Names and dates are important, but the real story of Clan MacRae and related families comes from historical and genealogical records, oral tradition, and family stories and customs. Every story tells us more about our shared heritage, the pain and the joy, and we learn about real people – not just another name or another date. From the well known Big Duncan of the Battle Axe, or his lesser known son Dougal, to the mystery of Macrae’s Folly or One-Armed John, and more. Learn more in our Clan History section.

In this section is information on Clan Symbols, Clan Maps, our castle Eilean Donan. 

There are articles in our newsletter KINTAIL about our member’s families and ancestors in the 19th and 20th centuries.

We encourage you to become a Clan MacRae member and contribute your stories as well. KINTAIL is available free to all active members. We have a tremendously rich heritage to share!

  • Kenneth McRae – World Champion Athlete
    Written by Peter MacRae, London, September 1999 INVERNESS is famous as the birthplace of noted athletes – Charles McLean, Donald Ross, A. A. Cameron, nd many others were born and brought up in that country; but had no one else besides the stalwart Highlander, whose name heads this page, comeContinue Reading
  • Helena Tolmie 1840-1881
    The life of my great-great grandmother, Helena MacRae, has fascinated me for more than a decade. She was born in Salachy, Lochalsh, Ross-shire in 1840 and married a grocer, Roderick Tolmie in Beauly, Kilmorack, Inverness in 1859 when she was 18 and he was 23. Roderick and the heavily pregnant,Continue Reading
  • Dornie Manuscript
    The following is a representation of the document known as the Dornie Manuscript, the history of the Clan Mackenzie transcribed by Colin Mackenzie of Newburnside in 1760. We do not have a verified copy of the manuscript, and cannot confirm this as an accurate representation, or only a subset thereof.Continue Reading
  • The Macraes of Strathglass
    by Peter A. MacRae Part I: INTRODUCTION Before setting out this brief history, it is important to set certain matters straight. First, consider the name and spelling of ‘MacRae’: the spelling used here, it is conceded, is the modern evolved version, which is ordinarily met with in most accounts sinceContinue Reading
  • Descendants of Maurice of Clunes (1 – 10) and (11-15)
    Generation No. 1 Maurice Of Clunes1 MacRath1 was born Abt. 1280 in Ireland, and died Abt. 1350 in Scotland. Notes for Maurice Of Clunes MacRath: Of a possible migration of the Clan MacRae to Scotland from Ireland, little is known, but their first known home in Scotland was on theContinue Reading
  • Lyon Court
    The Court of the Lord Lyon All heraldry in Scotland is controlled by the Court of the Lord Lyon King of Arms, commonly known as the Lyon Court, and located at New Register House in Edinburgh. The origins of the Lyon Court are literally lost in the mists of timeContinue Reading
  • The Scottish Nation
    By William Anderson Excerpt … Macrae, a minor clan of Ross-shire, which has from time immemorial been subordinate to the Seaforth branch of the Mackenzies. The badge of the Macraes was the fir-club moss, and they are generally considered of the pure Gaelic stock, although they have also been statedContinue Reading
  • Domesday Book
    Leslie A. McRae This was the name given to a survey that was commissioned by ‘William the Conqueror’ (King William I) in AD1085 at his Christmas Court. Previous records, held at Winchester, were examined and provided a starting point for the survey. William sent Royal Commissioners out into England toContinue Reading
  • Clan Without A Chief
    © Peter MacRae, London 1999 A dissertation concerning the Chiefship Issue in The Clan MacRae. The MacRaes are conspicuously ‘A Clan without Chief’, none having ever been determined. In 1909 Sir Colin MacRae of The Inverinate Branch petitioned Lyon Court for recognition of his position as “Chief of The ClanContinue Reading
  • Introduction to the Derivation of Scottish Surnames
    By William L. Kirk, Jr., Ph.D.1 July 1992 The whole subject of Scottish surnames, and their connection with kinship, is surrounded by complications. Professional etymologists have attempted to classify how Scottish names came about. And, whereas the work is largely successful, the many exceptions and the metamorphosis of names makeContinue Reading
  • Saint Donan
    From SAINTS OF SCOTLAND by Edwin Sprott Towill, publishers: St. Andrew’s Press. A remarkable fact about the widespread work of the Celtic missionary saints from the fifth century onwards is that scarcely any cases of violent opposition or martyrdom are recorded until the Viking and Danish raids began at theContinue Reading
  • Clan Maps
    When researching clan and family history, place names have more meaning if they are located on a map and placed in relation to other known locations. These maps are usually large and may take some time to download – please be patient. Dornie, Five Sisters of Kintail & Eilean DonanContinue Reading
  • The Five sisters of Kintail
    The Five Sisters mountain range lies at the head of Loch Duich, at the western end of Glen Shiel. Legend says that at one time there were seven daughters of a local chief, two of whom were taken as brides by two Irish brothers. On departing Kintail, they promised toContinue Reading
  • Heraldry & Name
    MacRae:  from the Ancient Gaelic Macrath meaning ‘Son of Prosperity’ or ‘Divine Grace’ Patronymic (a name derived from the name of a father or ancestor):  Macrath ​ Lands:  Beauly and Kintail​ Clan Seat:  Inverinate, Inverness-shire  (MacRaes of Inverinate)​ Slogan:  Sgur Uran (The name of the highest peak in the Five Sisters, a mountain in Kintail)​ Motto:  Fortitudine (With fortitude)​ MacRaeContinue Reading
  • Coat of Arms and Badge
    Armorial Honours: “Ar. a fess betw. three mullets in chief and a lion ramp. in base gu.” officially documented in Burke’s General Armory. When translated, “Silver, a red middle third between three red stars in the upper third and a red lion attacking in base.” Above the shield and helmetContinue Reading
  • Tartans
    Tartans:  There are over 16 tartans associated with Clan MacRae. These tartans can be categorized as (Red) MacRae, Hunting MacRae, MacRae of Conchra or Sheriffmuir, and Dress MacRae, the newest tartan. This page shows some of the most popular tartans worn today.  Highland Dress:  Electric ScotlandContinue Reading
  • Origins of Surname MacRae
    By Leslie A. McRae | Origins of Surnames in Europe Surnames as we know them today were first assumed in Europe from the 11th to the 15th centuries. They were not in use in England and Scotland before the Norman conquest of 1066, and were first found in the DomesdayContinue Reading
  • A Brief History of Clan MacRae
    By Cornelia W. Bush | The name MacRae, frequently translated as Son of Grace, more properly refers to a person in an ecclesiastical/religious profession. MacRae, MacCrae, McCrea, MacRay, Mccree—regardless of the spelling in English or in Gaelic, it is all the same word. The Clan MacRae came from Ireland to Clunes,Continue Reading
  • Clan MacRae – A Most Brief History
    By Leslie McRae | “Chapter One – Origins of Clan MacRae The Scots came from Northern Ireland and settled in Argyll in Roman times. In about AD 500 a fresh influx from Ulster established a separate kingdom which is called Dalriada after them, ‘the tribe of Riada’. They made theirContinue Reading
  • The 1909 Petition of Sir Petition of Sir Colin MacRae of Inverintate
    © Peter MacRae, London 1999 | CLAN MACRAE SOCIETY OF CANADA ONLINE The Petition of Sir Colin MacRae: Judgment of 22nd April 1909. Lyon Court The Petitioner, in this case, Sir Colin G. Macrae, stated that he was the eldest male representative of the deceased Colin Macrae of Inverinate, thatContinue Reading