A BRIEF HISTORY OF CLAN DONALD

Clan Donald is the largest and most famous of the Highland clans. Its Celtic heritage goes back into antiquity beyond the 6^th century A.D. to the great clans Colla and Conn in the today is Ireland. Our ancestors are regarded as the head of the ancient race of Conn, and the lineal heirs of the Kings of the Dalriadic Scots

Clan Donald began its recorded history with Somerled, a great leader and warrior king. In 1156, Somerled defeated the Norse King of Man, who had occupied the Western Isles and Much of the mainland of Scotland. He thus secured independence for the Celtic peoples in those areas. That independence lasted over four Centuries

Descendants of Somerled claimed the title Lord of the Isles and maintained relative peace among competing clans. His genius at both land and naval warfare gave rise to the Clan motto “Per Mare, Per Terras” meaning “By Sea, Buy Land.”

Clan Donald takes its name from Donald, the grandson of Somerled, In Gaelic, “mac” means son of. Therefore Donald’s descendants are called MacDonald, the dons of Donald. For about four centuries, MacDonald was used as a title rather than a surname.

Over the centuries the power of the Lords of the Isles grew and brought them into conflict with both the Scottish and English Kings, as well as with other powerful clans. In the middle of the 15^th century, the title and authority of the Lordship was forfeited to the Scottish Crown.

With the loss of a powerful authority in the Highlands, clans contested with one another over lands and power. The major Branches of Clan Donald no longer had the central point of control which the Lordship had provided.

When Scottish King James VI, who then held the title of the Lordship of the Isles, became King of England as well as Scotland, the title went with him. Today, the eldest male heir to the British throne retains that title.

After the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the clan way of life was destroyed. Massive migrations sent MacDonald’s and other Highlanders all over the world.

WHAT IS THE MICHIGAN CLAN DONALD SOCIETY

The Michigan Clan Donald Society is a non-profit educational organization dedicated to the celebration and preservation of the history, culture and traditions of our historic Clan. Clan Donald descendants include those who posses the blood heritage of our common Celtic Highland ancestry.

The Clan Donald family includes those who carry the name MacDonald in all of its various spelling, plus some 120 Septs or affiliated families who are, by tradition, considered as integral members of the Clan.

We acknowledge Lord Godfrey Macdonald, Macdonald of Macdonald, as High Chief of Clan Donald. Lord Godfrey, of the Isle of Skye, Scotland, is the direct descendant of the High Chiefs of Clan Donald dating back to the great Somerled.

Our Mission:

To encourage the preservation, celebration and pride in the history and traditions of the Clan Donald

To encourage the awareness and appreciation of the Clan heritage by future generations of the Clan Donald family through educational activities.

To encourage the appreciation of Scottish history, culture, traditions and the contributions made by Scots to western civilization.

To achieve these goals, we encourage the active participation of the members and their families in the operation of the Society and its activities. All Society activities are open to member’s children and guests.