Clan Mackenzie ( ) is a Highland
Scottish clan
A Scottish clan (from Scottish Gaelic , literally 'children', more broadly 'kindred') is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared heritage and descent to members, and in modern times have an official structure r ...
associated with Kintail and
Ross-shire
Ross-shire (; ), or the County of Ross, was a county in the Scottish Highlands. It bordered Sutherland to the north and Inverness-shire to the south, as well as having a complex border with Cromartyshire, a county consisting of numerous enc ...
. Its chiefs trace their lineage to the 12th century, though the earliest recorded chief is
Alexander Mackenzie of Kintail, who died after 1471. The clan supported
Robert the Bruce
Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (), was King of Scots from 1306 until his death in 1329. Robert led Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland during the First War of Scottish Independence against Kingdom of Eng ...
during the
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and 14th centuries.
The First War (1296–1328) began with the English invasion of Scotla ...
, but later feuded with the
Earls of Ross.
During the 15th and 16th centuries, Clan Mackenzie participated in several feuds with neighboring clans. In the 17th century, their chief was granted the title
Earl of Seaforth, and the clan supported the
Royalists in the
Scottish Civil War. They backed the Jacobites in
1715
Events
For dates within Great Britain and the British Empire, as well as in the Russian Empire, the "old style" Julian calendar was used in 1715, and can be converted to the "new style" Gregorian calendar (adopted in the British Empire in ...
but were divided in
1745, with their chief,
Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord Fortrose, supporting the British government, while
George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie, joined the Jacobites. Clan Mackenzie has a chief that is recognized by the
Court of the Lord Lyon, and the
Lord Lyon King of Arms
The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officer of State, Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scotland, Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry i ...
, who is the
heraldic authority in Scotland.
History
Traditional origins
The MacKenzies are believed to have the same ancestry as the
Matheson and Anrias clans.
All three are said to be descended from Gilleoin of the Aird, a
Gaelic dynast who lived in the early 12th century.
Another theory is that all three are descended from the thirteenth century
Kermac Macmaghan. The chiefs of the Clan Mackenzie are said to have been settled at their great stronghold on
Eilean Donan by 1297.
All of the earliest traditional Clan Mackenzie histories claim descent from a Fitzgerald progenitor. These histories include those by John Mackenzie of Applecross (died c.1684/5),
George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie (died 1714) and the unpublished Letterfearn, Ardintoul and Allangrange manuscripts. It is believed that all of these histories ultimately derive from a single manuscript created by William MacQueen, Parson of Assynt in 1576, now lost. Alexander Mackenzie followed the Fitzgerald theory for the first edition of his History of the Mackenzies in 1879, but abandoned it in his later 1894 edition based on the intervening publication of genealogies contained in
MS 1467.
Wars of Scottish Independence
In the 14th century during the
Wars of Scottish Independence
The Wars of Scottish Independence were a series of military campaigns fought between the Kingdom of Scotland and the Kingdom of England in the late 13th and 14th centuries.
The First War (1296–1328) began with the English invasion of Scotla ...
the Clan Mackenzie is said to have been among the clans who fought on the side of
Robert the Bruce
Robert I (11 July 1274 – 7 June 1329), popularly known as Robert the Bruce (), was King of Scots from 1306 until his death in 1329. Robert led Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland during the First War of Scottish Independence against Kingdom of Eng ...
at the
Battle of Inverurie (1308)
A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
against the forces of the
Clan Comyn who were rivals to the throne.
Chief Iain Mac Coinnich is said to have led a force of five hundred Mackenzies at the
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn ( or ) was fought on 23–24 June 1314, between the army of Robert the Bruce, King of Scots, and the army of King Edward II of England, during the First War of Scottish Independence. It was a decisive victory for Ro ...
in 1314 where the English were defeated.
Later in the 14th century, the Mackenzies are said to have become involved in battles against their powerful neighbour the
Earl of Ross and their allies. This resulted in the capture and subsequent execution of chief Kenneth Mackenzie in 1346.
Soon after this it appears that his successor as chief of the clan Mackenzie was living in an island castle in Loch Kinellan near Strathpeffer in Easter Ross and it was from this base that the clan was to advance westward once again to Kintail.
Recorded origins

An early genealogy of the Mackenzies appears in
MS 1467, but the earliest contemporary record of a living Mackenzie is of
Alexander Mackenzie of Kintail (''Alexandro McKennye de Kintaill'') who appeared in two supplications for papal dispensation in 1465 and 1466,
and was listed as a witness to a charter by
John of Islay, Earl of Ross, and Lord of the Isles on 4 November 1471.
The earliest known likeness of a Mackenzie is that of Sir Kenneth Mackenzie (d. 7 February 1491/1492), whose
effigy
An effigy is a sculptural representation, often life-size, of a specific person or a prototypical figure. The term is mostly used for the makeshift dummies used for symbolic punishment in political protests and for the figures burned in certain ...
can be seen at
Beauly Priory.
He is the first ''Mackenzie'' to be buried at Beauly Priory. There is no reliable evidence to support the traditional assertion that previous members of his family were buried at
Iona.
15th century and clan conflicts
In 1452 a force of tribes loyal to Mackenzie of Kintail took hostage a relative of the
Earl of Ross. This resulted in the
Battle of Bealach nam Broig which was fought to the north-west of
Ben Wyvis.
The
Clan Munro and their
septs the Dingwalls rescued the Ross hostage but won a hollow victory, with a great loss of their own men.
In 1488 the Clan Mackenzie fought at the
Battle of Sauchieburn
The Battle of Sauchieburn was fought on 11 June 1488, at the side of Sauchie Burn, a stream about south of Stirling, Scotland. The battle was fought between the followers of King James III of Scotland and a large group of rebellious Scottish ...
led by
Hector Roy Mackenzie but after the defeat of the King's forces there, Hector narrowly escaped, returning to Ross-shire where he took
Redcastle from the
Clan Rose
Clan Rose () is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Highlands.
History Origins of the clan
The chiefs of the Clan Rose were a Normans, Norman family. They had no connection to the ancient Celts, Celtic family of Clan Ross. They derive from Ros, nea ...
, for the rebels.
In 1491 the
Battle of Blar Na Pairce was fought between the Mackenzies and the MacDonalds.
This was followed by the
Raid on Ross also in 1491 when the Clan Mackenzie clashed with a number of clans including the
Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh,
Clan MacDonald of Clanranald,
Clan Cameron
Clan Cameron is a West Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber, and within their lands lies Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isl ...
and the
Chattan Confederation of
Clan Mackintosh.
In 1497
Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh and his clan rebelled against the King. MacDonald invaded the fertile lands of Ross-shire where he was defeated in battle by the Mackenzies at the
Battle of Drumchatt (1497), after which he was driven out of Ross-shire.
16th century and clan conflicts
During the
Anglo-Scottish Wars
The Anglo-Scottish Wars comprise the various battles which continued to be fought between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland from the time of the Wars of Independence in the early 14th century through to the latter years of the ...
John Mackenzie, 9th of Kintail led the clan at the
Battle of Flodden
The Battle of Flodden, Flodden Field, or occasionally Branxton or Brainston Moor was fought on 9 September 1513 during the War of the League of Cambrai between the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland and resulted in an English victory ...
in 1513.
John escaped but many of his followers lost their lives. John Mackenzie also fought at the
Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
The Battle of Pinkie, also known as the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh (), took place on 10 September 1547 on the banks of the River Esk, Lothian, River Esk near Musselburgh, Scotland. The last pitched battle between Scotland and England before the U ...
in 1547 where he was captured by the English. However, his clan paid a ransom of cows for his release.
The growing importance of the Clan Mackenzie was vividly demonstrated in 1544 when the
Earl of Huntly, the Lieutenant of the North, commanded chief John Mackenzie to raise his clan against
Clan Ranald of Moidart.
The Mackenzie chief refused and Huntly's supporters, the Clan Grant, Clan Ross and Clan Mackintosh declined to attack the Mackenzies. From that time the Mackenzies were recognised as a separate and superior force in the north-west.
On 13 December 1545 at
Dingwall
Dingwall (, ) is a town and a royal burgh in the Highland (council area), Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,491. It was an east-coast harbour that now lies inland.
Dingwall Castle was once the biggest castle north ...
, the
Earl of Sutherland entered into a bond of
manrent with John Mackenzie of Kintail for mutual defence against all enemies, reserving only their allegiance to the youthful
Mary, Queen of Scots
Mary, Queen of Scots (8 December 1542 – 8 February 1587), also known as Mary Stuart or Mary I of Scotland, was List of Scottish monarchs, Queen of Scotland from 14 December 1542 until her forced abdication in 1567.
The only surviving legit ...
.
At the
Battle of Langside
The Battle of Langside was fought on 13 May 1568 between forces loyal to Mary, Queen of Scots, and forces acting in the name of her infant son James VI. Mary’s short period of personal rule ended in 1567 in recrimination, intrigue, and disast ...
in May 1568 the Mackenzies fought on the side of Mary, Queen of Scots, against the forces of her half-brother
James Stewart, Earl of Moray
James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray (c. 1531 – 23 January 1570) was a member of the House of Stewart as the illegitimate son of King James V of Scotland. At times a supporter of his half-sister Mary, Queen of Scots, he was the regent of Scotl ...
. Their chief,
Kenneth Mackenzie, 10th of Kintail died the following month and was buried at Beauly.
In 1570, a feud broke out with the Munros over
Chanonry Castle. Andrew Munro of Milntown defended it for three years against the Clan Mackenzie, at the expense of many lives on both sides. The feud was settled when the castle was handed over to the Mackenzies by an "Act of Pacification".
In 1597, the
Battle of Logiebride took place between the Mackenzies and MacLeods of Raasay against the Munros and the
Bain family of
Tulloch Castle
Tulloch Castle is located in the town of Dingwall in the Scottish Highlands, Highlands of Scotland. It dates at least to the late 14th century as the birthplace of Mariota Leslie, daughter of Euphemia I, countess of Ross. Mariota was the wife o ...
.
17th century and Civil War
By the beginning of the 17th century the territory of the Mackenzies extended from the
Black Isle in the east to the
Outer Hebrides
The Outer Hebrides ( ) or Western Isles ( , or ), sometimes known as the Long Isle or Long Island (), is an Archipelago, island chain off the west coast of mainland Scotland.
It is the longest archipelago in the British Isles. The islan ...
in the west.
They took over the
Isle of Lewis
The Isle of Lewis () or simply Lewis () is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland. The two parts are frequently referred to as if they were separate islands. The t ...
from its former
Clan MacLeod of Lewis rulers and also
Loch Alsh
Loch Alsh (, "foaming lake") is a sea inlet between the isle of Skye in the Inner Hebrides and the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. The name is also used to describe the surrounding country and the feudal holdings around the loch. The area i ...
from the MacDonells.
The
Battle of Morar in 1602 was fought between the Clan Mackenzie and
Clan MacDonell of Glengarry.
In 1623, the clan chief
Colin Mackenzie
Colonel Colin Mackenzie (1754–8 May 1821) was a Scottish army officer in the British East India Company who later became the first Surveyor General of India. He was a collector of antiquities and an orientalist and an indologist. He sur ...
was made
Earl of Seaforth, a title in the
peerage
A peerage is a legal system historically comprising various hereditary titles (and sometimes Life peer, non-hereditary titles) in a number of countries, and composed of assorted Imperial, royal and noble ranks, noble ranks.
Peerages include:
A ...
of
Scotland
Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...
, taking his title from a sea loch on the
Isle of Lewis
The Isle of Lewis () or simply Lewis () is the northern part of Lewis and Harris, the largest island of the Western Isles or Outer Hebrides archipelago in Scotland. The two parts are frequently referred to as if they were separate islands. The t ...
.
In 1645, Lord Seaforth, fighting as a
Covenanter
Covenanters were members of a 17th-century Scottish religious and political movement, who supported a Presbyterian Church of Scotland and the primacy of its leaders in religious affairs. It originated in disputes with James VI and his son C ...
, led a force against the royalist
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose (1612 – 21 May 1650) was a Scottish nobleman, poet, soldier and later viceroy and captain general of Scotland. Montrose initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequ ...
, at the
Battle of Auldearn where the Covenanters were defeated.
Montrose followed up his success by destroying many houses that belonged to people who had opposed the royalist cause, including that of
Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscarden.
Later in 1649, Thomas Mackenzie of Pluscarden adopted the royalist cause and led his own uprising in the
Siege of Inverness (1649).
In 1672, the Mackenzies were granted a commission of "
fire and sword" against the
MacLeods of Assynt who were a branch of the Clan MacLeod of Lewis and were seated at
Ardvreck Castle, which was attacked and captured by the Mackenzies, who took control of the lands of
Assynt
Assynt ( or ) is a sparsely populated area in the south-west of Sutherland, lying north of Ullapool on the west coast of Scotland. Assynt is known for its landscape and its remarkable mountains, which have led to the area, along with neighbour ...
.
In 1688,
Kenneth Mackenzie of Suddie was killed leading a Government-backed
Independent Highland Company in support of Mackintosh against the
Clan MacDonald of Keppoch who were supported by the
Clan Cameron
Clan Cameron is a West Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber, and within their lands lies Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isl ...
at the
Battle of Mulroy. During the
Williamite War in Ireland
The Williamite War in Ireland took place from March 1689 to October 1691. Fought between Jacobitism, Jacobite supporters of James II of England, James II and those of his successor, William III of England, William III, it resulted in a Williamit ...
the Clan Mackenzie (led by their chief
Kenneth Mackenzie, 4th Earl of Seaforth) are believed to have supported King James at the
Siege of Derry
The siege of Derry in 1689 was the first major event in the Williamite War in Ireland. The siege was preceded by an attempt against the town by Jacobite forces on 7 December 1688 that was foiled when 13 apprentices shut the gates. Thi ...
and the
Battle of the Boyne
The Battle of the Boyne ( ) took place in 1690 between the forces of the deposed King James II, and those of King William III who, with his wife Queen Mary II (his cousin and James's daughter), had acceded to the Crowns of England and Sc ...
in 1690.
18th century and Jacobite risings
During the
Jacobite rising of 1715
The Jacobite rising of 1715 ( ;
or 'the Fifteen') was the attempt by James Francis Edward Stuart, James Edward Stuart (the Old Pretender) to regain the thrones of Kingdom of England, England, Kingdom of Ireland, Ireland and Kingdom of Scotland ...
chief
William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth led the Clan Mackenzie in support of the Jacobite rebels. However, during the
Jacobite rising of 1745
The Jacobite rising of 1745 was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the Monarchy of Great Britain, British throne for his father, James Francis Edward Stuart. It took place during the War of the Austrian Succession, when the bulk of t ...
the Clan Mackenzie was divided: The chief,
Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord Fortrose, did not support the Jacobites and raised several
Independent Highland Companies from the Clan Mackenzie to support the British Government. However, during the 1745 rising a large part of the Clan Mackenzie followed the chief's cousin,
George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie who was a Jacobite.
1715 and 1719 Jacobite risings
In what is known as the
Skirmish of Alness in 1715 the
Earl of Seaforth, chief of Mackenzie led a force of 3000 men that forced the retreat of a smaller force loyal to the British Government, which was commanded by the
Earl of Sutherland and included the clans Sutherland, Munro, Ross and Mackay. Much of the Ross's and Munro's lands were ravaged, but they retaliated by raiding the Mackenzie lands in what is known as the
Siege of Brahan.
The
Siege of Inverness (1715) came to an end when the town, which was being held by the Mackenzies was surrendered to Simon Fraser of Lovat. Soon after this Colonel
Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet
Sir Robert Munro, 6th Baronet (24 August 1684 – 17 January 1746) was a Scottish military officer and politician whose life followed an 18th-century pattern. He fought in support of the Revolution Settlement and the House of Hanover, and their ...
of Foulis marched into the town of
Inverness
Inverness (; ; from the , meaning "Mouth of the River Ness") is a city in the Scottish Highlands, having been granted city status in 2000. It is the administrative centre for The Highland Council and is regarded as the capital of the Highland ...
with 400 Munros and took over control as governor from Fraser. Government troops arrived in Inverness towards the end of February, and for some months the process of disarming the rebels went on, led by a Munro detachment under George Munro of Culcairn.
The clan rivalries which had erupted in rebellion were finding an outlet in local politics. The Mackenzie's position as Earl of Seaforth came to an end in 1716, and it seems to have been arranged that while the
Clan Ross held the county seat the Munros would represent the
Tain Burghs. To secure the burghs, control of three out of the five was necessary. Ross ascendancy was secure in Tain, and from 1716 to 1745 the Munros controlled
Dingwall
Dingwall (, ) is a town and a royal burgh in the Highland (council area), Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,491. It was an east-coast harbour that now lies inland.
Dingwall Castle was once the biggest castle north ...
.
The Clan Mackenzie fought at the
Battle of Glen Shiel
The Battle of Glen Shiel took place on 10 June 1719 in the Scottish Highlands, during the Jacobite rising of 1719. A Jacobitism, Jacobite army composed of Highland levies and Spanish Marine Infantry, Spanish marines was defeated by British gover ...
in 1719 where they were defeated by Government forces and the Mackenzie chief was wounded, afterwards retreating to the Western Isles and from there to the Continent. In 1721 the Clan Mackenzie, led by
Donald Murchison, defeated Government supporters from the
Clan Ross at the
Battle of Glen Affric. This was followed by the
Battle of Coille Bhan where again, led by Donald Murchison and also his relative Kenneth Murchison, the Clan Mackenzie defeated Government forces.
General Wade
Field marshal (United Kingdom), Field Marshal George Wade (1673 – 14 March 1748) was a British Army officer and politician who served in the Nine Years' War, War of the Spanish Succession, Jacobite rising of 1715 and War of the Quadruple Al ...
's report on the Highlands in 1724, estimated the clan strength at 3,000 men.
1745 Jacobite rising
George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie led the Jacobite Mackenzies at the
Battle of Falkirk (1746) where they were victorious in helping to defeat British Government forces.
The Mackenzies then went on to lay waste to the lands of the Munros who supported the Government and burn down
Foulis Castle. They also went on to lay waste to the lands of the
Clan Sutherland and the
Earl of Sutherland who also supported the Government, and captured
Dunrobin Castle
Dunrobin Castle is a stately home in Sutherland, in the Highland area of Scotland, that serves as the family seat of the Earl of Sutherland, Chief of Clan Sutherland. It is located north of Golspie and approximately south of Brora, overlo ...
, although the Earl of Sutherland himself escaped through a back door.
However, soon after this as the
Earl of Cromartie and his forces were travelling south to meet
Charles Edward Stuart
Charles Edward Louis John Sylvester Maria Casimir Stuart (31 December 1720 – 30 January 1788) was the elder son of James Francis Edward Stuart, making him the grandson of James VII and II, and the Stuart claimant to the thrones of England, ...
they were attacked by the Mackay and Sutherland Independent Highland Companies who supported the British Government in what became known as the
Battle of Littleferry and the Jacobite Mackenzies were prevented from joining the Jacobite army at the
Battle of Culloden
The Battle of Culloden took place on 16 April 1746, near Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. A Jacobite army under Charles Edward Stuart was decisively defeated by a British government force commanded by the Duke of Cumberland, thereby endi ...
.
Soon after George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie and his son were captured at
Dunrobin Castle
Dunrobin Castle is a stately home in Sutherland, in the Highland area of Scotland, that serves as the family seat of the Earl of Sutherland, Chief of Clan Sutherland. It is located north of Golspie and approximately south of Brora, overlo ...
. The Earl of Cromartie's titles were then forfeited.
Roderick Mackenzie was a Jacobite soldier who was killed during the tumultuous aftermath of the Jacobite rising of 1745 while acting as a
body double
In filmmaking, a double is a person who substitutes for another actor such that the person's face is not shown. There are various terms associated with a double based on the specific body part or ability they serve as a double for, such as stunt ...
for the Jacobite leader
Charles Edward Stuart
Charles Edward Louis John Sylvester Maria Casimir Stuart (31 December 1720 – 30 January 1788) was the elder son of James Francis Edward Stuart, making him the grandson of James VII and II, and the Stuart claimant to the thrones of England, ...
(Bonnie Prince Charlie) in July 1746. His grave and
cairn
A cairn is a human-made pile (or stack) of stones raised for a purpose, usually as a marker or as a burial mound. The word ''cairn'' comes from the (plural ).
Cairns have been and are used for a broad variety of purposes. In prehistory, t ...
can still be seen today in
Glenmoriston.
Other Mackenzies took the side of the British Government: the chief, Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord Fortrose had in fact raised three
Independent Highland Companies to support the British Government. In one of the Independent Highland Companies under Captain Colin Mackenzie it is recorded at Shiramore in Badenoch in June 1746 and it included many of them from Kintail as well as more than sixty men from the
Clan MacRae.
Wars in France and India
A number of famous regiments have been raised from the Mackenzie clan, including the Highland Light Infantry (raised in 1777), the Seaforth Highlanders (raised in 1778), and the second battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders, known as the Ross-shire Buffs (raised in 1793). All those regiments wore the MacKenzie
tartan
Tartan or plaid ( ) is a patterned cloth consisting of crossing horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours, forming repeating symmetrical patterns known as ''setts''. Originating in woven wool, tartan is most strongly associated wi ...
. Born in 1754, Chief
Francis Mackenzie, 1st Baron Seaforth
Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom), Lieutenant-General Francis Humberston Mackenzie, 1st Baron Seaforth, (9 June 1754 – 11 January 1815) was a British politician, soldier, and botanist. He was Chief of the Scottish Highlands, Highland Clan ...
, the last Lord Seaforth raised a regiment for the British Army in 1778, the 72nd, and the clan produced another the 78th in 1793. Both had distinguished records fighting against
Napoleon
Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...
and were later amalgamated into the
Queen's Own Highlanders.
The 78th Regiment, as it was first called, was raised in 1778 from men on the Seaforth and other Mackenzie estates. The Earl of Seaforth, having raised his men, sailed with them to India in 1781, but died there a few months later. During the Wars in India,
Colin Mackenzie
Colonel Colin Mackenzie (1754–8 May 1821) was a Scottish army officer in the British East India Company who later became the first Surveyor General of India. He was a collector of antiquities and an orientalist and an indologist. He sur ...
(1754–1821) was Surveyor General of India, and an art collector and orientalist. He produced many of the first accurate maps of India, and his research and collections contributed significantly to the field of Asian studies. In 1799, he was part of the British force at the
Battle of Seringapatam. He also fought in the
Napoleonic Wars
{{Infobox military conflict
, conflict = Napoleonic Wars
, partof = the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic Wars
, image = Napoleonic Wars (revision).jpg
, caption = Left to right, top to bottom:Battl ...
.
19th century to present

Throughout the 19th century Clan Mackenzie was without a chief that was recognised by the
Lord Lyon King of Arms
The Right Honourable the Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officer of State, Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scotland, Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry i ...
.
In 1979, Roderick Grant Francis Blunt-Mackenzie, 4th Earl of Cromartie, legally changed his surname to ''Mackenzie'' and was widely recognised as Chief of the clan (for example by Clan Mackenzie Societies around the Commonwealth). Although not descended from a ''Mackenzie'' in the male line (his father was born a ''Blunt'' and later changed to ''Blunt-Mackenzie'' after marrying Sibell Lilian Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Countess of Cromartie), he inherited his titles and ''Mackenzie'' descent through his mother (even she only claims a ''Mackenzie'' descent as a great-great-great-great-granddaughter of
George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie).
On his death in 1990 his son John Ruaridh Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Cromartie succeeded as chief of Clan Mackenzie.
[McKenzie, Alan. ]
History of the Mackenzies
'', pp. 176–177. (link t
chapter 11
) The Earl of Cromartie still owns lands in ''clan country'' however, the largest remaining Mackenzie landowner by some margin is Mackenzie of
Gairloch
Gairloch ( ; , meaning "Short Loch") is a village, civil parish and community on the shores of Loch Gairloch in Wester Ross, in the North-West Highlands of Scotland. A tourist destination in the summer months, Gairloch has a golf course, a ...
, with an estate which extends to over 50,000
acre
The acre ( ) is a Unit of measurement, unit of land area used in the Imperial units, British imperial and the United States customary units#Area, United States customary systems. It is traditionally defined as the area of one Chain (unit), ch ...
s (like the clan chief, Mackenzie of Gairloch has inherited his clan name and lands through the female line).
[Moncreiffe of that Ilk, pp.150–154.][Gairloch (Flowerdale & Shieldaig) & Conon](_blank)
.
Who Owns Scotland
''. Retrieved on 2008-03-16 (The estate encompasses . The landownership in Scotland still in the hands of very few landowners. Note that of 97% of the total land in Scotland is rural, of this ownership of private interests. Of the land in private ownership one quarter of it is held by only 66 landowners; one third of it is owned by 120; one half is owned 343; two-thirds is owned by 1,252 landowners). The current chief is a member of the
Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs.
[The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs website. (link t]
website)
Retrieved on 2008-03-17
The current chief of Clan Mackenzie lives at
Castle Leod, which is thought to date from the 16th century. The chief has leased the unoccupied old tower to the Clan Mackenzie Charitable Trust (CMCT) for 99 years.
In 1991 it was announced that the castle was planned to be restored. The restoration was to include a clan genealogical centre that would be open to the public.
During the 1990s there was extensive work done on the tower. In 2002 the Highland Buildings Preservation Trust (HBPT) was contacted, to carry out a feasibility study to investigate the potential for the re-use of the upper floor space of the tower, which deemed public funding to be sought to cover the costs of restoration. Because of concerns of physical and legal separation between the clan chief and the tower, the chief decided that the conditions of public funding were too onerous.
[Castle Leod](_blank)
. Highland Buildings Preservation Trust (HBPT). Retrieved on 2008-03-17
Chief
Clan chief
The Scottish Gaelic word means children. In early times, and possibly even today, Scottish clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the clan, after whom the clan is named. The clan chief (''ceannard ci ...
:
John Ruaridh Grant Mackenzie,
5th Earl of Cromartie (b. 1948), Viscount Tarbat of Tarbat, Baron Castlehaven, Baron MacLeod of Castle Leod, Chief of Clan Mackenzie.
[CROMARTIE, CHIEF OF MACKENZIE](_blank)
Retrieved 2008-03-14 (Tarbat in County Cromartie; Castlehaven in County Cromartie). Chiefs of Clan Mackenzie are titled as ''Caberféidh'' (translation from Scottish Gaelic: "Deer's antlers"). This Gaelic title is derived from the
stag's head charge on the former chief, the
Earl of Seaforth's
coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldry, heraldic communication design, visual design on an escutcheon (heraldry), escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the last two being outer garments), originating in Europe. The coat of arms on an escutcheon f ...
.
Castles

Castle owned by the Clan Mackenzie have included:
*
Eilean Donan Castle was long held by the Mackenzies of Kintail and it may have been given to them after they helped to defeat the Norsemen at the
Battle of Largs
The Battle of Largs (2 October 1263) was a battle between the kingdoms of Kingdom of Norway (872–1397), Norway and Kingdom of Scotland, Scotland, on the Firth of Clyde near Largs, Scotland. The conflict formed part of the Scottish–Norwegian ...
in 1263.
William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth had the castle garrisoned with Spanish troops during the Jacobite rising of 1719, although the castle was battered into submission by three frigates, and it was then blown up from within with barrels of gunpowder.
The ghost of one of the Spanish soldiers who was killed is said to haunt the castle.
The castle was left very ruinous before being completely rebuilt in the twentieth century.
*
Brahan Castle, about three miles south-west of
Dingwall
Dingwall (, ) is a town and a royal burgh in the Highland (council area), Highland council area of Scotland. It has a population of 5,491. It was an east-coast harbour that now lies inland.
Dingwall Castle was once the biggest castle north ...
has now been completely demolished except for one wall.
It was held by the Mackenzies of Brahan who were patrons of the
Brahan Seer
The Brahan Seer, known in his native Scottish Gaelic as Coinneach Odhar ("Dark Kenneth"), and Kenneth Mackenzie, was, according to legend, a predictor of the future who lived in the 17th century.
The Brahan Seer is regarded by some to be the cr ...
.
*
Castle Leod which is a few miles west of Dingwall is an L-plan tower house that dates from the seventeenth century with later additions.
The current Castle Leod was built by Sir Roderick Mackenzie of Coigach in about 1610.
His descendant was George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie who was forfeited for his part in the
Jacobite rising of 1745
The Jacobite rising of 1745 was an attempt by Charles Edward Stuart to regain the Monarchy of Great Britain, British throne for his father, James Francis Edward Stuart. It took place during the War of the Austrian Succession, when the bulk of t ...
after being captured at
Dunrobin Castle
Dunrobin Castle is a stately home in Sutherland, in the Highland area of Scotland, that serves as the family seat of the Earl of Sutherland, Chief of Clan Sutherland. It is located north of Golspie and approximately south of Brora, overlo ...
.
*
Ardvreck Castle was built by the
MacLeods of Assynt but it later passed to the Mackenzies who sacked the castle in 1672.
*
Fairburn Tower was built for Murdo Mackenzie in the 1540s. It is a ruin and the
Landmark Trust
The Landmark Trust is a British architectural conservation, building conservation charitable organization, charity, founded in 1965 by John Smith (Conservative politician), Sir John and Lady Smith, that rescues buildings of historic interest or ...
plans to restore it.
*
Kilcoy Castle near
Muir of Ord
Muir of Ord () is a village in Easter Ross, in the Highland (council area), Highland council area of Scotland. It is situated near the western end of the Black Isle, about west of the city of Inverness and south of Dingwall. The village had a p ...
, Ross and Cromarty, is a Z-plan tower house that was held from 1618 by Alexander Mackenzie, son of the eleventh baron of Kintail, chief of the clan.
It was once ruinous but has now been restored and is still occupied.
*
Kinkell Castle, in the parish of
Urquhart and Logie Wester on the
Black Isle peninsula, was seat of the
Mackenzies of Gairloch from the 1590s.
*
Redcastle near Muir of Ord, near Ross and Cromarty, is a ruined L-plan tower house that was held by the Mackenzies from 1570 to 1790.
It was burned in 1649 and later passed to the Ballies of Dochfour.
The castle is now a shell.
*
Tarbat House was erected by
John Mackenzie, Lord MacLeod
John Mackenzie, Lord MacLeod (17272 April 1789) was a Scottish Jacobite politician and soldier of fortune.
Life
Born at Castle Leod near Strathpeffer, Scotland, he was the eldest son of George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie and Isabel Gor ...
with work starting in 1784. It was built on the site of a previous mansion which had been built for
George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie in the late 17th century, replacing
Milntown Castle. When George Mackenzie bought the Milntown estate in 1656, he renamed it New Tarbat after Tarbat Castle, the family's original seat near
Portmahomack. Some of the remains of George Mackenzie's mansion were incorporated into the new one. Concurrent with the construction of the new house, Lord MacLeod planted thousands of new forest and fir trees on the estate. Some of the final building work on the house was unfinished when he died in 1789 after a year-long illness. The remaining work was completed to his plans by his cousin and successor, Kenneth Mackenzie.
Tartan
Tartan
Tartan or plaid ( ) is a patterned cloth consisting of crossing horizontal and vertical bands in multiple colours, forming repeating symmetrical patterns known as ''setts''. Originating in woven wool, tartan is most strongly associated wi ...
s associated with the name ''Mackenzie'' include :
* ''Mackenzie''.
* The tartan is the regimental tartan of the
Seaforth Highlanders
The Seaforth Highlanders (Ross-shire Buffs, the Duke of Albany's) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army, mainly associated with large areas of the northern Highlands of Scotland. The regiment existed from 1881 to 1961, and saw service ...
, which was raised in 1778 by the
Earl of Seaforth. The tartan is recorded in the Collection of the
Highland Society of London in 1816.
The tartan is worn by members of the
Royal Military College of Canada
The Royal Military College of Canada (), abbreviated in English as RMC and in French as CMR, is a Military academy#Canada, military academy and, since 1959, a List of universities in Canada#Ontario, degree-granting university of the Canadian ...
Pipes and Drums band.
* ''Mackenzie dress''.
* ''Mackenzie hunting''.
* ''Mackenzie Millennium'', also known as ''Mackenzie 78th Highlanders''.
This tartan, according to the Clan Mackenzie Society of Scotland and the UK website, was recently "''discovered''" and recreated for the "Millennium Gathering". The society currently sells this tartan.
Popular culture
Fictional Mackenzies appear in the
''Outlander'' series of books by
Diana Gabaldon.
The Seat of the Clan Mackenzie,
Castle Leod is widely considered to be the inspiration behind Castle Leoch, the home of the Clan Mackenzie, in Diana Gabaldon's ''Outlander'' series. It was considered as a filming location for the TV series, however,
Doune Castle was selected due to its ease of location.
Diana Gabaldon told STV that "When the TV show began scouting locations, I suggested Leod as a possibility. It's entirely accurate as to period, of course, and has magnificent grounds, with a park of enormous, exotic trees planted by centuries of MacKenzies and their visitors. (Diana herself planted a "very modest"
rowan
The rowans ( or ) or mountain-ashes are shrubs or trees in the genus ''Sorbus'' of the rose family, Rosaceae. They are native throughout the cool temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, with the highest species diversity in the Himalaya ...
, as her "own wee contribution" to the history).
In the
Emberverse series by
S.M. Stirling, otherwise known as the 'Change' world, the founder of the Clan Mackenzie, Juniper Mackenzie, is descended from this Scottish clan.
Notes
* A Although the Mackenzies of Hilton are the senior cadets of the clan because they descend from the second eldest son of the first proven chief
Alexander Mackenzie, 6th of Kintail, the Mackenzies of Gairloch who descend from the third eldest son became guardians of
Kenneth Mackenzie, 8th of Kintail because the first Mackenzie of Hilton had pre-deceased his elder brother,
Kenneth Mackenzie, 7th of Kintail.
[Mackenzie (1894). pp. 385-386.]
References
Bibliography
*
Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Iain. ''The Highland Clans''. London: Barrie & Rockliff, 1967.
External links
The Clan Mackenzie InitiativeThe Clan Mackenzie Society of CanadaThe Clan Mackenzie Society of Scotland and the UKClan MacKenzie Society in the AmericasClan MacKenzie Society in AustraliaClan MacKenzie Society of New ZealandThe Clan MacKenzie Society Of FranceClan Mackenzie Society of GermanyHighland Historic Buildings Trust
{{Scottish clans
MacKenzie