Clan MacGregor

The Clan Gregor is a Highland Scottish clan. Outlawed for nearly two hundred years after losing their lands in a long power struggle with the Clan Campbell, the Clan Gregor claims descent from Kenneth MacAlpin, the first King of Scotland, a descent which is proclaimed in the motto, 'S Rioghal Mo Dhream, translated as Royal is my Race.

History

The Clan Gregor is believed to have originated in Scotland during the 800s. Although MacGregor lore suggests that the clan descends from Gregor, a son of the first King of Scotland, there is no evidence to support this claim. Instead, some modern historians believe that the clan may have been named for Griogair, son of Dungal, who is said to have been a co-ruler of Alba, an area of north central Scotland, between AD 879 and 889.

Although the MacGregors insist that they take their name from Gregor, a son of the Scottish king Kenneth MacAlplin, there is no evidence to support this claim. Instead, most historians believe the clan descends from Griogair, son of Dungal, who is said to have been a co-ruler of Alba, an area of north central Scotland, between AD 879 and 889.

Wars of Scottish Independence

During the Wars of Scottish Independence the Clan MacGregor fought bravely at the Battle of Bannockburn undder chief Malcolm MacGregor.

14th Century

Most historians agree that the first certain Chief was Gregor "of the Golden Bridles." Gregor's son, Iain Camm ("of the One-Eye") succeeded as the second Chief sometime prior to 1390.

The MacGregors suffered a reversal of fortune when the Scottish king, Robert the Bruce, awarded the bulk of their lands to the Clan Campbell. The MacGregors fought the Campbells for decades and were eventually dispossessed of all their lands. Reduced to the status of outlaws, they rustled cattle and poached deer to survive. They were formally banished in 1603 by King James VI who made it a capital offence to bear the MacGregor name. From this period comes the Clan MacGregor's most famous historical figure, Rob Roy. Persecution of the MacGregors ended in 1774.

Grave of Rob Roy MacGregor

Most modern historians agree that the first certain chief was Gregor "of the golden bridles". Gregor’s son, Iain Cam, "the one-eye," succeeded him as chief sometime prior to 1390.

In a stunning reversal of fortune, the Scottish king Robert the Bruce granted the barony of Loch Awe, which included much of the MacGregor lands, to the chief of the Clan Campbell. The Campbells ejected the unfortunate MacGregors from these lands, forcing them to retire deeper into their lands until they were largely restricted to Glenstrae.

16th Century

Iain of Glenstrae died in 1519 with no direct heirs. This plunged the Clan MacGregor into disarray as the powerful Campbells meddled with succession and asserted claim to the last remaining MacGregor lands. In 1560, the Campbells dispossessed Gregor Roy MacGregor, who waged war against the Campbells for ten years before being capture and killed. His son, Alistair, claimed the MacGregor chiefship but was utterly unable to stem the tide of persecution which was to be fate of the "Children of the Mist."

Argyle and his Clan Campbell henchmen were given the task of hunting down the MacGregors. About sixty of the clan made a brave stand at Bentoik against a party of two-hundred chosen men belonging to the Clan Cameron, Clan MacNab, and Clan Ronald, under command of Robert Campbell, son of the Laird of Glen Orchy. In this battle, Duncan Aberach, one of the Chieftains of the Clan Gregor, his son Duncan, and seven other MacGregors were killed. But although they made a brave resistance, and killed many of their pursuers, the MacGregors, after many skirmishes and great losses, were at last overcome.

Clan MacGregor fought the English at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh 1547.

17th Century

The The Battle of Glen Fruin took place in 1603 where the MacGregors were victorious, defeating five hundred Clan Colquhoun men, three hundred of whom were on horseback, by four hundred MacGregor men at Glen Fruin. Over two hundred of the Colquhoun men were lost when the MacGregors, who had split into two parties, attacked from front and rear and forced the horsemen onto the soft ground of the Moss of Auchingaich. It meant the proscription of the Clan MacGregor. It wasn’t until the eighteenth century that the enmity between the clans was laid to rest when, at Glen Fruin on the site of the massacre, the chiefs of the Clan MacGregor and Colquhoun met and shook hands.

The dispossessed MacGregors rustled cattle and poached deer to survive. When John Drummond, the king’s forester, was murdered after hanging some MacGregors for poaching, the chief of the Clan MacGregor was condemned by the Privy Council. In April 1603, King James VI issued an edict proclaiming the name of MacGregor ‘altogidder abolisheed’, meaning that those who bore the name must renounce it or suffer death.

Macgregor, along with eleven of his chieftains, was hanged at Edinburgh’s Mercat Cross in January 1604. Clan Gregor was scattered, many taking other names, such as Murray or Grant. They were hunted like animals, flushed out of the heather by bloodhounds. Persecution of the MacGregors continued until 1774 when they were permitted to be reestablished.

Jacobite Uprisings

In the 18th Century during the Jacobite Uprisings the Clan MacGregor who were under the Duke of Perth fought as Jacobites at the Battle of Prestonpans and the Battle of Culloden.

Clan Profile

• Origin of the name: Son of Gregory (flocksman)
• Gaelic name: MacGrioghair ("Son of Gregory")
• Motto: 'S rioghal mo dhream (My race is royal) or (My blood is royal)
• Slogan: "Ard Choille!" (The woody height!)
• Pipe music: Ruaig Ghlinne Freoine - The Chase (or Rout) of Glen Fruin
• Crest: A lion's head erased proper crowned with a five-pointed antique crown.

Tartans

MacGregor of Cardney .

MacGregor of Glengyle .

Rob Roy Macgregor .

MacGregor tartan (Vestiarium Scoticum)

Arms and Crest

• Argent, an oak tree eradicated in bend sinister proper, surmounted by a sword azure hilted and pommelled or, in bend supporting on its point, in the dexter canton, an antique crown gules.
• Clan MacGregor Crest: 'S rioghal mo dhream (My race is royal)

Notable Clan Members

• Gregor MacGregor
• Robert Roy MacGregor (Rob Roy)
• Sir Ian Kinloch MacGregor, 1912-1998. Chair of the British Steel Corporation between 1980 - 1983 and British Coal from 1983 - 1986. Sir Ian faced down the steel unions in his first days in post, but entered history as the man who finally broke the coal unions in the year-long miner's strike during 1984 - 1985 working alongside Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Chief

• Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor, 7th Bart., 24th Chief of Clan Gregor. His Gaelic designation is An t-Ailpeineach, a name which bears testimony to the Clan's Clann Ailpein - Clan Alpin origin, the older kindred name of our Clan.

Septs of Clan

Alpin Bain Beachley Black Bowers Bowie Coleman Comrie Dochart Dunn Fletcher Greer Gregg Gregor Gregorson Gregory Greig Grewer Grier Grierson Grigg Grigor Gruer King Kirkwood Lakie Landless Leckie Lockie MacAlpin MacAdam Macaldowie Macara Macaree MacChoiter MacConachie MacCrowther MacEan MacEwin MacGregor MacGrigor MacGrowther MacGruder Macilduy MacLeister MacLiver MacNee MacNie MacNeice MacNeish MacPeters MacPetrie Magruder Malloch McGehee McNish Mor Neish Patullo Peters Petrie Roy Skinner Stirling Stringer White Whyte Willox

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