Clan Macewan

SCOTTISH CLANS - MACEWAN


MOTTO I GROW STRONG AGAIN	CLAN TARTAN MACEWAN COLOURS

The Clan MacEwen trace their descent from the Kings of Ireland and claim a common ancestor, Anradan, with the Lamonts, MacLachlans and the MacNeils. The earliest chief of the clan on record was Eoghain na’ h’ Oitrich, Ewen the Otter, who lived at the beginning of the 13th century. He was succeeded by Severan II of Otter. For a century little is known of the chiefs or the history of the clan. Gillespie V of Otter assumed the chiefship about 1315 and was followed by Ewen, John and Walter.

In 1432 the Barony of Otter was granted to Sween MacEwen by James I, with the remainder to the heir of Duncan Campbell . Thereafter Clan Ewen was without chief and homeland appearing only as dependants of the Campbells or as broken (clanless ) men. In 1602 an Act of Parliament lists them alongside MacLachlans and McNeils, as vassals of the Earl of Argyll, who is answerable for their behaviour.

The MacEwens found their way to many districts, some became absorbed by the Camerons and Mackintoshes others stayed on in Argyll and associated with the Campbells and the MacDougalls. Many of the clan settled on the shores of Loch Lomond in the Lennox country and are claimed to have fought on the side of Mary Queen of Scots at the battle of Langside in 1568. Some of the Clan moved on into Galloway and others to Perthshire. However despite the fragmented nature of the clan, the ruins of MacEwen’s castle can still be seen on the coast of Loch Fyne, and as a commemorate mark, the MacEwen Clan Society erected a cairn at this spot in 1990.

The MacEwens are reported to have supported the Jacobite uprising of 1715, but only as individuals. One of the most distinguished of this century was Sir Alexander MacEwen, the Scottish Nationalist, Provost of Inverness, the Highland capital.