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MacNaughton
| Crest Badge: | A castle embattled, gules. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motto: | I hope in God. | ||
| Gaelic Name: | MacNeachdainn. |
Sept Names: Hendrie,
Hendry, Kendrick, MacBrayne, MacKnight, MacNiven, MacNuyer, Niven, MacHendrie,
MacHendry, MacNair, MacNayer, MacVicar, Weir*
The translation of the Gaelic name of this clan is 'son of the pure one', who is alleged to be Nachtan Mor, who died in the 10th century. The clan lands were transferred from the Province of Moray to the Crown lands in Strathtay in Perthshire in the 12th century, and later they held lands on Loch Awe and Loch Fyne.
Alexander III appointed Gilchrist MacNaughton hereditary keeper of the castle of Fraoch Eilean in Loch Awe. The Clan were already the keepers of Dubh-Loch in Glenshira and Dunderave on Loch Fyne.
The MacNaughtons did not support Robert the Bruce, and when he became King, they lost most of their land, but eventually they received other land, such as in Lewis, from King David II.
The MacNaughtons fought at many of Scotland's battles. In 1513, at the Battle of Flodden, the chief of the clan was slain. The MacNaughtons always remained loyal to the Stuarts, and after the Restoration, the chief received a knighthood from Charles II.
The estates passed out of the family in 1691, having been forfeited to the Crown, and eventually the chiefship went to the MacNaughtons in Ireland, who had settled there, during the reign of Elizabeth I.
| Macnaughton is supposed by Mr
Skene to have originally belonged to Moray. The MS of 1450 deduces the descent of the heads of the clan from Nachtan Mor, who is supposed to have lived in the 10th century. The Gaelic name Neachtain is the same as the Pictish Nectan, celebrated in the Pictish Chronicle as one of the great Celitc divisions in Scotland, and the appellation is among the most ancient in the north of Ireland, the original seat of the Cruithen Picts. According to Buchanan of Auchmar, the heads of this clan were for ages thanes of Loch Tay, and possessed all the country between the south side of Loch-Fyne and Lochawe, parts of which were Clenira, Glenshira, Glenfine, and other places, while their principal seat was Dunderraw on Loch-Fyne. In the reign of Robert III, Maurince or Morice Macnaughton had a charter from Colin Campbell of Lochow of sundry lands in Over Lochow, but their first settlement in Argyleshire, in the central parts of which their lands latterly wholly lay, took place long before this. When Malcolm the Maiden attempted to civilise the ancient province of Moray, by introducing Norman and Saxon families, such as the Bissets, the Comyns, &c., in the place of the rude Celtic natives whom he had expatriated to the south, he gave lands in or near Strathtay or Strathspey, to Nachtan of Moray, for those he had held in that province. He had there a residence called Dunnachtan castle. Nesbit describes this Nachtan as "an eminent man in the time of Malcolm IV", and says that he "was in great esteem with the family of Lochawe, to whom he was very assistant in their wars with the Macdougals, for which he was rewarded with sundry lands". The family of Lochawe here mentioned were the Campbells. The Macnaughtons appear to have been fairly and finally settled in Argyleshire previous to the reign of Alexander III, and Gilchrist Macnaughton, styled of that ilk, was by that monarch appointed in 1287, heritable keeper of his castle and island of Frechelan (Fraoch Ellan) on Lochawe, on condition that he should be properly entertained when he should pass that way; whence a castle embattled was assumed as the crest of the family. This GIlchirst was father or grandfather of Donald Macnaughton of that ilk, who, being nearly connected with the Macdougals of Lorn, joined that powerful chief with his clan against Robert the Bruce, and fought against the latter at the battle of Dalree in 1306, in consequence of which he lost a great part of his estates. In Abercromby's Martial Achievements, it is related that the extraordinary courage shown by the king in having, in a narrow pass, slain with his own hand several of his pursuers, and amongst the rest three brothers, so greatly excited the admiration of the chief of the Macnaughtons that he became thenceforth on of his firmest adherents. His son and successor, Duncan Macnaughton of that ilk, was a steady and loyal subject to King David II, who, as a reward for his fidelity, conferred on his his son, Alexander, lands in the island of Lewis, a portion of the forfeited possessions of John of the Isles, which the chiefs of the clan Naughton held for a time. The ruins of their castle of Macnaughton are still pointed out on that island. Donald Macnaughton, a younger son of the family, was, in 1436, elected bishop of Dunkeld, in the reign of James I. Alexander Macnaughton of that ilk, who lived in the beginning of the 16th century, was knighted by James IV, whom he accompanied to the disastrous field of Flodden, where he was slain, with nearly the whole chivalry of Scotland. His son, John, was succeeded by his second son, Malcolm Macnaughton of Glenshira, his eldest son having predeceased him. Malcolm died in the end of the reign of James VI, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Alexander. John, the second son of Malcolm, being of a handsome appearance, attracted the notice of King James VI, who appointed him one of his pages of honour, on his accession to the English crown. He became rich, and purchased lands in Kintyre. His elder brother, Alexander Macnaughton of that ilk, adheared firmly to the cause of Charles I, and in his service sustained many severe losses. At the Restoration, as some sort of compensation, he was knighted by Charles II, and, unlike many others, received from that monarch a liberal pension for life. Sir Alexander Macnaughton spent his later days in London, where he died. His son and successor, John Macnaughton of that ilk, succeeded to an estate greatly burdened with debt, but did not hesitate in his adherence to the fallen fortunes of the Stuarts. At the head of a considerable body of his own clan, he joined Viscount Dundee, and was with him at Killiecrankie. James VII signed a deed in his favour, restoring to his family all its old lands and hereditary rights, but, as it never passed the seals in Scotland, it was of no value. His lands were taken from him, not by forfeiture, but "the estate", says Buchanan of Auchmar, "was evicted by creditors for sums noways equivalent to its value, and, there being no diligence used for relief therefore, it went out of the hands of the family". His son, Alexander, a captain in Queen Anne's guards, was killed in the expedition to Vigo in 1702. His brother, John, at the beginning of the last century was for many years collector of customs at Anstruther in Fife, and subsequently was appointed inspector-general in the same department. The direct male line of the Macnaughton chiefs became extinct at his death. "The Mackenricks are ascribed to the Macnaughton line, as also families of Macnights (or Macneits), Macnayers, Macbraynes, and Maceols". The present head of the Macbraynes is John Burns Macbrayne, grandson of Donald Macbrayne, merchant in Glasgow, who was great-grandson, on the female side, of Alexander Macnaughton of that ilk, and heir of line of John Macnaughton, inspector-general of customs in Scotland. On this account the present representative of the Macbraynes is entitled to quarter his arms with those of Macnaughtons. There are still Athole families of the Macnaughton name, proving so far what has been stated respecting their early possession of lands in that district. Stewart of Garth makes most honourable mention of one of the sept, who was in the service of Menzies of Culdares in the year 1745. That gentleman had been "out" in 1715, and was pardoned. Grateful so far, he did not join Prince Charles, but sent a fine charger to him as he entered England. The servant, Macnaughton, who conveyed the present, was taken and tried at Carlisle. The errand on which he had come was clearly proved, and he ws offered pardon and life if he would reveal the name of the sender of the horse. He asked with indignation if they supposed that he could be such a villain. They repeated the offer to him on the scaffold, but he died firm to his notion of fidelity. His life was nothing to that of his master, he said. The brother of this Macnaughton was known to Garth, and was one of the Gael who always carried a weapon about him to his dying day. |
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Another account of the clan... The name MacNaughton comes from the Pictish Nechton meaning "the pure one". Clan Nechtan were established in Strathtay in the 12th century, probably transferred there from Moray by Malcolm IV, but their possessions extended over the upper part of Loch Awe, Glenarn, Glenshira and Loch Fyne. Gilchrist MacNaughton was granted the castle and island of Fraoch Eilean in Loch Awe by Alexander III in 1267. In addition, Gilchrist also held Dunderave on Loch Fyne and the castle of Dubh Loch in Glenshira. As the MacNaughtons were allied to the MacDougalls of Lorne, their chief Donald MacNaughton opposed Robert the Bruce (as did the Comyns in the north). On Robert becoming King, the MacNaughtons lost many of their lands in Argyll to the Campbells. However Donald's son, Duncan, loyally supported King David II, who rewarded his son Alexander with lands in the Isle of Lewis. Sir Alexander, chief of the clan during the reign of James IV fell with his King at Flodden in 1513. The MacNaughtons continued to be loyal to the Stewarts both during the wars of Charles I and at the revolution of 1688 that overthrew James VII, for which they lost their estates in 1691. The 17th and last chief of the MacNaughtons was John of Dundarave who fell out with Campbell of Ardkinglas whose daughter he was to marry. MacNaughton thought he was to marry the younger daughter with whom he was in love, however after taking too much refreshment prior to the ceremony he discovered he'd been wed to the eldest daughter. On realising his predicament he promtly deserted his wife and eloped to Ireland with his love, the second daughter. Ardkinglas gained possession of the MacNaughton estates on the grounds of incest and the chiefship became vacant. In 1818, the Lord Lyon King of Arms accepted Edmund A MacNaghton of Bushmills Co. Antrim as chief of the clan and its his descendant Sir Patrick Macnaghton of that Ilk and Dundarave Co. Antrim who is the present-day chief. MacKendrick In Gaelic this is mac Eanruig -- 'son of Henry' It also appears as McHenry and MacHenry, and is not localized in any part of the country.Henderson A patronymic from given name Henry; its older form was Henryson, but the intrusive 'd' proved easier on the tongue, and the modern spelling now prevails. Never a clan in any sense of the word, the Hendersons formed a number of unconnected families who lived in different parts of Scotland. It is possible to recognize three main branches (1) Henderson of Fordell in Fife, whose earlier name was Henryson and who came originally from Dumfriesshire; William Henrison was chamberlain of Lochmaben Castle in the late 14th century. The poet Robert Henryson was a clerical schoolmaster attached to Dunfermline Abbbey in the 15th century; and Alexander Henderson, the Covenanter, was born in Fife around 1583.(2) In the far north a chieftain of the clan Gnu had a younger son Henry who founded a family of MacHendries or Hendersons who settled in the lowlands of Caithness. (3) A branch of the original Glencoe stock which claimed descent from Henry, son of the Pictish King Nechtan, styled themselves MacEanruig or MacKendrick, which was later translated into Henderson. There are of course many other Hendersons who originate with some unsung Henry: the surname is among the top thirty in Scotland, and the distribution very wide.
Quoting from the book, The Surnames of Scotland, page 509. Machendrie, Machendrick, Machenery, Machenry, Mackendrick, Mackendick. These are Highland border names meaning " son of Henry" in galic MacEanruig, the d is intrusive as in Henderson, which has the same meaning and is used as an Englishing of the name. John M`Henri, Lord of Koylan, charter witness, c 1370-80 ( Laing, 64). Gilcrest Makhenry, tenent of Hidderbrigende and Drumquharagan in 1480 appears again in 1483 as M`Henri. John McKanrig, probably his son, was tenant of Coschamby, Stragartna, in 1499 and appears again as John McCanrig or McCanrik, tenant of Drumquharagan, Stragartna, in 1502. The book goes on to say" The Henrys of Argyll and Duke are most probably originally MacKendricks".
Kendrick is a sept of Clan MacNaughton, also Clan Henderson. MacKendrick is also a sept of the Clan Henderson. The surname Kendrick also has Welsh origins. The Scots Kendricks are not necessarily connected to the Kendricks of Welsh origin. My source is "The Clans and Tartans of Scotland" by Robert Bain with regard to the Scots Kendricks and MacKendricks. Other sources refer to the Kendricks,derived from Cynric or Cynwric in Welsh. They were definitely in both places. Kendricks who went to Ireland usually were in Ulster, I believe, and became known as Scotch-Irish, although I believe correctly it should be Scots-Irish, not Scotch-Irish.
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