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Clan MacKenzie (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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MacKenzie

Gaelic Name: MacCoinnich

Clan Crest: A mount in flames, Proper

Clan Motto: Leceo Non Uro (I shine, not burn)

Origin of Name: Gaelic, ‘Son of the fair’

Clan Badge: Stagshorn clubmoss

Lands: Ross and Cromarty, Isle of Lewis

Clan Chief: John Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Cromartie

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MacKenzie Clan History

The MacKenzies are thought to be descended from the ancient royal house of Lorn, as "Maccoinneach" means "fair, bright one" in Gaelic. The clan controlled lands in Ross-shire that stretched from the Outer Hebrides to the Black Isle in the east.

The clan MacKenzie's western stronghold was Eilean Donan Castle at the mouth of Loch Duich. The MacKenzies appointed the clan MacRae as hereditary constables of the castle in the seventeenth century, and the MacRaes remained fiercely loyal to the family for many centuries.

The MacKenzie clan achieved exceptional political eminence between the fifteenth and seventeenth centuries, despite being a minor clan in ancient times. They were staunch supporters of the Stewart monarchy and were rewarded for it when they were made Earls of Seaforth. The clan motto "Cuidiche a righ" or "the king's tribute" and the appearance of a stag's head (a feudal gift to a king) in the chief's coat of arms both symbolize this loyalty.

The fourth Earl of Seaforth remained a staunch supporter of James VII, even accompanying him to Ireland and France, where he died in exile. The famous prophecies of the Brahan Seer foretelling the clan's demise as a political force began to unfold around this time.

However, the MacKenzie family has achieved prominence in other fields, one of which is literature. W.R. MacKenzie is a famous historian, and John MacKenzie was the author of "Beauties of Gaelic Poetry," which has been hailed as the finest Gaelic anthology ever written.

MacKenzie Places & People

Clan MacKenzie Individuals

Kenneth MacKenzie (died in 1492)

One of the clan's most powerful and infamous chiefs, his magnificent tomb can still be seen at Beauly Priory. MacKenzie MacCompton

MacKenzie MacCompton

MacKenzie, Compton (1883-1972)

He was a founding member of the Scottish Nationalist Party as well as a well-known Scottish novelist, comic writer, and essayist.

MacKenzie, Seaforth (1913-1955).

An Australian novelist and poet regarded as one of the most influential of his generation. In 1961, his "Selected Poems" was published.

Sir Jeremy MacKenzie (born 1941).

Since 1994, he has served as the Deputy Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.

MacKenzie Tartans

Ancient MacKenzie

MacKenzie Contemporary

Weathered MacKenzie

Ancient MacKenzie Dress

Modern MacKenzie Dress

MacKenzie Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan MacKenzie Crest

Crest Description: A flaming mount, Proper

Coats of Arms of MacKenzie

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.

Chief of Clan Mackenzie, MacKENZIE Azure, a cabossed stag's head, Or.

Earl of Seaforth Arms MacKenzie

Brendan, Brian John Michael

Mackenzie-Hanson

Quarterly: argent, a lion rampant, gules, within a border, sable; on a canton, azure, a harp and a viscount's crown, or, for LANE; 3rd, argent, a chevron between three foxes' heads, erased, gules, and (for distinction) in the centre chief point a cross crosslet sable, for FOX. Below the shield: dexter, two holly (cuileann) leaves for MACKENZIE; center, two shamrocks for SNEE; sinister, two variegated ivy leaves for HANSON; proper, with the stalks thereof bound together in a fasces with binding, or, and axe-blade, argent for HANSON.

1st and 2nd helms, argent, a peer's helm, the 1st facing the 2nd.

Crests - 1st, a stag's head cabossed, between two stag's horns, azure and or, for MACKENZIE; 2nd, an estoile, argent, out of a coronet of fleurs-de-lis, or, for SACKVILLE (from LANE-FOX);

Azure and or for Mantling.

Dexter, an armed highlander in full Mackenzie modern colours tartan costume with a badge of the cuileann, proper, for MACKENZIE, upon the highlander's targe, an escutcheon of MACKENZIE:- azure, a cabossed stag's head, sinister, an escutcheon of arms of HANSON de RASTRICK:- Quarterly, 1, or, a chevron countercomponed argent and azure, between three martlets sable, for Hanson; 2, azure, a chevron between three roses, gules, barbed and seeded proper, for de Rastrick; 3, azure, a chevron between three mullets, or, for Woodhouse; 4, or, on a chevron sable, three- Or and gules, a bend vair; each supporter standing on an or scroll.

Mottoes: "Daonnan Dleas" (Scottish Gaelic, meaning "Always Faithful") for MACKENZIE; "Sola Virtus Invicta" (Latin, meaning "Virtue Alone is Invincible") for both HANSON de RASTRICK and HOWARD Dukes of Norfolk.

Edward Montagu, Montagu-Stuart Wortley-Mackenzie (Stamp 2) Stuart Granville, 1st Earl of Wharncliffe (1827 - 1899)

52mm x 52mm in size

Arms Quarterly 1 & 4. Azure, a stag's head caboshed above two laurel branches (Mackenzie of Rosehaugh). 2. Gules on a bend between six martlets three bezants [roundels] on a canton or a fess checky within a double tressure flory counterflory (Wortley) 3. A checky fess within a double tressure flory counterflory (Stuart, Earl of Bute) Motto for an Earl's Coronet • AVITO • VIRET • HONORE • HONOUR

Edward Montagu, Montagu-Stuart Wortley-Mackenzie 1st Earl of Wharncliffe Stuart Granville (1827-1899) (Stamp 3)

43mm x 33mm in size

First and fourth grand quarters of arms Quarterly 1 and 4. A caboshed stag's head above two laurel branches (Mackenzie of Rosehaugh) 2. A fess checky on a bend between six martlets and three roundels on a canton (Wortley). 3. A fess checky surrounded by a double tressure flory counterflory (Stuart, Earl of Bute) The second and third grand quarters Quarter 1 and 4. In fess a bordure (Montagu), three lozenges are joined together. 2 and 3. A displaying eagle (Monthermer)