Clan Donald

Clan Donald
Clann Dòmhnaill, Na Dòmhnallaich[1]
Crest: On a crest coronet Or, a hand in armor fessways couped at the elbow proper holding a cross crosslet fitchy Gules.
MottoPer mare per terras ('by sea and by land')[2]
War cryFraoch eilean ('the heathery isle')
Profile
RegionHighland and Islands
DistrictInner Hebrides
Ross
Plant badgeCommon heath[3]
Chief
Godfrey James Macdonald of that Ilk
The 8th Baron Macdonald, Chief of the Name and Arms of Macdonald, High Chief of Clan Donald and 34th hereditary Chief of Clan Donald.
Historic seatFinlaggan Castle
Septs of Clan Donald
Clan branches
MacDonald of Islay (historic chiefs)
Baron Macdonald (current chiefs)
MacAlister (senior cadet branch of Clan Donald)
Macdonald of Sleat (Clan Donald North)
MacDonald of Dunnyveg (Clan Donald South)
Macdonald of Clanranald (Clan Ranald)
MacDonald of Keppoch (Clan Ranald of Lochaber)
MacDonald of Largie (Clan Ranald Bane)
MacDonell of Glengarry (Clan Ranald of Knoydart & Glengarry)
MacDonnell of Antrim (MacDonnells of the Glens)
MacDonald of Ardnamurchan (Clan MacIain)
Clan MacDonald of Glencoe
MacDonald of Lochalsh
Allied clans
Rival clans
Kindreds

Clan Donald, also known as Clan MacDonald (Scottish Gaelic: Clann Dòmhnaill; Mac Dòmhnaill [ˈkʰl̪ˠãũn̪ˠ ˈt̪õː.ɪʎ]), is a Highland Scottish clan and one of the largest Scottish clans. The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of coats of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, recognises under Scottish law the High Chief of Clan Donald. Historically the chiefs of the Clan Donald held the title of Lord of the Isles until 1493 and two of those chiefs also held the title of Earl of Ross until 1476. Queen Mary of Denmark is member of Clan Donald.

There are also numerous branches to the Clan Donald and 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, Clan MacDonald of Glencoe, and Clan MacAlister. There are also notable historic branches of Clan Donald without chiefs so-recognised, these are: the Clan MacDonald of Dunnyveg, Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh, and the MacDonalds of Ardnamurchan. The MacDonnells of Antrim are a cadet branch of the MacDonalds of Dunnyveg but do not belong to the Scottish associations and have a chief officially recognised in Ireland.

  1. ^ Mac an Tàilleir, Iain. "Ainmean Pearsanta" (docx). Sabhal Mòr Ostaig. Retrieved 15 October 2009.
  2. ^ George Way of Plean; Squire 2000: p. 170.
  3. ^ Adam, Frank; Innes of Learney, Thomas (1970). The Clans, Septs & Regiments of the Scottish Highlands (8th ed.). Edinburgh: Johnston and Bacon. pp. 541–543.

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