Clan MacLeod

The name was derived from an Old Norse nickname "Ljótr" meaning "ugly" and the original "Leod" (pronounced "lodge" in Gaelic) was said to have been descended from the Norse King Godfrey of the Isle of Man and the Hebrides. The MacLeods became established on Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and also on Skye, Assynt and Strathpeffer on the other side of Ross and Cromarty. Castle Leod in Strathpeffer was eventually taken over by the MacKenzies.

The MacLeods were supportive of the Lord of the Isles, including participating in the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, which did not endear them to the King of Scotland at the time. The chief failed to produce a charter confirming ownership of Lewis and King James VI attempted to establish immigrants from Fife. While this did not succeed, MacKenzie of Kintail obtained possession of Lewis following this.

It was a MacLeod chief who established a college for MacCrimmon pipers in the middle of the 16th century. Chief Rory "Mor" MacLeod who lived at Dunvegan Castle on Skye was knighted around 1613.

No friend of the Stewart kings, many of the MacLeods did not get involved in the Jacobite Uprisings of 1715 and 1745 (which may explain why Dunvegan Castle on Skye survived as the home of the clan chief for 700 years). Even so, it was Donald MacLeod who escorted Bonnie Prince Charlie for seven weeks, as he evaded capture after the Battle of Culloden. Another Donald MacLeod published a book "Gloomy Memories" in Canada of his experiences during the Highland Clearances in Sutherland.

In 1935, the chieftainship passed to Dame Flora MacLeod (who was the last person to be born at 10 Downing Street, the residence of the UK Prime Minister). Clan gatherings have been held at Dunvegan Castle which holds the "Fairy Flag of Dunvegan" and a medieval drinking horn (which holds a bottle and a half of claret) which is used at the inauguration of clan chiefs.
The clan motto is "Hold fast".

A number of clans are regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Mackenzie clan - Askey, Beton, Harold, Lewis, Macaskill, McCabe, MacCaig, MacCaskill, MacClure, MacCorkindale, MacLimmor, MacHarold, Mackaskill, MacLewis, MacLure, Tolmie.

MacLeod was the 45th most frequent surname at the General Register Office in 1995.

Motto:
"Hold fast".

Badge:
A bull's head between two flags.

Septs Of Clan MacLeod:
Clan MacLeod of Harris: Beaton, Bethune, Beton, MacCaig, MacClure, MacCrimmon, MacGuiag, MacHarold, Macraild, Norman. Clan MacLeod of Lewis: Callum, Lewis, MacAskill, MacAulay, MacCallum, MacCAskill, MacCorkindale, MacCorquodale, MacLewis, MacNicol, Malcolmson, Nicholl, Nicol, Nicoll, Nicholson, Nicolson, Tolmie.

Names associated with the clan:
Bay Beath Beathune Beathy Beaton Beatoun Beattone Beattoun Bethon Bethune Betoin Beton Betone Betoun Betown Betowne Betton Bettune Beutan Bey Bittoune Caig Caskey Caskie Casskie Kaskie Leach Leatch Lech Leche Leech Leeche Leetch Leiche Leitch Leitche Leyche Liche Liech Lietch Litch MacAig MacAige MacAiskill MacAsgaill MacAsgill MacAsguill MacAskel MacAskie MacAskill MacAskin MacAskle MacCabe MacCaibe MacCaig MacCaige MacCasgill MacCasguill MacCaskall MacCaskel MacCaskell MacCaskie MacCaskil MacCaskill MacCaskin MacCaskle MacCaskull MacChrummen MacCleod MacCleoyd MacCleud MacCloaud MacCloid MacCloide MacCloor MacCloud MacClour MacCloyd MacCluir MacCluire MacClure MacCoag MacCoage MacCoaig MacCrimmon MacCruimein MacCrumen MacCuaig MacCuiag MacCuthaig MacGaskell MacGaskill MacGlade MacGrimen MacGrimmon MacGuaig MacHarold MacHarrold MacIloure MacKaig MacKaige MacKaigh MacKaiscal MacKaiskill MacKascal MacKaskil MacKaskill MacKaskin MacKcaige MacKeag MacKeeg MacKegg MacKeig MacKigg MacKleod MacKluire MacLeoad MacLeod MacLeoid MacLeot MacLeud MacLeur MacLewd MacLode MacLoed MacLoid MacLoir MacLoor MacLoud MacLoyde MacLude MacLuir MacLur MacLure MacRaild MacRaill MacRailt MacRalte MacRimmon Makcloid Makcluir Makeeg Makhaig Makkloud Maklure MacLeod Of Assynt: Assynt MacLeod MacLeod Of Gesto: Gesto MacLeod MacLeod Of Lewis & Raasay: Aulay Auleth Callam Callum Challum Corquodale Kerkyll MacAla MacAlay MacAliece MacAllay MacAlley MacAllum MacAuihlay MacAula MacAulay MacAule MacAuley MacAuliffe MacAulla MacAullay MacAully MacAwla MacAwlay MacCala MacCalla MacCallay MacCalley MacCallie MacCallome MacCallow MacCallum MacCally MacCalme MacCaluim MacCalume MacCaula MacCaulaw MacCaulay MacCauley MacCauly MacCawley MacCleod MacCleoyd MacCleud MacCloaud MacCloid MacCloide MacCloud MacCloyd MacColem MacCollom MacCollum MacColum MacCorcadail MacCorcadale MacCorcadill MacCordadill MacCoren MacCorkell MacCorker MacCorkil MacCorkill MacCorkindale MacCorkle MacCorley MacCorqudill MacCorquell MacCorquhedell MacCorquidall MacCorquidill MacCorquidle MacCorquodale MacCorquodill MacCorquydill MacCowley MacCullom MacCullum MacGawley MacGilcallum MacGillechallum MacGillechaluim MacGillichalloum MacIllechallum MacKalla MacKallay MacKaula MacKauley MacKleod MacKlowis MacKorkitill MacKorkyll MacKurkull MacLeoad MacLeod MacLeoid MacLeot MacLeud MacLewd MacLewis MacLode MacLoed MacLoid MacLoud MacLoyde MacLude MacOrkill MacOrquidill MacOrquodale MacQuorcadaill MacQuorquhordell MacQuorquodale MacQuorquordill MacThorcadail MacThorcuill MacThurkill MacTorquedil Makalley Makallum Makally Makcalla Makcaulay Makcloid Makcocadill Makcorcadell Makcorquidill Makcorquydill Makkalay Makkloud Mikcorcadill Molcallum Thorcull Tolmach Tolme Tolmi Tolmie Torquil.

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