Clan MacIntyre

Clan MacIntyre is a highland Scottish Clan originating in the Argyll district of Scotland. The surname MacIntyre is derived from the gaelic “Mac an t-Saoir” which means “son of a craftsman”. Legend states that the clan descended from Maurice MacNeil who was the nephew of King Somerland, leader of the Scottish Gaels in the 12th century, however, no documentation exists to support the legend. Most of the family records have been lost over time and the first recorded chief of clan MacIntyre is Duncan, who ruled the clan in the 17th century.

In 1490 a branch of the MacIntyre clan, the MacIntyres of Badenoch, were admitted into the Clan Chattan Confederation. Clan Chattan was a confederation of allied clans that were very powerful in Scotland.

The Clan motto is Per Ardua which translates into “through difficulties” and the clans crest features a hand holding a dagger.

The historic seat of the clan was Glen Noe, a valley located in Argyll and Bute. It is believed that the MacIntyres settled Glen Noe sometime before the 13th century, possibly arriving from an island in the Hebrides. At some point in the clans history they lost ownership of the lands of Glen Noe and became attached to the Campbells of Breadalbane through a feudal obligation. In 1806 the MacIntyre Clan was forced to abandon their lands at Glen Noe due to the inability to meet rent payments to the Campbells. The clan’s chief and his immediate family emigrated to the United States.

After the families relocation to the United States the chief-ship of the clan was no long recognized by the Scottish authorities. That changed in 1991 when the Lord Lyon Court officially recognized James Wallace MacIntyre as the rightful chief of Clan MacIntyre.

The Clan MacIntyre Association was founded in 1978 with the purpose of becoming a social and educational organization. The organization publishes a quarterly newsletter called “Per Ardua” to keep members updated about clan activities.