Clan MacEacharn
Encyclopedia
Clan MacEacharn were a group of families who occupied lands in the Kintyre
, Islay
, and Morvern
regions of Scotland
. They are traditionally known as one of the oldest Western Highland family names. The history of the Kintyre branch and its sub branches are well known, however the histories of the Islay and Morvern branches is obscure.
with other clan
s branching from them. The clan has no sept
s, only branch families known under different clan
names. The traditional seat of the MacEacharns was Kilellan Estate in Southern Kintyre
. Kilellan translates as "the church of St Fillan". Saint Fillan's mother was Saint Kentigerna. Saint Kentigerna
was a Leinster
princess. Her father was King Cellach Cualann
. Along with her brother Saint Comgan and her son Fillan
she traveled to Scotland in the late 7th century AD.
The early 20th century scholar Rev. A.M. Sinclair noted that the genealogy of the MacEacherns was given in the Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis as "Andrew, son of Colin, son of Macrath, son of Gilchrist, son of Macrath, son of Marceartach, son of Cormac, son of Seth, son of Ferchar, son of Finlay, son of Nichol, son of Maine, son of Murdoch, son of Ectigern, who was called In Gamor". Sinclair speculated that the "In Gamor" may stand for an gainnear, meaning "the archer"; though also noted that it could also stand for an ceannair, meaning "the driver". Sinclair stated that Macrath, son of Ectigern had three sons—Gilchrist, Dugall, and Ranald. Gilchrist succeeded his father in Kintyre and was succeeded by his own son, Macrath, who was in turn succeeded by his son, Colin. Colin was in turn succeeded by his son, Andrew, who was chief of the clan in 1385. Sinclair also stated that Colin of Kilellan, a descendant of Andrew, was chief in the year 1493.
Sinclair disagreed with the claimed ancestry of the Clan Dugall Craignish
and stated further that in the House of Argyll and the Collateral Branches of the Clan Campbell
.
, we are told that the MacCouls of Craignish are descended from Dugall Campbell, third son of Sir Archibald Gillespic Campbell. This statement is groundless, and contrary to known historic facts. MacCoul is a shortened form of Mac Dhughaill or MacDougall. MacCoul of Craignish means simply MacDougall of Craignish. There were two clan Dougalls in Scotland, the Clan MacDougall
s of Lorn, who were descended from Dugall, son of Somerled
of the Isles, and the Clan Dugall Craignish
, who were descended from Dugall, son of Macrath, son of Ectigern. MacCoul is simply a contracted form of MacDougall. Both names are the same in Gaelic, Mac Dhughaill.
The clan
is not registered with the Court of the Lord Lyon
and as such is not officially recognised as a clan.
Ectigern, the progenitor of Siol Eachairn had three sons. These being Gilchrist (Gilles) the eldest, Dugal, and Ranald being the youngest.
, the Annals of Tigernach
or the Annals of Ulster
and is first mentioned in 760AD in the Annals of Ulster
. The name is also written in Latin as MACHEACHYRNA as it is on the MacEacharn Cross at Kilkerran
Some of the many spellings of the name are MacEacharn; MacEachran; MacEchern; MacEachern, McEachern
; Macharn; MacEacharin; MacEachthighearna; MacEachairn. Names such as the Scottish Gaelic MacEachainn
, and the Anglicised forms MacEachen, and MacEachin, are similar but not related names. Also reference Alexander MacBain, M.A., LL.D "Etymology of the Principal Gaelic national names, personal names, surnames : to which is added a disquisition on Ptolemy's Geography of Scotland"
The name is translated from Old Irish to mean in English Son of the Horse Lord. The original spelling of the name in Old Irish is Ectigern.
Clan MacEacharn was associated with Clan MacInnes, the MacMasters and the MacGillivrays in an alliance known as Siol Gillebride (The Seed of the Servant of Saint Bride) under the leadership of the Hebridean warrior Somerled
, son of Gille Bride, son of Gille Adomnan. In the mid 14th century, the last chief of Clan MacInnes was killed, along with his sons, by order of John of Islay, Lord of the Isles. Some of the Clan MacInnes took refuge with the Clan Dugall Craignish
, who by this time were known as Campbell of Craignish
.
The Chief of Clan MacEacharn held a place on the Council of the Lords of the Isles as a freeholder. Freeholders were not descended paternally from Clan Donald
.
The eighth Chief of Clan MacDougall
Iain of Dunollie married Christina MacDougall daughter of the fourth chief of Clan Dugall Craignish
. After twenty years they produced one son, Dougall, who became ninth chief of Clan MacDougall
.
Alan MacCoul MacDougall of the MacCouls of Clan Dugall Craignish
was the illegitimate kinsman of John MacDougall of Dunollie, 11th Chief of Clan MacDougall
.This paternal association may indicate that Clan Dugall Craignish
and Clan MacDougall
are paternally related.
Kintyre
Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
, Islay
Islay
-Prehistory:The earliest settlers on Islay were nomadic hunter-gatherers who arrived during the Mesolithic period after the retreat of the Pleistocene ice caps. In 1993 a flint arrowhead was found in a field near Bridgend dating from 10,800 BC, the earliest evidence of a human presence found so far...
, and Morvern
Morvern
Morvern is a peninsula in south west Lochaber, on the west coast of Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic A' Mhorbhairne . The highest point is the summit of the Corbett Creach Bheinn which reaches in elevation....
regions of Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. They are traditionally known as one of the oldest Western Highland family names. The history of the Kintyre branch and its sub branches are well known, however the histories of the Islay and Morvern branches is obscure.
Origins of Clan MacEacharn
The MacEacharns are known as Siol Eachairn. "The Seed of the Horse Lord". They are a clanClan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
with other clan
Scottish clan
Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs recognised by the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which acts as an authority concerning matters of heraldry and Coat of Arms...
s branching from them. The clan has no sept
Sept
A sept is an English word for a division of a family, especially a division of a clan. The word might have its origin from Latin saeptum "enclosure, fold", or it can be an alteration of sect.The term is found in both Ireland and Scotland...
s, only branch families known under different clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
names. The traditional seat of the MacEacharns was Kilellan Estate in Southern Kintyre
Kintyre
Kintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
. Kilellan translates as "the church of St Fillan". Saint Fillan's mother was Saint Kentigerna. Saint Kentigerna
Kentigerna
Caintigern , or Saint Kentigerna, was a daughter of Cellach Cualann, King of Leinster, and of Caintigern, daughter of Conaing Cuirre. Her feast is listed in the Aberdeen Breviary for 7 January....
was a Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
princess. Her father was King Cellach Cualann
Cellach Cualann
Cellach Cualann mac Gerthidi was the last Uí Máil king of Leinster. Cellach's byname is derived from the land of Cualu which lay around Glendalough.The name Uí Máil may mean "grandsons of the princes"...
. Along with her brother Saint Comgan and her son Fillan
Fillan
Saint Fillan, Filan, Phillan, Fáelán or Faolan is the name of two Scottish saints, of Irish origin. The career of a historic individual lies behind at least one of these saints Saint Fillan, Filan, Phillan, Fáelán (Old Irish) or Faolan (modern Gaelic) is the name of (probably) two Scottish...
she traveled to Scotland in the late 7th century AD.
The early 20th century scholar Rev. A.M. Sinclair noted that the genealogy of the MacEacherns was given in the Collectanea de Rebus Albanicis as "Andrew, son of Colin, son of Macrath, son of Gilchrist, son of Macrath, son of Marceartach, son of Cormac, son of Seth, son of Ferchar, son of Finlay, son of Nichol, son of Maine, son of Murdoch, son of Ectigern, who was called In Gamor". Sinclair speculated that the "In Gamor" may stand for an gainnear, meaning "the archer"; though also noted that it could also stand for an ceannair, meaning "the driver". Sinclair stated that Macrath, son of Ectigern had three sons—Gilchrist, Dugall, and Ranald. Gilchrist succeeded his father in Kintyre and was succeeded by his own son, Macrath, who was in turn succeeded by his son, Colin. Colin was in turn succeeded by his son, Andrew, who was chief of the clan in 1385. Sinclair also stated that Colin of Kilellan, a descendant of Andrew, was chief in the year 1493.
Sinclair disagreed with the claimed ancestry of the Clan Dugall Craignish
Campbell of Craignish
The Campbells of Craignish , form one of the oldest branches of the ancient and powerful Clan Campbell in Scotland.. They claim descent from Dugald Campbell, the second son of Sir Archibald Gillespic Campbell , 5th Knight of Lochawe and 20th Chief of Clan Campbell at the time...
and stated further that in the House of Argyll and the Collateral Branches of the Clan Campbell
Clan Campbell
Clan Campbell is a Highland Scottish clan. Historically one of the largest, most powerful and most successful of the Highland clans, their lands were in Argyll and the chief of the clan became the Earl and later Duke of Argyll.-Origins:...
.
, we are told that the MacCouls of Craignish are descended from Dugall Campbell, third son of Sir Archibald Gillespic Campbell. This statement is groundless, and contrary to known historic facts. MacCoul is a shortened form of Mac Dhughaill or MacDougall. MacCoul of Craignish means simply MacDougall of Craignish. There were two clan Dougalls in Scotland, the Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall is a Highland Scottish clan consisting of the descendants of Dubgall mac Somairle, son of Somerled, who ruled Lorne and the Isle of Mull in Argyll in the 13th century...
s of Lorn, who were descended from Dugall, son of Somerled
Somerled
Somerled was a military and political leader of the Scottish Isles in the 12th century who was known in Gaelic as rí Innse Gall . His father was Gillebride...
of the Isles, and the Clan Dugall Craignish
Campbell of Craignish
The Campbells of Craignish , form one of the oldest branches of the ancient and powerful Clan Campbell in Scotland.. They claim descent from Dugald Campbell, the second son of Sir Archibald Gillespic Campbell , 5th Knight of Lochawe and 20th Chief of Clan Campbell at the time...
, who were descended from Dugall, son of Macrath, son of Ectigern. MacCoul is simply a contracted form of MacDougall. Both names are the same in Gaelic, Mac Dhughaill.
The clan
Scottish clan
Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs recognised by the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which acts as an authority concerning matters of heraldry and Coat of Arms...
is not registered with the Court of the Lord Lyon
Court of the Lord Lyon
The Court of the Lord Lyon, also known as the Lyon Court, is a standing court of law which regulates heraldry in Scotland. Like the College of Arms in England it maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, as well as records of...
and as such is not officially recognised as a clan.
Siol Eachairn
Siol Eachairn was written by Rev. Dugald MacEchern in 1933. Siol Eachairn draws upon the original research published 30 years prior by Rev A. Maclean Sinclair. The document outlines the known theories on the origins of the people and the name; it then goes on to give a genealogical account of the three main branches of the family. These being the three sons of a man who is named Ectigern and who it appears died in the mid 12th century.Ectigern, the progenitor of Siol Eachairn had three sons. These being Gilchrist (Gilles) the eldest, Dugal, and Ranald being the youngest.
- Gilchrist settled in South KintyreKintyreKintyre is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The region stretches approximately 30 miles , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south, to East Loch Tarbert in the north...
and was seated at Kilellan Estate. Gilchrist is the first chiefScottish clan chiefThe Scottish Gaelic word clann means children. In early times, and possibly even today, clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the Scottish clan. From its perceived founder a clan takes its name. The clan chief is the representative of this founder, and...
of Clan MacEacharn - Dugal stayed in Lorne and was seated at CraignishCraignishCraignish is a peninsula in Argyll, on the west coast of Scotland. It lies around south of Oban, and north of Lochgilphead. The peninsula is around long, and is aligned along a north-east to south-west orientation, in common with much of the landform of coastal Argyll. To the south is Loch...
. Dugal was the first Chief of Clan Dugall CraignishCampbell of CraignishThe Campbells of Craignish , form one of the oldest branches of the ancient and powerful Clan Campbell in Scotland.. They claim descent from Dugald Campbell, the second son of Sir Archibald Gillespic Campbell , 5th Knight of Lochawe and 20th Chief of Clan Campbell at the time... - Ranald stayed in Lorne and his ancestors became known as Clan MalcolmClan MalcolmClan Malcolm is a Highland Scottish clan. The Clan Malcolm is sometimes also called MacCallum. The Clan MacCallum was originally a separate clan until the 18th century when the chief of Clan MacCallum adopted the name Malcolm and the two clans were drawn together.-Origins of the Clan:The name...
or the MacCallums of Poltalloch
Origins of the name MacEacharn
The name is known to have originated in Ireland as Ectigern, meaning Horse Lord. The name is mentioned nineteen times in either the Annals of the Four MastersAnnals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
, the Annals of Tigernach
Annals of Tigernach
The Annals of Tigernach is a chronicle probably originating in Clonmacnoise, Ireland. The language is a mixture of Latin and Old and Middle Irish....
or the Annals of Ulster
Annals of Ulster
The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
and is first mentioned in 760AD in the Annals of Ulster
Annals of Ulster
The Annals of Ulster are annals of medieval Ireland. The entries span the years between AD 431 to AD 1540. The entries up to AD 1489 were compiled in the late 15th century by the scribe Ruaidhrí Ó Luinín, under his patron Cathal Óg Mac Maghnusa on the island of Belle Isle on Lough Erne in the...
. The name is also written in Latin as MACHEACHYRNA as it is on the MacEacharn Cross at Kilkerran
Some of the many spellings of the name are MacEacharn; MacEachran; MacEchern; MacEachern, McEachern
McEachern (surname)
McEachern and MacEachern are Irish and Scottish surnames. The names are Anglicised forms of the Gaelic Mac Eichthigheirn, meaning "son of Eichthighearn". The personal name Eichthighearn is composed of two elements. The first is each, meaning "horse"; the second is tighearna, meaning "lord"...
; Macharn; MacEacharin; MacEachthighearna; MacEachairn. Names such as the Scottish Gaelic MacEachainn
MacEachainn
MacEachainn is a masculine surname in Scottish Gaelic. The name translates into English as "son of Eachann". The feminine form of the name is NicEachainn, which translates to "daughter of the son of Eachann". These surnames originated as a patronyms, however they no longer refer to the actual name...
, and the Anglicised forms MacEachen, and MacEachin, are similar but not related names. Also reference Alexander MacBain, M.A., LL.D "Etymology of the Principal Gaelic national names, personal names, surnames : to which is added a disquisition on Ptolemy's Geography of Scotland"
The name is translated from Old Irish to mean in English Son of the Horse Lord. The original spelling of the name in Old Irish is Ectigern.
Clans Associated with Clan MacEacharn
In MorvernMorvern
Morvern is a peninsula in south west Lochaber, on the west coast of Scotland. The name is derived from the Gaelic A' Mhorbhairne . The highest point is the summit of the Corbett Creach Bheinn which reaches in elevation....
Clan MacEacharn was associated with Clan MacInnes, the MacMasters and the MacGillivrays in an alliance known as Siol Gillebride (The Seed of the Servant of Saint Bride) under the leadership of the Hebridean warrior Somerled
Somerled
Somerled was a military and political leader of the Scottish Isles in the 12th century who was known in Gaelic as rí Innse Gall . His father was Gillebride...
, son of Gille Bride, son of Gille Adomnan. In the mid 14th century, the last chief of Clan MacInnes was killed, along with his sons, by order of John of Islay, Lord of the Isles. Some of the Clan MacInnes took refuge with the Clan Dugall Craignish
Campbell of Craignish
The Campbells of Craignish , form one of the oldest branches of the ancient and powerful Clan Campbell in Scotland.. They claim descent from Dugald Campbell, the second son of Sir Archibald Gillespic Campbell , 5th Knight of Lochawe and 20th Chief of Clan Campbell at the time...
, who by this time were known as Campbell of Craignish
Campbell of Craignish
The Campbells of Craignish , form one of the oldest branches of the ancient and powerful Clan Campbell in Scotland.. They claim descent from Dugald Campbell, the second son of Sir Archibald Gillespic Campbell , 5th Knight of Lochawe and 20th Chief of Clan Campbell at the time...
.
The Chief of Clan MacEacharn held a place on the Council of the Lords of the Isles as a freeholder. Freeholders were not descended paternally from Clan Donald
Clan Donald
Clan Donald is one of the largest Scottish clans. There are numerous branches to the clan. Several of these have chiefs recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms; these are: Clan Macdonald of Sleat, Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, and Clan...
.
The eighth Chief of Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall is a Highland Scottish clan consisting of the descendants of Dubgall mac Somairle, son of Somerled, who ruled Lorne and the Isle of Mull in Argyll in the 13th century...
Iain of Dunollie married Christina MacDougall daughter of the fourth chief of Clan Dugall Craignish
Campbell of Craignish
The Campbells of Craignish , form one of the oldest branches of the ancient and powerful Clan Campbell in Scotland.. They claim descent from Dugald Campbell, the second son of Sir Archibald Gillespic Campbell , 5th Knight of Lochawe and 20th Chief of Clan Campbell at the time...
. After twenty years they produced one son, Dougall, who became ninth chief of Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall is a Highland Scottish clan consisting of the descendants of Dubgall mac Somairle, son of Somerled, who ruled Lorne and the Isle of Mull in Argyll in the 13th century...
.
Alan MacCoul MacDougall of the MacCouls of Clan Dugall Craignish
Campbell of Craignish
The Campbells of Craignish , form one of the oldest branches of the ancient and powerful Clan Campbell in Scotland.. They claim descent from Dugald Campbell, the second son of Sir Archibald Gillespic Campbell , 5th Knight of Lochawe and 20th Chief of Clan Campbell at the time...
was the illegitimate kinsman of John MacDougall of Dunollie, 11th Chief of Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall is a Highland Scottish clan consisting of the descendants of Dubgall mac Somairle, son of Somerled, who ruled Lorne and the Isle of Mull in Argyll in the 13th century...
.This paternal association may indicate that Clan Dugall Craignish
Campbell of Craignish
The Campbells of Craignish , form one of the oldest branches of the ancient and powerful Clan Campbell in Scotland.. They claim descent from Dugald Campbell, the second son of Sir Archibald Gillespic Campbell , 5th Knight of Lochawe and 20th Chief of Clan Campbell at the time...
and Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall is a Highland Scottish clan consisting of the descendants of Dubgall mac Somairle, son of Somerled, who ruled Lorne and the Isle of Mull in Argyll in the 13th century...
are paternally related.