Scottish Clans - Clan MacALISTER

SCOTTISH CLANS - MacALISTER


MOTTO BOLDLY	CLAN TARTAN MacALISTER

Asserting themselves as independent of the main Clan Donald early in the 13th century, the MacAlisters were one of the earliest clans to do so. They descend from Alasdair Mor a younger son of Donald, Lord of The Isles. The descendants of Alasdair Mor settled mainly in South Knapdale (Kintyre). By 1366 the Chief of the Clan MacAlister was Ranald, son of Alexander, who lived in Kintyre in an area called Lowb, later Loup. In 1481 Charles MacAlister became the Constable of the Castle of Tarbet and was invested with the Stewartry of Kintyre by James III.

Although the Clan had influence, they did not have great numbers and formed alliances with other clans to pool resources should the need arise. The Earl of Argyll gave the family a charter relating to the Tarbet lands and over the following two centuries a successful branch of the family of Tarbet grew. Similar land acquisition and fruitfulness occurred in Arran and Bute.

The principal family was the MacAlisters of Loup who were supporters of the royal house of Stewart. Alexander, 8th of Loup fought at Killiecrankie with Bonnie Dundee. He was succeeded by his brother Charles, who married a daughter of Lamont of that Ilk. Charles, 12th of Loup, married Janet Somerville, an heiress of Kennox in Ayrshire. The MacAlisters of Loup and Kennox have since sold their seat at Kennox.

By 1706 the House’s Tarbet lands had passed to the MacLeans while, from the flourishing Loup family, Duncan MacAlister made his way to Holland in 1717. There, he established himself as a great officer and through him the name continues in Northern Europe.

The present chief was recognised in 1991 by the Lord Lyon as being the rightful chief of the clan. He is the 17th chief of Clan MacAlister.