Clan Darroch
Encyclopedia
Clan Darroch is a Lowland Scottish clan
. They were islanders who lived on the Isle of Islay and the Isle of Jura under MacDonald
, Lord of the Isles
.
Ó Dhubhdarach and Mac Dhubhdarach, which mean "descendant of Dubhdarach" and "son of Dubhdarach". The personal name
Dubhdarach means "black one of the oak tree". The surname borne by the earliest Darrochs on record, however, is thought to have originated as a habitational name
, derived from Darroch, located near Falkirk
, in Stirlingshire
, Scotland.
There is a tradition in the West Highlands that the surname borne there is derived from the Gaelic Dath riabhach, which is said to be a short form of Mac 'Ille riabhach; although etymologist George Fraser Black thought such a derivation doubtful. The present line of chiefs, recognised as such by the Lord Lyon King of Arms
since the late 18th century, claimed to descend from a "McIlliriech" from Jura
.
in 1406. John Darach de Cruce is mentioned in 1445 and may be the same person as John Darraugh who was the commissioner to Parliament for the burgh of Stirling in 1450.
Mariote Darrauch was nurse of Lady Margaret the second daughter of King James II of Scotland
in 1462.
Marion Darroch of Stirling protested in 1471 that she had not given consent to the alienation of an annual rent due to her.
Jacobus Darroch was a notary public who appears as a witness to a charter relating to the lands of the Stirlings of Keir around 1477.
Although the Darrochs were notable in and around Stirling
, they were most numerous on the Isle of Islay and the Isle of Jura where they were part of the powerful Clan Donald
or MacDonald who were ruled by MacDonald Lord of the Isles
.
In 1623, Clann Domhnuill Riabhaich appears on a bond acknowledging Sir Donald MacDonald, first Baronet of Sleat
as their overlord and protector.
after making a fortune in the West Indies. He acquired the Barony of Gourock
from the Stewarts
of Castlemilk in 1784. He was also granted arms by the Court of the Lord Lyon
and designated Chief of McIireich.
His son who was also called Duncan became 3rd Baron of Gourock and also married the daughter of a wealthy merchant who was the Laird of Fairlie in Ayrshire
.
Long after the Scottish clans were over the northern estates in Torriden Ross-shire
were acquired by the fourth Baron of Gourock in 1873.
The clan was united by marriage to the Clan Mackintosh
when Margaret Darroch of Gourock married the Chief of Clan Mackintosh; Rear Admiral Lachlan Mackintosh. She later published a well-respected history of the Mackintosh clan.
The sixth Baron of Gourock, also Duncan, followed a military career serving in the British regiment of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
. He served in both World Wars. He was also a member of the Royal Company of Archers
. His son Duncan, the seventh of Gourock, also served in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
, (Way of Plean and Squire, pp 116-7) and was the Clan Darroch Chief until his death on 1st February 2011. The present Clan Darroch Chief is his eldest daughter, Claire.
Scottish clan
Scottish clans , give a sense of identity and shared descent to people in Scotland and to their relations throughout the world, with a formal structure of Clan Chiefs recognised by the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which acts as an authority concerning matters of heraldry and Coat of Arms...
. They were islanders who lived on the Isle of Islay and the Isle of Jura under MacDonald
Clan Donald
Clan Donald is one of the largest Scottish clans. There are numerous branches to the clan. Several of these have chiefs recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms; these are: Clan Macdonald of Sleat, Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, and Clan...
, Lord of the Isles
Lord of the Isles
The designation Lord of the Isles is today a title of Scottish nobility with historical roots that go back beyond the Kingdom of Scotland. It emerged from a series of hybrid Viking/Gaelic rulers of the west coast and islands of Scotland in the Middle Ages, who wielded sea-power with fleets of...
.
Origins of the name
There are several origins for the surname Darroch in Scotland. In some cases it is an Anglicised form of the IrishIrish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
Ó Dhubhdarach and Mac Dhubhdarach, which mean "descendant of Dubhdarach" and "son of Dubhdarach". The personal name
Personal name
A personal name is the proper name identifying an individual person, and today usually comprises a given name bestowed at birth or at a young age plus a surname. It is nearly universal for a human to have a name; except in rare cases, for example feral children growing up in isolation, or infants...
Dubhdarach means "black one of the oak tree". The surname borne by the earliest Darrochs on record, however, is thought to have originated as a habitational name
Habitational name
A habitational name is a type of name. These names denote the starting inhabited location. Such locations can be any type of settlement, such as: homesteads, farms, enclosures, villages, hamlets, strongholds or cottages. The second element of a habitational name describes the type of settlement...
, derived from Darroch, located near Falkirk
Falkirk
Falkirk is a town in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies in the Forth Valley, almost midway between the two most populous cities of Scotland; north-west of Edinburgh and north-east of Glasgow....
, in Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire
Stirlingshire or the County of Stirling is a registration county of Scotland, based around Stirling, the former county town. It borders Perthshire to the north, Clackmannanshire and West Lothian to the east, Lanarkshire to the south, and Dunbartonshire to the south-west.Until 1975 it was a county...
, Scotland.
There is a tradition in the West Highlands that the surname borne there is derived from the Gaelic Dath riabhach, which is said to be a short form of Mac 'Ille riabhach; although etymologist George Fraser Black thought such a derivation doubtful. The present line of chiefs, recognised as such by the Lord Lyon King of Arms
Lord Lyon King of Arms
The Lord Lyon King of Arms, the head of Lyon Court, is the most junior of the Great Officers of State in Scotland and is the Scottish official with responsibility for regulating heraldry in that country, issuing new grants of arms, and serving as the judge of the Court of the Lord Lyon, the oldest...
since the late 18th century, claimed to descend from a "McIlliriech" from Jura
Jura, Scotland
Jura is an island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, situated adjacent and to the north-east of Islay. Part of the island is designated as a National Scenic Area. Until the twentieth century Jura was dominated - and most of it was eventually owned - by the Campbell clan of Inveraray Castle on Loch...
.
15th to 17th century
John Darroch was baille of StirlingStirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
in 1406. John Darach de Cruce is mentioned in 1445 and may be the same person as John Darraugh who was the commissioner to Parliament for the burgh of Stirling in 1450.
Mariote Darrauch was nurse of Lady Margaret the second daughter of King James II of Scotland
James II of Scotland
James II reigned as King of Scots from 1437 to his death.He was the son of James I, King of Scots, and Joan Beaufort...
in 1462.
Marion Darroch of Stirling protested in 1471 that she had not given consent to the alienation of an annual rent due to her.
Jacobus Darroch was a notary public who appears as a witness to a charter relating to the lands of the Stirlings of Keir around 1477.
Although the Darrochs were notable in and around Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
, they were most numerous on the Isle of Islay and the Isle of Jura where they were part of the powerful Clan Donald
Clan Donald
Clan Donald is one of the largest Scottish clans. There are numerous branches to the clan. Several of these have chiefs recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms; these are: Clan Macdonald of Sleat, Clan Macdonald of Clanranald, Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, Clan MacDonald of Keppoch, and Clan...
or MacDonald who were ruled by MacDonald Lord of the Isles
Lord of the Isles
The designation Lord of the Isles is today a title of Scottish nobility with historical roots that go back beyond the Kingdom of Scotland. It emerged from a series of hybrid Viking/Gaelic rulers of the west coast and islands of Scotland in the Middle Ages, who wielded sea-power with fleets of...
.
In 1623, Clann Domhnuill Riabhaich appears on a bond acknowledging Sir Donald MacDonald, first Baronet of Sleat
Clan MacDonald of Sleat
Clan Macdonald of Sleat, sometimes known as Clan Donald North and in Gaelic Clann Ùisdein , is a Scottish clan and a branch of Clan Donald — one of the largest Scottish clans. The founder of the Macdonalds of Sleat is Ùisdean, 6th great-grandson of Somhairle, a 12th century Rì Innse Gall...
as their overlord and protector.
18th century
In the later half of the 18th century Duncan Darroch returned to ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
after making a fortune in the West Indies. He acquired the Barony of Gourock
Gourock
Gourock is a town falling within the Inverclyde council area and formerly forming a burgh of the historic county of Renfrewshire in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. It has in the past functioned as a seaside resort on the Firth of Clyde...
from the Stewarts
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
of Castlemilk in 1784. He was also granted arms by the Court of the Lord Lyon
Court of the Lord Lyon
The Court of the Lord Lyon, also known as the Lyon Court, is a standing court of law which regulates heraldry in Scotland. Like the College of Arms in England it maintains the register of grants of arms, known as the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland, as well as records of...
and designated Chief of McIireich.
19th century and later
His son, who was also called Duncan and was 2nd Baron of Gourock rose to the rank of Lieutenant General in the Glengarry Fencibles RegimentHis son who was also called Duncan became 3rd Baron of Gourock and also married the daughter of a wealthy merchant who was the Laird of Fairlie in Ayrshire
Ayrshire
Ayrshire is a registration county, and former administrative county in south-west Scotland, United Kingdom, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr, Kilmarnock and Irvine. The town of Troon on the coast has hosted the British Open Golf Championship twice in the...
.
Long after the Scottish clans were over the northern estates in Torriden Ross-shire
Ross-shire
Ross-shire is an area in the Highland Council Area in Scotland. The name is now used as a geographic or cultural term, equivalent to Ross. Until 1889 the term denoted a county of Scotland, also known as the County of Ross...
were acquired by the fourth Baron of Gourock in 1873.
The clan was united by marriage to the Clan Mackintosh
Clan MacKintosh
Clan Mackintosh is a Scottish clan from Inverness with strong Jacobite ties. The Mackintoshes were also chiefs of the Chattan Confederation.-Origins:...
when Margaret Darroch of Gourock married the Chief of Clan Mackintosh; Rear Admiral Lachlan Mackintosh. She later published a well-respected history of the Mackintosh clan.
The sixth Baron of Gourock, also Duncan, followed a military career serving in the British regiment of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
. He served in both World Wars. He was also a member of the Royal Company of Archers
Royal Company of Archers
The Royal Company of Archers is a ceremonial unit that serves as the Sovereign's Bodyguard in Scotland, a role it has performed since 1822 and the reign of King George IV, when the company provided a personal bodyguard to the King on his visit to Scotland. It is currently known as the Queen's...
. His son Duncan, the seventh of Gourock, also served in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 5th Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland is an infantry battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland....
, (Way of Plean and Squire, pp 116-7) and was the Clan Darroch Chief until his death on 1st February 2011. The present Clan Darroch Chief is his eldest daughter, Claire.