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Welcome to the
Clan Donald Genealogy Database maintained by Roddy Macdonald of the
Clan Donald Society of Edinburgh. The project aims to bring the work
of the Reverend Doctors Archibald Macdonald of Killearnan and Angus
Macdonald of Kiltarlity (Clan Donald, 3 Volumes,
Inverness,1896-1904) and Donald J. Macdonald of Castleton (Clan
Donald, Loanhead, 1978) up to date in an easily accessible
format.
Genealogy is not an
exact science and this database, like its predecessors is not
without errors and omissions. However, I revise it regularly in the
light of contributions from all over the world. If you would like to
contribute to the project, I always welcome contributions. It helps
if you can give the reference numbers of persons already in the
database to whom your family is related so that I can avoid
duplication. Descendant charts in Microsoft Word (.doc) format or
Gedcom (.ged) files are preferred and you can submit them by
e-mail.
To maintain file size, I generally only include 1
generation of non-Macdonald descendants, although I carry the line
through to the individual contributor so that they may benefit from
the genealogy reports that I can produce. I ensure that all dates
and events relating to living individuals are 'privatised' i.e.
removed and replaced by the word 'Private' prior to generating the
HTML file for the web to maintain the privacy of living individuals.
This database provides a good starting point and shows what others
have managed to do. If you want to trace your own Clan Donald
genealogy, nothing beats a visit to the
Study
Centre at Armadale.
To facilitate
searching the database, only 3 variants of the name are used:
Macdonald,
Macdonell
and
McDonnell for the modern members of the Antrim family. All other variants are rendered as the
closest of the first two.
A chart of the
succession of the Chiefs of the branches of the clan can be found
here.
Given the mixed
Hiberno-Scoto-Norse ancestry of Clan Donald, I make no apology for
including the genealogies gleaned from the Icelandic Sagas, which I
charted as an aide-memoire when I was studying the Sagas.
Notable Points of Entry
into the Genealogy Database
The list below gives
the founder of each branch of the clan and the last or current
representer of that branch (where known), as well as other notables
in the database.
Somerled / Sumarlidi / Somhairle Mor MacGillebride (Abt. 1100 -
1164) King of Argyll and the Sudreys.
The eponymous
Donald (1190 - 1269) after whom the Clan Donald is named,
grandson of Somerled through Ranald MacSorley. The current
High Chief of Clan Donald is the Rt. Hon.
Godfrey James Macdonald of Macdonald, 8th Lord Macdonald.
Angus Og Macdonald of the Isles (1272 - Abt. 1324), grandson of
the eponymous Donald. Friend and fellow fighter at the Battle of
Bannockburn (1314) of
Robert the Bruce (1306 - 1329) King of Scots. The current Queen
of Scots is
Elizabeth, Queen of the United Kingdom and her other realms and
territories. She is the 24th great granddaughter of Somerled and
20th great granddaughter of Robert the Bruce.
Iain Sprangach Macdonald of Ardnamurchan (Bef. 1292 - Abt.
1330), brother of Angus Og and founder of the MacIains or Macdonalds
of Ardnamurchan. The last chief of the Macdonalds of Ardnamurchan
was
Alexander, 7th of Ardamurchan (Bef. 1518 - Abt 1538).
Iain Og an Fraoch Macdonald of Glencoe (abt. 1330 - 1358),
natural son of Angus Og and founder of the MacIains or Macdonalds of
Glencoe. The chief killed in the 1692 Massacre of Glencoe was
Alasdair Ruadh, 12th Chief. The last chief was
Alexander James John, 19th Chief.
John Macdonald (Bef. 1324 - 1387), son of Angus Og and 1st Lord
of the Isles.
Ranald Macdonald (1352 - 1389), son of John by Amie MacRuaridh
and founder of the Clanranald Macdonalds and Glengarry MacDonells.
The current Clanranald is
Ranald Alexander, 24th Chief and the current Glengarry is
Aeneas
Ranald Euan, 23rd Chief.
Godfrey Macdonald (Bef. 1358 - 1401), son of John by Amie
MacRuaridh and founder of the Siol Gorraidh.
Donald of Harlaw Macdonald of the Isles (Abt. 1359 - 1423), son
and heir of John by
Princess Margaret Stewart of Scots, 2nd Lord of the Isles,
claimant to the Earldom of Ross who fought the Battle of Harlaw.
Iain Mor Tanister Macdonald of the Isles (Bef. 1380 - 1427), son
of John by
Princess Margaret Stewart of Scots and founder of the Macdonalds
of Dunnyveg and the Glens of Antrim, also known as Clan Donald
South. The current Representer of Clan Donald South is
Alexander Randal Mark McDonnell, 9th Earl of Antrim.
Alasdair Carrach Macdonald of Keppoch (Bef. 1380 - Abt. 1443), son of John by
Princess Margaret Stewart of Scots and founder of the MacDonalds
or MacDonells of Keppoch. The current Chief (for aught yet seen) is
Ranald Alasdair, 22nd Chief.
Alexander Macdonald of the Isles and Earl of Ross (Bef. 1423 -
1449). 3rd Lord of
the Isles, son and heir of Donald of Harlaw.
Hugh or Uisden Macdonald of Sleat (Bef. 1449 - 1498), son of Alexander, 3rd Lord of
the Isles and founder of the Macdonalds of Sleat. The current Chief
of the Macdonalds of Sleat is Sir
Iain Godfrey, 25th Chief.
Celestine Macdonald of Lochalsh (Bef. 1449 - 1476), son of Alexander, 3rd Lord of
the Isles and founder of the Macdonalds of Lochalsh. The last Chief
of the Macdonalds of Lochalsh was
Sir Donald Gallda in the 16th Century.
[Index
of Persons] [Index of Surnames]
[Chiefs] | 
