Clan MacKay sept of Clan MacDonald

[joshmccl]

Good day all,

Does anyone know when and why the MacKay clan became a sept of Clan MacDonald? I have come across this in my research, but no real specific details. I have MacKay, Donaldson, and MacDonald in my lineage and would love to try to understand the ancient co-relations. Thanks folks!

[macwilkin]

Good day all,

Does anyone know when and why the MacKay clan became a sept of Clan MacDonald? I have come across this in my research, but no real specific details. I have MacKay, Donaldson, and MacDonald in my lineage and would love to try to understand the ancient co-relations. Thanks folks!

The Mackays are not a sept of the Clan Donald, but their own clan with their own chief, the Lord Reay.

http://www.clanmackaysociety.org/

Where did you find such a claim, if I may ask?

Regards,

Todd

[Alan H]

I note that on my local clans "information board" about spets there are a mess of clearly independent clans listed as "septs". MacKay is one of them.

I suspect this is a symptom of wishful thinking, one or two MacKays marrying into the clan at some point, and generally "my-clan-centric" view of history.

[Phogfan86]

Just out of curiosity, I went to one of my favorite sites (http://www.clanfinder.com/foreversco...clanfinder.asp), entered in "Mackay" and hit "wide" search.

The name Mackay turns up four clans in a wide search: Mackay, Macdonald, Davidson and Shaw. However, none of the clan information pages explains how Mackay ended up as a sept possibility in any of them. I'm inclined to think maybe a couple of Mackays married in.

[macwilkin]

I note that on my local clans "information board" about spets there are a mess of clearly independent clans listed as "septs". MacKay is one of them.

I suspect this is a symptom of wishful thinking, one or two MacKays marrying into the clan at some point, and generally "my-clan-centric" view of history.

That could be, Alan...it certainly is possible that a branch of the Mackays were "taken in" by the Donalds or another clan, but one would have to be very specific in tracing one's lineage to that particular branch. The Clan Donald Society is very particular when it comes to that sort of thing.

Regards,

Todd

[joshmccl]

Hello, I found this info in a few spots; I'll do my best to link them here. Please note that I am just researching the MacKay name and this is the information I have found on the net. For the MacKays out there, I meant no offence

MacKays as MacDonald sept:

http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Heritage/F...ns/MacKay.html
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Heritage/F...ald_Isles.html
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/mackay3.htm

MacKay as MacNaughton sept:
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/septs.htm

[joshmccl]

I should add that what has been said by Alan, and Phogfan86 seems to shed some light on this.

[macwilkin]

Hello, I found this info in a few spots; I'll do my best to link them here. Please note that I am just researching the MacKay name and this is the information I have found on the net. For the MacKays out there, I meant no offence

MacKays as MacDonald sept:

http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Heritage/F...ns/MacKay.html
http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Heritage/F...ald_Isles.html
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/m/mackay3.htm

MacKay as MacNaughton sept:
http://www.electricscotland.com/webclans/septs.htm

You would do better to contact the Clan Mackay Societies of Scotland and Canada. The web site you link to here is quite old and hasn't been updated in some time.

Your best bet is to trace your line back to a particular region in Scotland. Clan Mackay country is in the north.

T.

[joshmccl]

Thanks Todd. I'll move in that direction.

Cheers.

[Phogfan86]

The Mackays and Gunns were not-so-friendly neighbors.