MacDonald of ClanRanald Info please.

[Pete McKechnie/Diane Vaughan]

I am rather new to the history of the Scottish clans. My surname is McKechnie,
originally spelt "MacKechnie" My clan is MacDonald and my sept is
ClanRanald....can anyone f=give me info on where this clan came from in
Scotland or any history whatsoever and whjen they came in to North America?

I currently reside in Ontario Canada, feel free to email me at the above
address or post thanks.

Pete

[john suffill]

In article <4okh2b$g...@myth.vianet.on.ca>

pet...@vianet.on.ca "Pete McKechnie/Diane Vaughan" writes:

> I am rather new to the history of the Scottish clans. My surname is McKechnie,
> originally spelt "MacKechnie" My clan is MacDonald and my sept is
> ClanRanald....can anyone f=give me info on where this clan came from in
> Scotland or any history whatsoever and whjen they came in to North America?

Here's a brief history of MacDonald of Clanranald, I hope it helps.
As for when the clan moved over to America, it was during the Clearances,
when the tenants were forced from their homes to make way for sheep-
farming. In some cases homes were burnt to the ground with people still
inside whilst those escaping were set upon by dogs. The worst part is,
they were often driven from their lands by the clan chief.....

Bit of a pisser, really!

Clan MacDonald of Clanranald.

The chief of this branch of clan Donald is Ranald Macdonald, Captain
of Clanranald. The clan takes its name from Ranald, the younger son
of John Lord of the Isles from his first marriage to Amy McRuari
(or McRory) who succeeded to his mothers estates.

It was the son of Clanranald who freed Alasdair, Lord of the Isles
trom Tantallon Castle by invading Lochaber, during which he lost his
own life.

Dugald, the 6th chief of the clan, was so vicious that he was murdered
by his own kinsmen and was succeded by his uncle, Alistair. Alistair's
natural son, John of Moidart gained the title in 1530 at the family
stronghold of Castle Tirrim but was imprisoned 10 years later for his
unruly conduct. While he was imprisoned, an unsuccessful attempt was
made to replace him by a son of the 5th chief, eventually leading to
the battle known as Blar-Na-Leine (the field of the shirts) because
the fighters discarded their plaids and fought in their shirts.

Clanranald supported Montrose at Killicrankie, with 16 year old John,
11th chief, leading 500 clansmen into battle. Alexander, 13th chief,
died at the Battle of Sheriffmuir and was succeeded by his brother
Ranald, who died at the Jacobite court in France.

Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard on Clanranald land and one
of his supporters was "young Clanranald", who later became 17th chief.
After the Battle of Culloden Bonnie Prince Charlie took refuge in
Clanranald lands in Benbecula and Uist before he sailed for France.
The chief of Clanranald was forced into exile after barely escaping
with his life.

In the 19th century however, the 500 year old estates were frittered
away by the chief in Regency London and Brighton, whilst at the same
time the rents were being squeezed out of his tenants. From 1830 the
clan lands were sold off to clan Gordon, one of the most ruthless
clans during the Highland Clearances.

When the 23rd chief died in 1944 without leaving a heir, the Lord
Lyon was asked to decide between the septs of Boisdale and Waternish.
Lord Lyon decided in favour of Boisdale, making Ranald MacDonald the
24th chief of Clanranald.

The clan motto is "My hope is constant in thee" and the badge shows
a castle surmounted by an armoured arm holding a sword.

Cheers

--

**********************************************************************
****** John ******* ***** Internet: jo...@culloden.demon.co.uk *****
**** Suffill **** *********** Fidonet: 2:2502/666.1 ***********
*************** ********************************************

[Scott Jorgensen]

Pete McKechnie/Diane Vaughan wrote:
>
> I am rather new to the history of the Scottish clans. My surname is McKechnie,
> originally spelt "MacKechnie" My clan is MacDonald and my sept is
> ClanRanald....can anyone f=give me info on where this clan came from in
> Scotland or any history whatsoever and whjen they came in to North America?
>

> I currently reside in Ontario Canada, feel free to email me at the above
> address or post thanks.
>
> Pete

Pete,

My understanding is that ClanRanald IS a Clan unto itself (A
McDonald nonetheless, like Clans McDonald of Sleat, McDonald of Keppoch
etc.). I don't think "sept" accurately describes ClanRanald.

McDonald's great ancestor was a man named Somerled, who
supposedly gained that power and prestige from booting the Saxons and
the Norse out of his territory.

Sonas,

Scott Jorgensen Clan Mitchell

[John MacDonald]

Pete
Take a look at the following Web Site and surf from there, some good
information.

John MacDonald
Chilliwack,BC

http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Heritage/FSCNS/ScotsHome.html

[nvka...@gmail.com]

The McKechnies my daughter is from are from Scotland, but settled in Ontario and her branch moved on to Manitoba. There is a book called "What Men They Were" about her branch of the family. The author is S. Wyman MacKechnie. You can Google it :)

[jayla...@gmail.com]

Pete,
My grandmother came from the McKechnie clan that came to the US in the early 1800’s. North Carolina to be exact. I have a Greig (MacGregor) and McKechnie marrying and then coming to the US. Apparently those two clans looked out fofr each other?
I wonder if we are related?