Scottish Clans, Families, and Ancestry Resources

Clan MacRae
Famed for their skill as archers, warriors and bodyguards, the ‘wild MacRaes’ were a clan feared and respected in equal measure. The lochs and mountains of Kintail were their realm, with spectacular Eileen Donan castle the clan’s home.
Eilean Donan Castle, Dornie, Ross Shire, Scotland
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Clan Douglas
Clan Douglas is an ancient family from the Scottish Lowlands and was once one of the most powerful families in Scotland. The name itself is said to come from the Gaelic dubhghlais meaning ‘black water’. The clan’s traditional heartlands are mainly in Lowland Scotland – Lanarkshire and Dumfries & Galloway – as well as Angus further north. The clan does not currently have a chief, therefore it is considered an armigerous clan. The Lanarkshire Douglases came to be known as the ‘Black Douglases’ whereas those from Angus became known as the ‘Red Douglases’.
Drumlanrig Castle, Thornhill, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
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Clan Bruce / House of Bruce
Clan Bruce was one of the richest and most powerful clans in the 12th-14th centuries. It was a Royal House in the 14th century and produced two kings of Scotland.
Broomhall House, Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland
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Clan MacMillan
MacMillan is a clan with an ancient royal heritage - one 12th century chief was a descendent of Macbeth, King of Scotland and inspiration to Shakespeare.
Clan MacMillan International Centre, Finlaystone, Renfrewshire, Scotland
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Clan Chisholm
Clan Chisholm is blessed with ancestral lands that include some of the most beautiful glens in Scotland. Clan members roamed over territory that included Glen Cannich and the stunning Glen Affric.
Erchless Castle, Struy, Inverness Shire, Scotland
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Clan MacLennan
This Highland clan had its roots in the north-west of Scotland, around the mountains and lochs of Kintail. The MacLennans were related to Clan Logan, with whom they share a tartan.
Invershiel, Ross Shire, Scotland
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Clan MacPherson
The Clan Macpherson were known as the guardians of the heart of the Scottish Highlands. They controlled and protected the routes trodden by soldiers, pilgrims and drovers through the wilds of Badenoch, the Cairngorms and Speyside.
Newtonmore, Inverness-shire, Scotland
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Clan Campbell
Clan Campbell was one of the largest and most powerful of the Highland clans. MacCailean Mór, the Chief of Clan Campbell, held extensive lands across Argyll and his descendants exercised political influence at the highest levels for five centuries in Scotland and, from 1707, in Britain.
Inveraray Castle, Inveraray, Argyll, Scotland
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Clan Donald (MacDonald)
Clan Donald is one of the largest Scottish clans, once controlling lands and waterways in the west highlands and the Hebrides. Its ancient chiefs were known as ‘Lord of the Isles’.
Armadale Castle, Armadale, Isle Of Skye, Scotland
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Clan Murray
Clan Murray has the unique honor of maintaining Europe's only legal private army. Their stronghold of Duffus Castle was once one of Scotland’s strongest castles.
Blair Castle, Blair Atholl, Perthshire, Scotland
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Clan Stuart / Stewart
The Clan Stewart is the clan of the royal Stewarts who ruled Scotland from 1371 to 1603. The progenitor of the clan was a seneschal (a hereditary steward) of the Bishop of Dol in Brittany called Alan FitzFlaad. He came to England soon after the Norman Conquest in 1066 and the FitzAlan family quickly established themselves as a powerful Anglo-Norman nobles.
Esplanade, Stirling Castle, Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland
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Clan MacLeod
Clan MacLeod ruled the wild, mountainous and very beautiful islands in the north western edge of Scotland - Skye, Lewis and Harris and Raasay. The clan descend from seafaring Norse Kings and its rich history stretches back over 800 years.
Dunvegan Castle & Gardens, Dunvegan House, Dunvegan, Isle of Skye, Scotland
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Clan Fraser
Clan Fraser has two distinct branches, one in the Lowlands and one in the Highlands. Many members of Clan Fraser have distinguished themselves, particularly on the field of battle.
Castle Fraser, Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
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Clan MacLean
Clan Maclean is an ancient family of the Hebrides. From the spectacular Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull, they commanded a large and loyal fighting force that played its part in may historical dramas.
Duart Castle, Isle Of Mull, Argyll, Inner Hebrides, Scotland
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Clan MacKenzie
The members of Clan Mackenzie have roamed far and wide from their traditional homelands in Kintail and Ross-shire. Their seat today is Castle Leod, but spectacular Eileen Donan was the clan’s original home.
Castle Leod, Strathpeffer, Easter Ross, Scotland
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Clan Armstrong
The Armstrongs are a ‘heidless clan’. The last chief, a Laird of Mangerton was hanged in 1611, yet they have populated the world and their spirit lives on. ‘I Remain Unvanquished’ is their hopeful motto. Legend has it the Armstrongs got the name after a man rescued a fallen king in battle and raised him back onto his horse. The Armstrong crest features an arm grasping a leg in armour. From the 13th century, Armstrongs settled in the Borderlands between England and Scotland, becoming the most feared family on the divide.
Gilnockie Tower, Clan Armstrong Centre, Canonbie, Dumfries & Galloway, Scotland
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Clan Wallace
The name of Clan Wallace is writ large in the pages of Scottish history thanks to legendary patriot William Wallace. The clan struck fear into their enemies with their famous war cry of ‘Freedom!’.
Abbey Craig, Hillfoots Road, Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland
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Clan Cameron
Clan Cameron’s ancestral lands include Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK. Their crest features a sheaf of arrows to signify their prowess as warriors.
Achnacarry Castle, Achnacarry, Spean Bridge, Inverness Shire, Scotland
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Clan Gregor (MacGregor)
Clan Gregor is the clan of the legendary 18th century outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor. The clan was also one of the first Scottish families to begin playing the bagpipes, in the 17th century.
Kilchurn Castle, Loch Awe, Dalmally, Argyll, Scotland
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Clan Urquhart
An ancient Celtic family, Clan Urquhart held power over lands in the northeast of Scotland. The Clan name comes from Glen Urquhart and the spectacular Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness.
Castle Craig, Drumcudden, Black Isle, Scotland
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Clan Leslie
Leslie is a clan descended from a nobleman who married the sister of the King of Scotland. The family used its royal influence to thrive in the north-east of the country and to many far-flung parts of the world.
Leslie, Insch, Aberdeenshire, Scotland
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Clan Forrester
The Forresters are an ancient and noble clan of the Scottish Lowlands. The clan took their name from their ancient role as guardians of the royal forest around Edinburgh. The Forresters had significant holdings in Lothian, and Stirlingshire. The original home of the clan is believed to have been Torwood Castle in Stirlingshire, as well as Corstorphine Castle on the outskirts of Edinburgh.
Torwood, Falkirk, Scotland
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