Clergymen of the old Celtic Church were not required to be celibate and could raise families, and this explains the Gaelic form of the name, ‘Mac a Phearson’, meaning ‘son of the parson.’
• Badenoch was their main territory and, while some of the name were indeed clergymen, others were to be found on the battlefield.
• This was through their membership of the mighty confederation of clans known as Clan Chattan, while the Macphersons’ own clan chief was known as Macpherson of Cluny.