MacLeod

Date: 1200

Sweeping statements have no place in serious history. Or do they? Canvases of land have different meanings to different people. To people in Stafainn, ‘dùthaich nam mogan’ would refer to the land of the people whose stockings were once footless. Instantly, people would know that this meant the people of west Skye - in Duirinish and Dunvegan. But 'mogan' can also mean 'young hero', and this too would stand up to the MacLeod characteristics. Either way, the people who were once called 'na moganaich' are the Skye MacLeods. This clan is associated with Duirinish, Bracadale, Dunvegan and Trotternish. When fighting was the norm of everyday clan life, the MacLeods were said to produce the most warlike men that Skye had to offer. They did battle most ugly.

Behind every Beast there is a Beauty

And - please don't take offence ("a Leodaich"!) - but 'Ljot' is an old Norse word which means ugly. As the centuries flew by, Ljot came to be written as 'Leod'. And anyway, he only came by a huge chunk of land because of a lady whose father was a MacRaild (the same clan as Nicolson). Through his marriage to the lady Nicolson (around 1220 AD), Leod took possession of Dunvegan, Bracadale, Minginish, Lyndale and much of Trotternish. She was her father's only daughter. Whether this was a marriage of beauty and the beast, we will never know. But MacRaild is one of the variants of Nicolson, and it might well be this very marriage which lost the Nicolsons much of their power in the Hebrides. That said, it is not easy for mere mortals (such as the writer here) to pursue and swallow the convoluted theories of the scholar of history. Apparently Leod, the original, is buried in the island of Iona, along with the six MacLeod chiefs who came after him. The later MacLeod chiefs were buried in Harris, at the church in Rodel, designed by Alasdair Crotach for himself and those who followed. If you haven't visited Rodel, it's time you did.

We still hear a number of the old Scandinavian Christian names. Norman, Torcuil and Magnus are all examples which are associated with clan MacLeod. If you were ever looking to raise the profile of your clan, it would be best to avoid those wee rhymes. They contain few compliments because frequently of course, such verses were composed by clans who had not always seen eye to eye with your own clan. The one below was the work of a bàrd from Coll. There are many ditties about the MacLeods, and among them are frequent references to their fondness for oats.

If you were ever looking to raise the profile of your clan, it would be best to avoid those wee rhymes. They contain few compliments because frequently of course, such verses were composed by clans who had not always seen eye to eye with your own clan. The foregoing was the work of a bàrd from Coll. There are many ditties about the MacLeods, and among them are frequent references to their fondness for oats.

We all know how difficult it is to track down the MacLeod you want in the telephone directory. The MacLeod presence in Skye is traditionally associated with Duirinish, Bracadale, Dunvegan and Trotternish. There can be few clans who fought so frequently as the MacLeods did with the Macdonalds. When fighting was the norm of everyday clan life, the MacLeods were said to produce the most warlike natives that Skye had to offer. That would fit with their nickname. The Skye MacLeods have been called ‘na Mogain’ or ‘na Moganaich’. Territories can have different implications according to who is talking about them. To people in Stafainn, ‘dùthaich nam mogan’ would refer to the land of those with the footless stockings - ie the territories of Duirinish and Dunvegan. But mogan can also translate to young hero, and this too would stand up to the MacLeod characteristics.

Ljot is an old Norse word which means ugly. As the centuries flew by, Ljot came to be written as Leod. Seemingly the MacLeods did battle most ugly. Maybe this was his fiery Norse blood. In our time, it is pleasing to note that there are few rogues or criminals amongst the plentiful breed. This is great news, since a healthy community holds onto its people. Leod took possession of Dunvegan, Bracadale, Minginish, Lyndale and much of Trotternish via his marriage about 1220 AD to the only daughter of a Norse lord by the name of MacRaild. Leod, the original ugly one, is buried in the island of Iona, along with the six MacLeod chiefs who came after him. The later MacLeod chiefs were buried in Harris, at the church at Rodel.

We still hear a number of the old Scandinavian Christian names. Norman, Torcuil and Magnus are all Scandinavian Christian names associated with clan MacLeod.