Scottish history is filled with the exploits of fierce and patriotic clans who still hold titles and have seats of power in the illustrious castles of Scotland. Clanship was a system introduced in Scotland as a replacement to the division of seven tribal areas of the Scottish highlands of Pictish times. The system of social organization strengthened during the reign of King Malcolm Canmore with the introduction of clan surnames. There are many clan surnames that relate to that ancient society even today. In this article, we focus on a particular surname that holds the ancient bloodline of Scottish chieftains, the MacKenzie clan.
What is a clan?
A clan is a Gaelic word for children and essentially means family. The idea of a Scottish clan emerges from the fact that members of the clan have descended from an original patriarch. A clan traces its bloodline and even counts its extended family under the family tree.
In the pages of history, a clan is a close-knit family and a self-contained political unit that has its head and its own governing rules. The clan traditions and rules still remain active to an extent. Apart from traditions, religion also differentiated the most powerful clans of Scotland.
The MacKenzie clan
To understand clan history and structure, we delve deeper into the history of the MacKenzie clan in this section. The MacKenzie clan originated from the North of Scotland and was always associated closely with the monarchy. The bloodline is one of aristocrats and nobles throughout history. Even today, descendants of the MacKenzie clan hold titles and territory in Scotland.
The clan was initiated in the 11th century by a Celtic chief. The chief Gilleoin na h’Airde descended from the High Kings of Ireland. Therefore, the clan has enjoyed a royal reputation since ancient times. The name MacKenzie is a derivation of the Gaelic word MacCoinneach. The name roughly translates to Son of Kenneth.
The earliest records of the MacKenzie clan are that of Alexander Mackenzie, a 15th-century chief who ruled the clan for many years. He had an allegiance with the royal family. During his rule, the clan MacKenzie was a rival of the clan McDonald.
In medieval times, Clan MacKenzie served as the royal agent of the King and always supported the Crown strongly. The clan is said to have a strong presence in Northern Scotland like Edinburgh.
The Mackenzie Crest
The official crest of the MacKenzie clan is a mountain engulfed in flames. The message conveyed by the crest is “I shine, not burn.” The clan’s other motto is “Help the King,” a sign of centuries of allegiance with the Royal family and faith in the Crown.
The seat of Power and Castles
As a powerful clan with links with the Royal Family, the clan held the largest territory among all Scottish clans. Their territory encompassed land from the East Coast to the West Coast of Scotland. The Eilean Donan Castle is believed to be the origin of Clan MacKenzie. The old and formidable castle has stood strong as the MacKenzie seat of power since the 13th century.
In the modern-day, the Clan MacKenzie recognizes Castle Leod as its official residence. Even today, the MacKenzie family holds a lot of influence and power in Scotland. There are many other castles that the clan owns today.