MacIntosh Clan

MacIntosh Clan Crest: A wildcat guardant.

MacIntosh Clan Motto: Touch Not The Cat Bot A Glove (Touch not this cat without a glove).

History of Clan MacIntosh/Mackintosh:
Traditionally the founder of this Clan is said to have been a son of MacDuff, the ancestor of the earls of Fife. The name, in translation from the Gaelic, means “Son of the Thane or Leader.”

Shaw MacDuff took part in an expedition with Malcolm IV in 1160 and was appointed Constable of Inverness Castle. His Son, Shaw, succeeded him. Ferquhar, 5th Chief, fought against King Haakon of Norway at the Battle of Largs in 1263. The 6th Chief was betrothed to Eva, heiress of Clan Chattan in 1291. She brought with her lands in Glenloy and Locharkaig in Lochaber, which caused friction over ownership with the Camerons, the Gordons, and the MacDonalds of Keppoch. From this point onwards, the Mackintoshes assumed the Chiefship of Clan Chattan.

The Mackintoshes fought for the Marquis of Montrose, and for the Old Pretender at the Battle of Preston in 1815.  During the 1745 Uprising, Angus, 22nd Chief of Mackintosh was serving with the Black Watch regiment, so his wife Anne, a daughter of Farquharson of Invercauld, rallied the Clan, handing over command to Alexander MacGillivray of Dunmaglass. Although heroic, Clan Chattan suffered serious losses at the Battle of Culloden.

In 1938, on the death of the 38th Chief, the Chiefship of Mackintosh passed to Vice-Admiral Lachlan Mackintosh of Mackintosh.  Four years later the Lord Lyon Court ruled that the Chiefship of Clan Chattan should pass to Duncan Mackintosh of Torcastle.

In 1735, John Mor MacIntosh and two of his cousins arrived in Savannah, America from Scotland. His descendant, Captain William MacIntosh, married the Princess and heiress of the Creek Indian Nation,  and became the father of William MacIntosh  (1778- 1825), Chief of the Creek Nation.

Donald Mackintosh (1743-1808) was Keeper of Gaelic Records for the Highland Society in 1801. Sir James Mackintosh (1765-1811) was a Judge in Bombay and later a Member of Parliament for Nairn.  Charles Macintosh (1766-1843), born in Glasgow, invented the waterproofing which carries his name. Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1868-1928) became an architect and designer in Glasgow and, among other commissions, created Glasgow School of Art. John Mackintosh (1883-1907) wrote History of Civilisation in Scotland.

Surname distribution in Scotland: The MacIntosh surname is widespread right across the North of Scotland. The highest populations can be found in Aberdeenshire (includes all of the historic counties of Aberdeenshire and Kincardineshire with part of Banffshire), Aberdeen City, Moray (also includes a large area of historic Banffshire), Highland (including the historic counties of Caithness, Inverness-shire, Sutherland, Nairnshire and Ross and Cromarty), Angus (Forfarshire) and Dundee City.

Places of Interest:
Moy, Inverness-shire. Seat of Mackintosh Chief.

Petty Parish Church, on Moray Firth, Inverness-shire. Burial place of Mackintosh chiefs.
Mulroy, near Roy Bridge, Keppoch, Lochaber. The last clan battle in Scotland was fought here in Charles II's reign between the Mackintoshes and Clan Ranald.

Glasgow College of Art, Glasgow. Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1896.

Hill House, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire. Designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh in 1902. Owned by National Trust for Scotland.

Associated family names (Septs): Adamson, Ayson, Cash, Clark, Clarke, Clarkson, Clerk, Combie, Crearer, Crerar, Dallas, Doles, Eason, Easson, Eggie, Eggo, Elder, Esson, Glennie, Gelnny, Hardie, Hardy, Heggie, Higgison, Hosick, Hossack, Leary, MacAndrew, Macartney, Macay, MacCaish, MacCardney, MacCartney, MacCash, MacCause, MacClery, Maccolm, MacComas, MacCombie, MacCombich, MacCombie, MacComie, MacConchie, MacFail, MacFall, MacFauld, MacGlashan, MacGlashen, MacHardie, MacHardy, MacKeggie, MacKieson, MacKillican, MacKintosh, MacLear, MacLeary, MacLehose, MacLerie, MacNevin, MacNiven, Macomie, Macomish, MacPhail, MacRitchie, MacTause, MacTavish, MacThomas, MacVail, Nairn, Nairne, Nevison, Niven, Noble, Paul, Ripley, Ritchie, Sivenwright, Tarrell, Taweson, Tawse, Thom, Thoms, Tosh, Toshach.

Clan MacIntosh membership display certificates.