWIE, MACILDUFF, MACILDUY, MACILVORA, MACLAINE, MACLERGAN, MACPHADDEN, MACRANKIN, MACVAY, MACVEAGH, MACVEY, PADON, PATON, PATTEN, PATTON, PEDEN, RANKEN, RANKINE

"MACLEAN." Scots Kith and Kin and Illustrated Map Revised Second Edition. Edinburgh, SCOT: Clan House, c.1970. p.72,73. Print.

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