Clan MacLeod Totally Explained

Everything about Clan Macleod totally explained

Clan MacLeod is a Highland Scottish clan. The Gaelic form is Clann Mhic Leòid. Clann means children, while mhic is the genitive of mac, the Gaelic for son, and Leòid is the genitive of Leòd. The whole phrase therefore means The children of the son of Leod. The Clan MacLeod is made up of two branches, Siol Thormoid (the MacLeods of Harris and Skye) and Siol Thorcuil (the MacLeods of Lewis).

History

Origins of the clan

The surname MacLeod (Scottish Gaelic: MacLeòid) means son of Leod. The name Leod is an Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic name Leòd, which is thought to have been derived from the Old Norse name Ljótr, meaning ugly. The Clan MacLeod of Lewis claims its descent from Leod, whom according to MacLeod tradition was a younger son of Olaf the Black, King of Mann (r.1229–1237). However, articles have been published in the Clan MacLeod magazine which suggest an alternate genealogy for Leod, one in which he wasn't son of Olaf, but a 3rd cousin (some removed) from Magnus the last King of Mann. In these alternate genealogies, using the genealogy of Christina MacLeod, great granddaughter of Leod, who married Hector Reaganach (McLean/McLaine) these articles suggest that the relationship to the Kings of Mann was through a female line, that of Helga of the beautiful hair. The dating of Christina's genealogy and the ability to line it up with known historical facts lend a great deal of authenticity to the claims of the authors.
MacLeod tradition is that Leod who had possession of Harris and part of Skye, married a daughter of the Norse seneschal of Skye, MacArailt or Harold's son. who held Dunvegan and much of Skye. Siol Tormod held Harris and Glenelg on the mainland, and also the lands of Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye.

Wars of Scottish Independence

During the Wars of Scottish Independence Norman, who became the 2nd chief of the MacLeods of Skye, assumed power around the year 1280. He fought with King Robert the Bruce when the English were defeated at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314. In 1380 the Clan MacLeod along with Clan MacLean and Clan MacKinnon were defeated in battle by MacDonald, Lord of the Isles, who vindicated his right as Lord of the Isles. The MacLeods then submitted and became firm supporters of the Lord of the Isles and Clan Donald, only to become enemies again in the late 15th century.

15th century & clan conflicts

Battle of Tuiteam Tarbhach, 1406, was fought between the Clan MacKay and the Clan MacLeod of Lewis. This battle was fought at Tuiteam-tarbhach in the south west part of Sutherland where it meets Ross-shire. Angus MacKay of Strathnaver married the sister of MacLeod of Lewis. MacLeod of Lewis found that his sister had been mis-treated and on his way home he decides to spoil Strathnaver and Brae-Chat in Sutherland. As a result the battle was fought in which the chief of the MacLeods of Lewis was killed.

Battle of Harlaw, 1411, the MacLeods fought as Highlanders in support of Domhnall of Islay, Lord of the Isles, temporarily preventing the Duke of Albany gaining power in Ross.

Battle of Bloody Bay, 1480, the Clan MacLeod fought in support of John of Islay, Earl of Ross. William Dubh MacLeod, chief of Clan MacLeod was killed (or taken prisoner) supporting John of MacDonald Islay, Earl of Ross and chief of Clan Donald against his bastard son Angus Og Macdonald.

By 1495 the chief of Clan MacDonald's title as Lord of the Isles had been revoked. Soon afterwards the Clan MacLeod successfully took Dunscaith Castle from the MacDonalds led by their chief Alistair Crotach MacLeod. They went on to besiege Knock Castle before withdrawing and in 1498 the MacLeods captured Duntulm Castle from the MacDonalds.

16th & 17th century clan conflicts

In 1560 the MacLeods along with the Clan MacLean and Clan MacKay became part of the Gallowglass. A mixture of Gaels and Norsemen who became a ferocious mercenary army who successfully fought for Shane O'Neill in Ireland.

In 1566 the Clan MacLeod of Assint and Clan MacKay together raided and burned Dornoch.

In 1578 the Battle of the Spoiling Dyke took place. The Clan MacDonald of Uist barred the doors of Trumpan Church, or Kilconan Church as it was once known, east of the shores of Ardmore Bay. They then set fire to the church full of worshippers. No one escaped alive except one girl who although mortally wounded managed to give the alarm. On hearing the news, the Chief of Clan MacLeod and his men set off for Ardmore bay where a battle ensued. The MacDonalds were killed almost to a man. The corpses of the MacDonalds were dragged along and then buried in a turf dyke, thus the incident being known as the "Battle of the Spoiling Dyke". The atrocity by the MacDonalds was to exact vengeance on the MacLeods for their atrocity of the massacre of MacDonalds in cave on the island of Eigg a couple of years earlier. This again was a tit-for-tat revenge between the two clans.

Battles of Allt Camhna and Leckmelm, 1586, involving the Clan MacLeod, Clan MacKay, Clan Gunn, Clan Sinclair and Clan Sutherland.

In 1601 the Battle of Siol Thormoid took place. Donald Gorm MacDonald of Sleat had married the sister of Sir Rory Macleod of Harris. For some reason Donald Gorm MacDonald didn't like his wife. Sir Rory MacLeod sent a message to Donald Gorm MacDonald, asking him to return his sister. Donald Gorm not only refused to obey this request, but also divorced her. He then married the sister of Kenneth MacKenzie, Laird of Kintail. Sir Rory MacLeod took this disgrace (as he thought it) so highly, that, he assembled his men and invaded part of Donald Gorm MacDonald's lands on the Isle of Skye, which lands Sir Rory MacLeod claimed to be his. Donald Gorm MacDonald then assembled his forces, and invaded MacLeod's lands of Harris, which he wasted and spoiled, carried away their store and bestial property, and killed some of the inhabitants. Rory MacLeod and his men travelled with the Siol Thormoid (the MacLeods of Harris) to the Isle of North Uist (which was Donald Gorm MacDonald's). He sent his cousin, Donald Glas MacLeod, with some forty men, to spoil the island, and they also took valuable property which had been stored in a church. Donald MacIan-MacJames (a kinsman of Donald Gorm MacDonald), accompanied by twenty others, encountered Donald Glas Macleod. After a sharp skirmish, they killed Donald Glas MacLeod, with the most part of his company, and so rescued the goods. Sir Rory, seeing the bad success of his men, retired home for the time being. Both sides continued to steal and slaughter. In the end, Donald Gorm MacDonald assembled his whole forces in the year 1601 and invaded Sir Rory MacLeod's lands drawing them into a fight. Sir Rory Macleod was then in Argyll looking for advice from the Earl of Argyll against the Clan MacDonald. Alexander MacLeod (Sir Rory's brother) resolved to fight with Donald Gorm MacDonald, even though his brother was absent. The battle lasted for the most part of the day, both contending for the victory with great obstinacy. The Clan MacDonald, in the end, defeated their enemies, taking Alexander MacLeod prisoner. The two sides later made peace and Alexander MacLeod was released.

Sir Donald MacLeod, 1st Baronet of Sleat

Clan crest

MacLeod of MacLeod: Hold fast.

MacLeod of Lewis: I birn quil I se. (I burn while I see). The green tartan was the battle tartan while the yellow was the dress tartan.

Clan septs

Septs are clans or families who were under the protection of a more powerful clan or family. Scottish clans were largely collections of different families who held allegiance to a common chief.

Septs of Clan MacLeod of Harris and Skye

Beaton (Betha, Bethea, Bethune, Beton).

Harold (Harald, Haraldson, Harrold, Herrald, MacHarold, MacRaild).

Lewis (MacLewis).

MacAskill (Askey, Caskey, Caskie, Kasky, MacAsgill, MacCaskie, MacCaskill, MacKaskill, Mackaskill, MaKasky, Taskill).

MacAulay (Aulay, Calley, Caulay, Coll, MacAllay, MacAlley, MacAuley, MacCaulay, MacCauley, MacCorley).

MacCabe.

MacCorkill (Corquodale, MacCorcadail, Maccorke, MacCorkill, MacCorkindale, MacCorkle, MacCorkle, MacCorquodale, MacKerkyll, MacKorkyll, MacOrkill, MacThorcadail, McCorkie, McKurkull).

Nicol (deNicole, MacNichol, MacNickle, McNychol, Necolson, Nichol(s), Nicholl, Nicholson, Nickle, Nicoll, Nicollsoun, Nicolson, Nuccol, Nuckall, Nucolsone).

Norie (Noray, Nore, Norn, Norrey, Norreys, Norrie, Norris, Norye).

Tolmie.Further Information

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