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Clan MacQuarrie (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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MacQuarrie

Gaelic Name: MacGuaidhre

Clan Crest: Out of an antique crown, An arm in armour embowed, grasping a dagger, all Proper

Clan Motto: Turris Fortis Mihi Deus (God is a strong tower to me)

Origin of Name: Gaelic, Son Guaire (Proud or noble)

Clan Badge: Pine

Lands: Ulva

Clan Chief: None, armigerous clan

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MacQuarrie Clan History

The name MacQuarrie comes from the Gaelic word guaire, which means "noble." It is a branch of the great clan Alpine. Guaire was the brother of Fingon, the MacKinnon clan's progenitor, according to legend. Both clans, who shared a common ancestor, eventually became dependent on the Lords of the Isles.

Ulva, near the island of Mull, was the seat of the MacQuarrie chiefs. Iain of Ulva, who witnessed a charter of the Lord of the Isles in 1463, is the first historical record of the MacQuarrie clan.

The chief of the clan MacQuarrie was one of the chiefs summoned to Iona by James VI in 1609 and forced to sign the infamous Statutes of Iona as a supporter of the Lord. This effectively ended the Lords of the Isles' reign.

The MacQuarrie clansmen allied with the MacLean clan, but this resulted in disaster when the chief of Ulva and many of his men died fighting for Charles II alongside the MacLeans at Inverkeithing.

During their famous tour of Scotland in the eighteenth century, Dr. Johnson and Boswell visited Ulva and stayed with the clan's chief, Lachlan MacQuarrie. Lachlan pleasantly surprised Boswell, who described him as "intelligent, polite, and much a man of the world." Lachlan MacQuarrie was forced to sell the clan's family seat five years after this visit due to financial constraints.

MacQuarrie Places & People

Clan MacQuarrie Individuals

Lachlan MacQuarrie (1715-1818).

The clan's sixteenth chief, who entertained Johnson and Boswell. He was the last and longest-living chief, dying at the age of 103!

Lachlan Macquarie, Major General

Macquarie, Lachlan (1762-1824)

He rose through the ranks of the army to the rank of Major-General before becoming the fifth Governor of New South Wales. He was known as the "Father of Australia" because of his strong moral sense.

Professor John MacQuarrie (born 1919)

He was a prominent theologian who wrote numerous papers on religious thought and theology.

MacQuarrie Tartans

MacQuarrie Tartan

MacQuarrie Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan MacQuarrie Crest

Out of an antique crown, an arm in armour embowed, grasping a dagger, all Proper.

Coats of Arms of MacQuarrie

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.