Chattan

Gaelic Name: Clann Gillacatan

Clan Crest: A cat salient, Proper

Clan Motto: Touch not the cat but a glove

Origin of Name: Clan of the cats

Clan Badge: Red whortleberry

Region: Highlands

Clan Chief: Malcolm K MacKintosh of Clan Chattan

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Chattan Clan History

The 'Clan of the Cats' was not always a single family, but rather a confederation or community of families, some related and some not. In heraldry, the wildcat can often be used to distinguish between families.

From around 1873, a portrait of then-chief Cluny MacPherson.

The name is thought to have originated with Saint Cattan. His servant, the baillie of Ardchattan's abbey lands, took the name Gillichattan Mor and is regarded as the first clan chief. During Malcolm II's reign, the family owned lands in Loch Arkaig and Glenloy, and Torcastle became the chief's seat.

Eva, the only child of sixth chief Dougall Dall, married Angus, sixth Laird of MacKintosh, in 1291. Angus was appointed Captain of Clan Chattan. It was debatable whether the chiefship was a heritable honor that Eva could have received. Clan MacPherson chiefs claimed that their descent from Clan Chattan chief Muireach in 1173 gave them the right to be Clan Chattan chiefs. This conflict had raged for two centuries.

Angus and Eva's time saw the beginning of land disputes that would last 400 years. Because they had Angus Og of Islay as an adversary, Angus decided to leave Torcastle and retreat to Rothiemurchus.

The Camerons claimed that the Arkaig lands had been abandoned and moved into them, proclaiming their right of conquest. Clan Chattan emerged as a confederation in the fourteenth century. Along with the MacPhersons, the MacPhails, MacBeans, Cattanachs, MacKintoshs, and their cadet branches the Shaws, MacCombies, Ritchies, MacThomas', and Farquharsons formed an alliance.

The Davidsons and MacAndrews were two other associate families with no blood ties. MacGillivrays, Dochgarroch MacLeans, Badenoch MacIntyres, and Pollochaig MacQueens.

Clan Chattan suffered greatly as a result of the 1745 rising, and the MacKintoshs took over as the dominant clan.

Chattan Places & People

This section is currently being researched.

Chattan Tartans

Logan's 'The Scottish Gael' includes the Chattan tartan. The line 'the chief also wears a particular tartan of a very showy pattern' is also illustrated. He is referring to Clan Chief MacKintosh.

Clan Chattan is a confederation of Clans that includes the MacKintosh, MacGillivray, MacBean, Shaw, MacThomas, MacLeans of Dochgarroch, Macpherson, Farquharson, Davidson, MacPhail, MacQueens of Strathdearn, and MacIntyres of Badenoch.

Lightweight, medium weight, old and rare, and heavyweight are all available.

Threadcount R/48 K4 W4 G12 W4 Y4 R4 K4 R4 Y4 W4 A12 K4 R6 W/4

Chattan

Chattan Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan Chattan Coat of Arms

Worn by everyone with the same name and ancestry

Description of the Crest:

A prominent cat, Proper

Coat of Arms of Clan Chattan

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.