Morrison Red Clan Collection

I. Introduction

In the bold strokes of Scotland’s clan history, the Morrison Red Clan blazes as a vivid testament to Highland passion and artistry. Rooted in the Hebridean soil of Lewis and defined by their crimson tartan, this branch of the Morrison legacy pulses with the fire of their past. This essay traces the origins, evolution, and symbols of the Morrison Red Clan, a lineage as fierce as the red threads they wear.

II. Origins of the Morrison Red Clan

The Morrisons of Lewis claim MacGhilleMhoire ("son of Mary’s servant") as their root, a name forged in their role as brieves under the Lords of the Isles. Tradition links them to Olaf the Black’s 13th-century shipwreck, a Norse-Gaelic genesis. The "Red Clan" distinction emerges with their tartan, a scarlet banner tying them to Lewis’s rugged heart, their identity sharpened by centuries of craft and conflict.

III. Historical Evolution of the Morrison Red Clan

A. Medieval Stronghold

From Dun Pabbay, the Lewis Morrisons ruled as judges, their authority a beacon until the 16th-century MacLeod feuds razed their power. This crucible birthed their red legacy, a hue of defiance amid the grey stones.

B. The Clothiers’ Rise

By the 17th century, the Morrisons turned to cloth, their red tartan—dyed with cochineal or madder—becoming a hallmark of Lewis craftsmanship. This artistry, born of necessity, wove their name into Highland lore, a fiery thread against the green.

C. Endurance and Pride

The Clearances scattered them, yet the red tartan endured, a banner for Lewis Morrisons in exile and at home. The Clan Morrison Society’s 1909 embrace of this weave cemented their identity, a red clan standing tall.

IV. Clan Morrison Red Crest and Motto

A. Crest Symbolism

Three Saracen heads, laurel-crowned, glare from the crest, their fierceness mirrored in the red tartan. The image evokes justice and victory, a fitting emblem for a clan of fire and fiber.

B. Clan Motto

Teaghlach Phabbay roots them in Lewis, while Pretio Prudentia Praestat hints at the cunning behind their craft. Together, they sing of a clan both bold and wise.

V. Clan Morrison Red Tartan

The Morrison Red Tartan, with its crimson, green, and black sett, bursts forth as Lewis’s own. Registered in the 19th century, its vivid red—richer than the ancient or modern weaves—proclaims a clan unafraid to stand apart, its colors a weave of blood and earth.

VI. Prominent Figures of the Morrison Red Clan

A. Iain Mor MacMhicMhoire (fl. 16th century)

"Big John," the brieve felled by MacLeods, wore his defiance like red cloth, his death igniting the clan’s enduring flame.

B. Angus Morrison (1820–1890)

A Lewis weaver, Angus perfected the red tartan’s dye, his skill ensuring its vibrancy for generations, a craftsman of the clan’s scarlet soul.

VII. Conclusion

The Morrison Red Clan, ablaze with the spirit of Lewis, weaves a tale of grit and glory through Scotland’s history. From brieves to clothiers, their path through feuds and exile glows with the red of their tartan—a banner of courage and craft. Their crest and mottos herald a fierce wisdom, while figures like Iain Mor and Angus stoke their fiery legacy. In the Highland chorus, the Morrison Red Clan sings a song of scarlet, bold and unyielding against the winds of time.