Clan Macleod
Clan MacLeod is a highland Scottish Clan made up of two main branches, the Macleods of Harris and the Macleods of Lewis. The Chief is known as MacLeod of Macleod.
The Clan was said to have originated by Leod, the son of Olaf the Black, King of Man and Isles who was born about the year twelve hundred. In 1220 Olaf married the daughter of MacRaild. Olaf’s son Tormond started the MacLeods of Harris branch of the family and his second son Torquil began the MacLeods of Lewis.
The motto of clan Macleod is, “Hold Fast”, the crest is represented by a bull’s head caboosed stable, horned or, between two flags gules, staved at the first.
Macleod’s historic seat is at Dunvegan Castle located on the Isle of Skye off the west coast of Scotland. It is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and has been the ancestral home of the Macleod Chief for over 800 years.
One of the most famous clan quarrels took place in the 16th century between the Macleod of Harris and The MacDonald of Sleat clans. These two powerful clans had many bloody battles and a few massacres. The feud had become so fierce and so many lives were lost by both sides that the Scottish Crown stepped in and forced a truce.
The Clan Macleod society started in Edinburgh in 1891. Currently there are ten world wide affiliated clan societies. Representatives of these clans meet at a clan parliament every four years. The Clan Macleod society publishes a magazine twice a year, dedicated to preserving the clan genealogy and history. The magazine was first published in 1935.
Read More:
The Legend of The Macleod Maidens
