All Topics  
Clan MacDowall

 
Clan MacDowall

 
   Email Print
   Bookmark   Link
 

 

Clan MacDowall
 
 
  Topics Clan MacDowall Topic Home

Clan Macdowall is a Scottish clan
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 Scottish clan chiefs officially registered with the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which controls the heraldry and Coat of Arms....
. The clan claims to descend from the senior descendants in the male line of the princely house of Fergus
Fergus of Galloway

Fergus of Galloway was Lords of Galloway from an unknown date , until his death in 1161. He was the founder of that "sub-kingdom," the resurrector of the Bishopric of Whithorn, the patron of new abbeys , and much else besides....
, first of the ancient Lords of Galloway. The main branches of the family include the MacDowalls of Garthland, the Makdougals of Makerston, the MacDoualls of Logan, the MacDoualls of Freugh, and the MacDowalls of Machrimore.

History
Origins of the clan
The name MacDowall is a name connected with the ancient history of Galloway
Galloway

Galloway is an area in southwestern Scotland. It usually refers to the former counties of Wigtownshire and Stewarty of Kirkcudbright . It is part of the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland....
, a district in the south west of Scotland
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
 which took its name from the Gall-Gaidhel settlers of the seventh and eighth centuries.






Discussion
Ask a question about 'Clan MacDowall'
Start a new discussion about 'Clan MacDowall'
Answer questions from other users
Full Discussion Forum



Encyclopedia


Clan Macdowall is a Scottish clan
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 Scottish clan chiefs officially registered with the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which controls the heraldry and Coat of Arms....
. The clan claims to descend from the senior descendants in the male line of the princely house of Fergus
Fergus of Galloway

Fergus of Galloway was Lords of Galloway from an unknown date , until his death in 1161. He was the founder of that "sub-kingdom," the resurrector of the Bishopric of Whithorn, the patron of new abbeys , and much else besides....
, first of the ancient Lords of Galloway. The main branches of the family include the MacDowalls of Garthland, the Makdougals of Makerston, the MacDoualls of Logan, the MacDoualls of Freugh, and the MacDowalls of Machrimore.

History


Origins of the clan


The name MacDowall is a name connected with the ancient history of Galloway
Galloway

Galloway is an area in southwestern Scotland. It usually refers to the former counties of Wigtownshire and Stewarty of Kirkcudbright . It is part of the Dumfries and Galloway council area of Scotland....
, a district in the south west of Scotland
Scotland

conventional_long_name = ScotlandAlba|common_name= Scotland|image_flag = Flag of Scotland.svg|flag_width = 130px...
 which took its name from the Gall-Gaidhel settlers of the seventh and eighth centuries. Many legends exist in Galloway including the legend that Dovall of Galloway killed Nothatus the Tyrant in 230 BC. It is also said that the Royal House of Galloway resisted the Romans
Ancient Rome

Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC....
. The name MacDowall is generally accepted to mean "Son of Dougal" due to the transliteration of the "ug" in Dougall to "w" in Dowall, introduced under Edward I of England
Edward I of England

Edward I , popularly known as Longshanks, the English Justinian, and the Hammer of the Scots , was a House of Plantagenet King of England who achieved historical fame by conquering large parts of Wales and almost succeeding in doing the same to Scotland....
 because of the difficulty incurred by the English in pronouncing the Gaelic version. MacDowall was later referred to as MacDowell, with the introduction of the Irish spelled "e".

The Lords of Galloway were very powerful. They scattered their ancient princedom with well endowed abbeys and priories. The last of the native Lords of Galloway, Allen died in 1234. His daughter Devorgilla married John Balloil, 5th Baron de Balliol, a member of the Balliol family who were lords of Barnard Castle
Barnard Castle

Barnard Castle is a town in Teesdale, County Durham, England named after the Barnard Castle around which it grew up. It sits on the north side of the River Tees, opposite Startforth, south southwest of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, west of Middlesbrough and southeast of the county town of Durham....
. Their son, John
John of Scotland

John de Balliol was Elective kingshiped King of the Scots from 1292 to 1296....
, claimed Galloway through the right of his mother. He also claimed the throne of Scotland.

Balliol, Lord of Galloway had granted lands in Garthland
Lochwinnoch

Lochwinnoch is a village in Renfrewshire, Scotland, located on the banks of Castle Semple Loch and the River Calder. It is a mainly residential dormitory village - Population at 2001 was 2628....
 to 'Dougal', a descendant of King Somerled
Somerled

Somerled was a military and political leader of the Scottish Isles in the 12th century who was known in Gaelic as ri Innse Gall . His father was Gillebride of Clan Angus who had been exiled to Ireland....
 and Fergus MacDoual, Balliol's own relation. These two men both appear on the Ragman Rolls
Ragman Rolls

Ragman Rolls was the name given to the collection of instruments by which the nobility and gentry of Scotland used in order to subscribe allegiance to Edward I of England, during the time between the Conference of Norham in May 1291 and the final award in favor of John I of Scotland in November 1292, and again in 1296....
 of Scottish nobles who swore fealty to king Edward I of England
Edward I of England

Edward I , popularly known as Longshanks, the English Justinian, and the Hammer of the Scots , was a House of Plantagenet King of England who achieved historical fame by conquering large parts of Wales and almost succeeding in doing the same to Scotland....
. Dougals's grandson Fergus, third of Garthland was sheriff depute for Kirkcudbright
Kirkcudbright

Kirkcudbright, is a town in the south of Scotland in Dumfries and Galloway.The town lies south of Castle Douglas and Dalbeattie, in the part of Dumfries and Galloway known as the Stewartry, situated at the mouth of the River Dee, Galloway, some six miles from the sea....
 during the reign of King David II of Scotland
David II of Scotland

Daibhidh a Briuis , anglicised as David II , was King of Scotland between 7 June 1329 and 22 February 1371....
.

14th century


The Clan MacDowall, like their Clan MacDougall
Clan MacDougall

Clan MacDougall is a Highland Scottish clan who were the descendants of Dubgall mac Somairle, son of Somerled, who ruled Lorne and the Isle of Mull in Argyll in the 13th and early 14th centuries....
 neighbours and allies, supported the Clan Comyn
Clan Cumming

Clan Cumming, also known as Clan Comyn, is a Scottish clan from the central Scottish Highlands that played a major role in the history of 13th century Scotland and in the Wars of Scottish Independence where they were among the clans who defeated the English at the Battle of Roslin in 1303....
 who were once the most powerful clan in Scotland and rivals to the Scottish throne of Robert the Bruce
Robert I of Scotland

Robert I, King of the Scots usually known in modern English as Robert the Bruce was King of the Scots from 1306 until his death in 1329....
. Once Robert the Bruce had killed John the Red Comyn, chief of Comyns, the MacDowalls became mortal foes of the Bruces. The MacDowalls followed the MacDougalls into several battles against the Bruces
Clan Bruce

Clan Bruce is a Scottish clan from Kincardine in Scotland. It was a Royal House in the 14th century, producing two kings of Scotland....
 until Sir Dougal was killed and dispossessed by the Bruces. The next generation of MacDowalls and MacDougalls changed sides many times but eventually became defenders of Scotland, loyal to the Bruces.

15th century


Fergus III of Garthland's grandson was Sir Fergus MacDowall, fifth Laird of Garthland who led the Clan MacDowall against the English at the Battle of Humbleton Hill
Battle of Humbleton Hill

On September 14, 1402, a Scotland army returning from a pillaging expedition in the English county of Northumberland, suffered complete defeat at the Battle of Humbleton Hill ....
 where he was captured in 1402. This was also known as the Battle of Homildon.

16th century & Anglo-Scottish Wars


Uchtred MacDowall the 9th of Garthland married Isabel Gordon
Clan Gordon

Clan Gordon, also known as the House of Gordon, is a traditional Scottish clan name and it is now a common forename. The chief of the Clan Gordon was the powerful Earl of Huntly, now also Marquess of Huntly....
. During the Anglo-Scottish Wars
Anglo-Scottish Wars

The Anglo-Scottish Wars were a series of wars fought between England and Scotland during the sixteenth century.After the Wars of Scottish Independence, England and Scotland had fought several times during the fourteenth, fifteenth and sixteenth centuries....
 Uchtred Macdowall led the Clan MacDowall at the Battle of Flodden Field
Battle of Flodden Field

The Battle of Flodden or Flodden Field was fought in the county of Northumberland in northern England on 9 September 1513, between an invading Scottish people army under King James IV of Scotland and an English army commanded by Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey....
 in 1513 against the English where both he and his son Thomas MacDowall were killed.

John MacDowall the 11th of Garthland led the Clan MacDowall against the English at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
Battle of Pinkie Cleugh

The Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, along the banks of the River Esk, Lothian near Musselburgh, Scotland on 10 September 1547, was part of the War of the Rough Wooing....
 in 1547.

Uchtred MacDowall the 12th of Garthland was among those who were involved in the "Ruthern Raid" in 1582 led by the Clan Ruthven in which the young King James IV of Scotland
James IV of Scotland

James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the House of Stuart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last British monarch to be killed in battle....
 was kidnapped and held at Ruthven Castle and later Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle is an ancient stronghold which dominates the sky-line of the city of Edinburgh from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock....
.

The main migrations of the family name were to Ireland during the Plantations of Ulster, and then to America during the Irish potato famine as a result of which most members of the family now live in the United States.

The MacDowalls today

Today, Fergus MacDowall of Garthland is the Chief of the Name and Arms. The caput baroniae is at Garthland Mains on the Rhinns of Galloway. The present seat is at Barr Castle, Garthland, Lochwinnoch
Lochwinnoch

Lochwinnoch is a village in Renfrewshire, Scotland, located on the banks of Castle Semple Loch and the River Calder. It is a mainly residential dormitory village - Population at 2001 was 2628....
, Renfrewshire
Renfrewshire

Renfrewshire is one of 32 council areas of Scotland. It is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic Renfrewshire , also known as the County of Renfrew or Greater Renfrewshire, the other two being Inverclyde to the west and East Renfrewshire to the east....
.

Clan profile


  • Clan chief
    Scottish clan chief

    for a list of the Scottish Chiefs and their clan, see Scottish clans.The Scottish Gaelic word clann means children. In early times, and possibly even today, clan members believed themselves to descend from a common ancestor, the founder of the Scottish clan....
    : Fergus MacDowall of Garthland
  • Chief's motto: Vincere Vel Mori (To Conquer or Die)
  • Gaelic
    Gaelic

    Gaelic as an adjective means "pertaining to the Gaels", including language and culture. As a noun, it may refer to the group of languages spoken by the Gaels, or to any one of the individual languages....
     Names: mhic dhu ghaill meaning son of dark (or swarthy) stranger. See later transliterations of "MacDougall" to "MacDowall" discussed above
  • Clan Plant Badge
    Clan badge

    A clan badge, sometimes called a plant badge, is a badge or emblem, usually a sprig of a specific plant, that is used to identify a member of a particular Scottish clan....
    : Bell Heather
    Erica cinerea

    Erica cinerea is a species of heather, native to western and central Europe. It is a low shrub growing to tall, with fine needle-like leaf long arranged in whorls of three....
  • Animal Symbol: Raven
    Raven

    Raven is the common name given to several larger-bodied members of the genus Corvus —but in Europe and North America the Common Raven is normally implied....


See also


  • Scottish clan
    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 Scottish clan chiefs officially registered with the court of the Lord Lyon, King of Arms which controls the heraldry and Coat of Arms....
  • Clan MacDougall
    Clan MacDougall

    Clan MacDougall is a Highland Scottish clan who were the descendants of Dubgall mac Somairle, son of Somerled, who ruled Lorne and the Isle of Mull in Argyll in the 13th and early 14th centuries....


External links