Origins The surname
MacLeod means 'son of Leòid'. The name Leod is an
Anglicization of the Scottish Gaelic name
Leòid, which is thought to have been derived from the
Old Norse.
Clann means "children of the family, offspring, descendants, clan", while
mhic is the genitive of
mac, the Gaelic for "son", and
Leòid is the genitive of Leòd. The whole phrase
Clan McLeod therefore means "The children/offspring/descendants of the son of Leod". The Clan MacLeod of Lewis claims its descent from
Leòid, who according to MacLeod tradition was a younger son of
Olaf the Black,
King of Mann (r.1229–1237). However, articles have been published in the Clan MacLeod magazine which suggest an alternative genealogy for Leòid, one in which he was not son of Olaf, but a 3rd cousin (some removed) from Magnus the last King of Mann. These alternative genealogies use the genealogy of Christina MacLeod, great granddaughter of Leòid, who married Hector Reaganach (McLean/McLaine). These articles suggest that the relationship to the Kings of Mann was through a female line, that of Helga of the Beautiful Hair. The dating of Christina's genealogy and the ability to line it up with known historical facts lend a great deal of authenticity to the claims of the authors. MacLeod tradition is that Leòid, who had possession of Harris and part of Skye, married a daughter of the
Norse seneschal of Skye, MacArailt or Harold's son who held Dunvegan and much of Skye. Siol Tormod held
Harris and
Glenelg on the mainland, and also the lands of
Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye.
14th century Tormod, son of Leod, does not appear in contemporary records; though according to MacLeod tradition preserved in the 19th century
Bannatyne manuscript, he was a noted soldier of his era and was present at the
Battle of Bannockburn. Tormod's son and successor,
Malcolm, is the first of the clan to appear in contemporary record when both he and his kinsman,
Torquil, are recorded as "Malcolme, son to Tormode M'Cloyde", and "Torkyll M'Cloyd", Malcolm was succeeded by his eldest child,
Iain Ciar, as fourth chief of the clan. R.C. MacLeod dated this event to about 1330. Iain Ciar appears in MacLeod tradition as the most tyrannical chief of the clan; his wife is also said to have been just as cruel as he. Clan tradition states that he was wounded in an ambush on
Harris, and soon after died from these wounds at the
church at Rodel. R.C. MacLeod dated his death to 1392. Tradition has it that the Lord of the Isles made another attack on Skye in 1395, but Iain's grandson William MacLeod met the MacDonalds at
Sligachan (Sligichen) and drove them back to Loch Eynort (Ainort). The
Battle of Bloody Bay was fought in 1481 where the Clan MacLeod supported
John of Islay, Earl of Ross, chief of Clan Donald against his bastard son
Angus Og Macdonald.
William Dubh MacLeod, chief of Clan MacLeod was killed in the battle.
16th-century clan conflicts During the 16th century the Clan MacLeod feuded heavily with the
Clan Macdonald of Sleat. In 1588 William MacLeod of Dunvegan, the 13th chief, bound himself and his heirs in a bond of
manrent to
"assist, maintain, and defend, and concur with Lachlan Mackintosh of Dunachton, Captain and Chief of the Clan Chattan, and his heirs." 17th century – peace among the clans and Civil War The
Battle of Coire Na Creiche in 1601 on Skye saw the MacLeods defeated by
Clan MacDonald of Sleat on the northern slopes of the
Cuillin hills. In 1608 after a century of feuding which included battles between the MacDonalds, the
Clan Mackenzie and
Clan MacLean, all of the relevant Chiefs were called to a Lee lr meeting with
Lord Ochiltree who was the King's representative. Here they discussed the future Royal intentions for governing the Isles. The Chiefs did not agree with the King and were all thrown into prison. Donald the Chief of the Clan MacDonald of Sleat was incarcerated in the
Blackness Castle. His release was granted when he at last submitted to the King. Donald died in 1616 and then Donald Gorm Org MacDonald, 9th Chief, 1st Baronet of Sleat, his nephew succeeded as the chief and became the first Baronet of Sleat. Clan MacDonald of Sleat continues to hold title to Trotternish and Sleat on Skye from that day until the present. During the Civil War, after the
Battle of Carbisdale in 1650 the defeated
James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose surrendered himself to Neil MacLeod of Assynt at
Ardvreck Castle. MacLeod' wife, Christine Munro, tricked Montrose into the castle dungeon and sent for troops of the Covenanter Government, and as a result Montrose was captured and executed. During the
Jacobite rising of 1745 the chief of the Clan MacLeod,
Norman MacLeod of Dunvegan, did not support the Jacobites and instead raised several
Independent Highland Companies in support of the Government forces. The chief led 500 men of the MacLeod Independent Highland Companies in support of the Government at the
Battle of Inverurie, on 23 December 1745, where they were defeated.
19th, 20th and 21st centuries The eldest son of
Norman MacLeod of MacLeod (1812–1895),
Norman Magnus (1839–1929), succeeded as the 26th chief. The 26th chief died without male issue. Norman MacLeod of MacLeod's second eldest son, Torquil Olave (1841–1857) had earlier died without issue as well. Norman Magnus MacLeod of MacLeod was, therefore, succeeded by Norman MacLeod of MacLeod's third son, Sir
Reginald MacLeod of MacLeod (1847–1935), as the 27th chief of Clan MacLeod. Sir Reginald MacLeod of MacLeod had no sons, but two daughters. Dame
Flora MacLeod succeeded her father and was followed by her grandson John Wolrige Gordon MacLeod. In 2007, Hugh Magnus MacLeod became the 30th Chief of the Clan MacLeod. For the following events see
Chiefs of Clan MacLeod. ==Clan societies and parliament==