The Clan MacDuff (Gaelic, MacDhuibh) is an Armigerous Scottish clan originating in the Scoto-Pictish line.
The son of Queen Gruoch (very loosely used by William Shakespeare to create Lady Macbeth) was murdered in 1058. Thereupon Malcolm Canmore ascended the throne as Malcolm III of Scotland. His son, Aedh, (Ethelred, Earl of Fife) married Margaret of Moray, the granddaughter of Owen Gruoch, and became both the Earl of Fife and the Abbott of Abernethy. Aedh bore as his arms a red lion rampant. He was the first subject of the kingdom.
Aedh died in 1128, and the men of Moray made a few unsuccessful attempts to claim the throne whilst Clan Duff gave its support to Queen Margaret.
The male line of Earls failed in 1353 and passed to Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany and Regent of Scotland. In 1425 the earldom was absorbed into the crown and the clan lost its great rank.
A title connected to Fife returned with William Duff, 1st Earl of Fife and Viscount Madcap in 1759. Later Alexander William George Duff, 6th Earl of Fife and 1st Duke of Fife, married the Princess Royal, HRH Louise (daughter of King Edward VII).
The direct line of the ancient house, continued in Wemyss. However, in the northern territories families of Clan Duff emerged with no proof of royal descent.
The Clan MacDuff has several septs, including Kilgour.
Clan MacDuff Crest: Deus juvat (God assists)
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