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Clan MacGill (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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MacGill / Makgill

Gaelic Name: Mac an ghoill

Clan Crest: A phoenix in flames, Proper

Clan Motto: Sine Fine (Without end)

Origin of Name: Meaning'son of the lowlander' or'son of the stranger' in Gaelic.

Clan Chief: Ian Arthur Alexander Makgill, 14th Viscount of Oxfuird

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MacGill Clan History

The name MacGill is said to be derived from 'Mac a Ghoill,' which means "son of the lowlander" or "son of the stranger." Prior to the thirteenth century, the name had become established in Galloway. In 1231, Maurice Macgeil signed a charter for the church of St Thomas the Martyr in Arbroath.

During the reign of King James V of Scotland, Sir James Makgill, a prominent Edinburgh merchant and descendant of the old Galloway family, was appointed Provost of Edinburgh. He quickly accepted the newly reformed religion. He had two sons, the elder of whom, Sir James Makgill, bought the estate of Nether Rankeillour in Fife. He studied law in Edinburgh and was elected to the College of Justice in June 1554, later becoming a Lord of Session. He was given the title 'Lord Rankeillor' by the courts. He was a friend and supporter of John Knox, the reformer.

The castle of Oxenfoord. The estate was once the home of the Viscount of Oxfuird, the hereditary Chief of Clan Makgill.

In 1561, Mary, Queen of Scots returned from France to reclaim her throne, and Rankeillor was appointed to her Privy Council. He was one of the nobles who was envious of the queen's Italian secretary, David Rizzio's, power. On March 9, 1566, a group of noblemen led by Lord Ruthven stormed the queen's apartments, dragged Rizzio from her side, and stabbed him to death. Makgill was heavily implicated in the murder, so when Mary exacted her vengeance, he was stripped of his judicial rank and forced to flee Edinburgh. He was later pardoned but instructed to stay north of the Tay. He was later returned to his offices. He was one of the commissioners who accompanied the regent on his journey to York to present charges against the exiled Queen Mary, and he was later sent to London by the Earl of Moray. In 1571 and 1572, he served as ambassador to Queen Elizabeth I of England's court. During his absence, his house in Edinburgh was attacked by queen's supporters, and his wife was murdered. He passed away in 1579. In 1582, his younger brother, who had acquired the Cranston-Riddell lands, was also appointed to the Court of Session. He had previously served as Lord Advocate, a position he held until 1589. He was given the title 'Lord Cranston-Riddell' by the courts. In March 1594, he was succeeded by his son, David, who took his place on the Bench.

David Makgill was succeeded by another David, the third Laird of Cranston-Riddell, who died in May 1619 without issue. Sir James Makgill, his brother, was created a Baronet of Nova Scotia in 1627 and appointed a Lord of Session in 1629. He was elevated to the peerage with the titles of 'Viscount Oxfuird' and 'Lord Makgill of Cousland' by letters patent dated 19 April 1651. He passed away in May 1663.

His son, Robert, the second Viscount, succeeded him, and he had a son and heir, Thomas, by his second wife, Lady Henrietta, only daughter of the Earl of Linlithgow. Thomas died five years before his father in 1701, leaving no children. Christian, the son of the second Viscount's eldest daughter, claimed the viscountcy, but this was challenged in 1734 by James Makgill of Nether-Rankeillor, sixth in descent from Lord Rankeillor. The House of Lords denied his claim, but also that of Christian's son, William Maitland, and the title became dormant. Henrietta, Christian's younger sister, later assumed the title of Viscountess of Oxfuird without establishing her legal right to it, but she died in 1758 without issue.

The estates of Nether-Rankeillor passed through an heiress to The Honourable Frederick Maitland, Earl of Lauderdale's sixth son. The family was renamed Maitland Makgill after David Maitland Makgill of Rankeillor became heir of line to the Crichton viscountcy of Frendraught, and they became known as Maitland Makgill Crichton. It was a member of this family who established his right to the Crichtons' chiefship and, after dropping his additional surnames as required by Lyon Court decree, was recognized as Crichton of that Ilk in 1980. Crichton's cousin, George Hubbard Makgill, was made the thirteenth Viscount of Oxfuird and chief of the Makgills in 1986.

MacGill Places & People

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MacGill Tartans

MacGill Modern

MacGill Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan MacGill Crest

Proper crest description: A phoenix in flames

Coats of Arms of MacGill:

A word about Coats of Arms:

A coat of arms is granted to an individual under Scottish heraldic law (with the exception of civic or corporate arms). A 'family coat of arms' does not exist. With the exceptions noted above, the arms depicted below are personal arms. Only the person who has been granted these weapons has the right to use them.