MacIntyre Clan

MacIntyre Clan Crest: A hand holding a dagger.

MacIntyre Clan Motto: Per Ardua (Through Difficulties).

History of Clan MacIntyre:
The Gaelic “Mac-an-T'saoir” translates as “Children of the Carpenter,” and is the name of a Clan which settled around Ben Noe, under Ben Cruachan, in the 14th century.  Although there is an association with Clan Campbell, they are on record as having been Hereditary Foresters to the Stewarts of Lorn.  A tradition tells us that they farmed the lands of Glenoe from 1380 until 1810, but there is no evidence to substantiate this. In the 15th century, a branch of the MacIntyres in Badenoch took protection from the Clan Chattan Federation.

The first Chief of MacIntyre in Lorn appears to be Duncan, who married a daughter of Campbell of Barcaldine. During the Civil War in Scotland, Royalists forces under Alasdair 'Colkitto'  Macdonald, invaded the lands of Argyll, but Glen Noe was spared, the reason given that the MacIntyres were kin to Clan Donald. However, the MacIntyres supported the Marquis of Argyll at the Battle of Inverlochy in 1643 and were soundly defeated by Colkitto's ally, the Marquis of Montrose.

James, 3rd Chief of MacIntyre, was sympathetic to the Jacobite Cause, but held back because of his Campbell connections.  However, several MacIntyres joined the Stewarts of Appin to fight at the Battle of Culloden, and five were killed and five wounded. Duncan Ban, the MacIntyre Bard, fought for the Government at the Battle of Falkirk in 1746.

Donald, 4th Chief of MacIntyre emigrated to America in 1783. In 1955, Alasdair MacIntrye of Camus-na-h-erie recorded arms as a cadet of the Chiefly House.  In 1990, James Wallace MacIntrye, 9th Chief, matriculated arms as Chief of MacIntrye.

Dr Robert Macintyre (1913 -98 ) was elected the first Scottish Nationalist Member of the UK Parliament in a bi-election in 1945, but was unseated at the following General Election. He became Provost of Stirling in 1967.

MacIntyre Bard, who spoke only Gaelic and fought for the House of Hanover at the Battle of Falkirk in 1746.

Surname distribution in Scotland: The MacIntyre surname is most common in Western Isles (the main islands include Lewis and Harris, North Uist, South Uist, Benbecula and Barra), Glasgow City, Dunbartonshire, Argyllshire, Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, Perth and Kinross, Stirlingshire and Dumfries and Galloway.

Places of interest: Glen Noe, Loch Etive, Argyll. Lands here were held by the MacIntyres until 1806.

Loch Awe, Argyll. There is a monument to Duncan Ban, Donnachadh Ban Nan Oran (1724-1812), the

Sorn Castle, Sorn, east of Mauchline, Ayrshire. Seat of Chief.

Associated family names (Septs): MacCosham, MacIntire, MacIntyre, MacKintyre, MacTear, MacTier, MacTire, Tyre, Wright.

Buy a personalised MacIntyre Clan display certificate.