Scottish Clans - Clan MacGillivray

SCOTTISH CLANS - MACGILLIVRAY


MOTTO TOUCH NOT THIS CAT	CLAN TARTAN MACGILLIVRAY

The name MacGillivray comes from the Gaelic, Gillie Brath, meaning son of the servant of judgement.

The MacGillivrays were a principal clan even before King Somerled drove the Norsemen from the western Isles, with lands in Mull, Lochaber and Morven.

The Macgillivrays were one of the oldest and most important of the septs of clan Chattan, and from 1626, when their head, Ferquhard MacAllister, acquired a right to the lands of Dunmaglass, frequent mention of them is found in the records. The clan’s progenitor, Gillivray, placed himself and his posterity under the protection of the Mackintoshes in the time of Ferquhard, fifth chief of Mackintosh, and clan have ever distinguished themselves by their prowess and bravery As Episcopalians they were persecuted by Calvinist and Presbyterian neighbours yet fought both in the ‘15 and ‘45 Jacobite Rebellions.

Perhaps the best known of the heads of this clan was Alexander, fourth in descent from the Ferquhard MacAllister. Alexander was selected by Lady Mackintosh to head her husband’s clan on the side of Prince Charlie in the ’45. He acquitted himself with the greatest credit, but lost his life, as did all but three of his officers, in the battle of Culloden. After that the clan emigrations began across the Atlantic. The estates of Dunmaglas were sold in 1890 and when the then chief died in 1852, the line died out and the chiefship has been dormant ever since. One of the three officers of the Mackintosh battalion who escaped from Culloden was Farquhar of Dalcrombie, whose grandson, Neil John M’Gillivray of Dunmaglass is the present head of the clan.