Morrison Society Clan Collection

I. Introduction

In the ceaseless weave of Scotland’s clan lore, the Morrison Society Clan stands as a vibrant tapestry, its threads gathered from Lewis’s shores and beyond to form a modern kinship. Born of ancient blood yet defined by a 20th-century revival, this clan embodies the power of unity. This essay explores their origins, evolution, and symbols, a chronicle of a family reclaimed in the heart of Scotland’s heritage.

II. Origins of the Morrison Society Clan

The Morrisons hail from MacGhilleMhoire, "son of Mary’s servant," a name tied to Lewis’s brieves, with roots tracing to Olaf the Black’s 13th-century saga. The "Society Clan" emerges with the Clan Morrison Society’s founding in 1909, a deliberate act to unite Lewis and mainland Morrisons—brieve descendants and Lowland kin—under one banner, their identity formalized in tartan and pride.

III. Historical Evolution of the Morrison Society Clan

A. Medieval Beginnings

The Lewis Morrisons judged from Dun Pabbay until 16th-century feuds dispersed them, while mainland kin in Aberdeenshire rooted quietly as tenants. This fractured past set the stage for a society to heal the rifts.

B. Craft and Commerce

The 17th century saw their clothier rise, their red and green tartans a Highland hallmark. By the 19th century, Clearances and industry scattered them, yet their skills—now in urban markets—kept the name alive, a legacy the society would seize.

C. A Unified Clan

The 1909 society, spurred by figures like Dr. Norman Morrison, wove these threads into a cohesive clan. Festivals, genealogies, and tartan registrations forged a modern identity, their reach spanning from Stornoway to the Americas, a kinship as strong as their ancient broch.

IV. Clan Morrison Society Crest and Motto

A. Crest Symbolism

Three Saracen heads, laurel-wreathed, crown the crest, a nod to justice now symbolizing a clan reunited. The image binds past valor to present unity, a fitting emblem for the society’s mission.

B. Clan Motto

Teaghlach Phabbay evokes their Lewis heart, while Pretio Prudentia Praestat reflects the foresight of their revival, mottos that marry heritage with purpose.

V. Clan Morrison Society Tartan

The Morrison Society Clan embraces both the Red and Green tartans—crimson for Lewis’s fire, muted green for mainland roots. Registered under the society’s aegis, these weaves blend ancient and modern dyes, a dual banner for a clan reborn in fellowship.

VI. Prominent Figures of the Morrison Society Clan

A. Dr. Norman Morrison (1900–1985)

A genealogist and society founder, Norman’s vision in 1909 stitched the clan together, his scholarship a loom for their modern tale.

B. Alasdair Morrison (b. 1968)

A contemporary Lewis MSP, Alasdair’s political voice echoes the society’s pride, his roots in the red tartan a living link to their past.

VII. Conclusion

The Morrison Society Clan rises from Scotland’s storied depths, a kinship forged anew from ancient strands. From Lewis brieves to global kin, their evolution through craft, exile, and revival shines with the hues of their tartans—red and green, bold and wise. Their crest and mottos herald a legacy reclaimed, while Norman and Alasdair mark their journey from past to present. In Scotland’s grand narrative, the Morrison Society Clan weaves a thread of unity, a Highland family bound by the will to endure.