Of ancient Celtic roots and with their name meaning ‘son of Kenneth’, the Mackenzies trace a descent from a mid-thirteenth century ‘Kenneth’ whose many powerful roles included the governorship of Eilean Donan Castle and lordship over other families who lived in Kintail.
• This often brought them into conflict with his equally powerful relative William, Earl of Ross, who mounted an assault on Eilean Donan only for his men to be slaughtered.
• Known as ‘the children of Kenneth’, and with the motto ‘I shine, not burn’, the Mackenzies were among the loyal supporters of Robert the Bruce, providing him with shelter inside the forbidding walls of Eilean Donan in early 1307 while on the run from his enemies, and also playing an important part in his victory at the battle of Bannockburn seven years later.
Gordon Ancestry Scottish Clan History Booklet, Scottish Gift
A name with a number of possible points of origin, the Gordons hold a prominent place in the pages of the drama that is Scotland's frequently turbulent history. • From about the twelfth century, they...
Smith Ancestry Scottish Clan History Booklet, Scottish Gift
The origins of the surname Smith can be traced back to the mists of time when man discovered how to extract precious metals from ores and skillfully fashion them into implements of both war and peace...
Robinson Ancestry Scottish Clan History Booklet, Scottish Gift
Although to be found throughout Scotland, it was mainly in what for centuries was the largely untamed far north that bearers of the Robinson name led a particularly precarious and violent existence...
Boyd Ancestry Scottish Clan History Booklet, Scottish Gift
The blood of Norman warriors who first arrived on British shores with the Conquest of 1066, flows through the veins of the Boyds of today. • By the twelfth century they had found a new home in...
MacLeod Ancestry Scottish Clan History Booklet, Scottish Gift
A rich and heady brew of the blood of norsemen and Celts runs through the veins of bearers of the proud name of MacLeod today. • They are believed to descend from the thirteenth century Leod, son of...
Gordon Ancestry Scottish Clan History Booklet, Scottish Gift
A name with a number of possible points of origin, the Gordons hold a prominent place in the pages o…
Smith Ancestry Scottish Clan History Booklet, Scottish Gift
The origins of the surname Smith can be traced back to the mists of time when man discovered how to …
Robinson Ancestry Scottish Clan History Booklet, Scottish Gift
Although to be found throughout Scotland, it was mainly in what for centuries was the largely untame…
Boyd Ancestry Scottish Clan History Booklet, Scottish Gift
The blood of Norman warriors who first arrived on British shores with the Conquest of 1066, flows th…
MacLeod Ancestry Scottish Clan History Booklet, Scottish Gift
A rich and heady brew of the blood of norsemen and Celts runs through the veins of bearers of the pr…