Features: Scottish Clan Early Genealogy - Clan MacAlister

Motto: Fortiter (Boldly)
Historic Seat: Kennox House
District: Ayrshire
Associated Surnames: Alexander, Alistair, Allison, Saunders
Associated Tartans:

Early MacAlister Genealogy and History:
(Excerpt from "The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans", James Grant, 1906)

MacAlister of Loup and Kennox, the head of this clan, is descended from Alister Mòr, Lord of the Isles and Kintyre in 1284. He opposed the claim of Robert Bruce to the throne. The latter besieged him in his Castle of Swan, stormed it, and imprisoned him in the Castle of Dundonald on the Firth of Clyde, where he died; and his possessions were bestowed upon his brother, Angus Mòr, who was an adherent of the King, and in 1306 gave him refuge in his Castle of Dunavertie. "But," says Burke, "the MacAlisters, possessing that jus sanguinis¹ of which no forfeiture could deprive them, claim to represent the ancient Lords of the Isles.

On the overthrow of that dynasty in the reign of James IV, the MacAlisters became an independent clan under Ian Dhu, whose residence was at Ardpatrick in South Knapdale, and for generations his descendant were known as Vic-Ian-Dhu.

His son, Charles, Steward of Kintyre, in 1481, was succeeded by his son Angus Vic-Ian-Dhu-MacAlister of Loup, who is mentioned in the Privy Seal Register of 1515.

Alister, son of the latter, was fined for absenting himself from the King's host at Solway Moss² in 1542. His son Alister obtained a charter from the Earl of Argyll in 1573. According to Burke, his son Godfrey closed a turbulent life early in the sixteenth century, and was buried in Iona. In the Roll of the Landlords and Chiefs, under date 1587, we find "Alexander Macallaster of Loupe in Kintyre." In the Privy Council Register there is a case, in 1589, of Glenlyon against Fercher Dhu Maconeill MacAlister and others; and in 1582 another of Glengarry against Kintail for the slaughter of Rory MacAlister and others, to the number of thirty-three, whom the MacKenzies slew "with dirks appointing that they suld not be buriet as christian men, bot cassin furth and eitten be doiggis and swyne."³ Godfrey MacAlister, Burke states, was succeeded by his son Hector, who married, in 1620, Margaret, daughter of Campbell of Kilberry.

The MacAlisters of Loup were in the army of Montrose at the battle of Inverlochy⁴ in 1645, "but without Hector, their chief, who was an unwilling vassal of Argyll."

"Gory M'Alaster of Lowp" appears in the Scottish Acts of Parliament in 1678 as a commissioner for Argyllshire. Burke states that Hector's son Godfrey married a daughter of Sir Robert Montgomerie of Skelmorlie.

Their son, Alexander MacAlister of Loup, was loyal to King James, and fought at Killiecrankie⁵ under Viscount Dundee, and afterwards served the the Royal Army in Ireland against William of Orange. His son died without issue, so he was succeeded in his inheritance by his brother Charles, who married a daughter of Lamond of that Ilk.

Angus, the son of the latter, was, we are told, a warm friend of the famous Flora MacDonald.⁶

His son Charles, born in 1765, married the heiress of Kennox, in Ayrshire, and added the arms of Somerville to his own. The estate of Strathaird in Skye, was the property of Alister MacAlister.

Charles MacAlister died in 1847, and was succeeded by his son Charles Somerville MacAlister, born in 1799, died in 1891, and was succeeded by his son Lieut.-Col. Charles Somerville MacAlister.

(End excerpt)

Next page: Clan MacAlpine

Footnotes:

¹ jus sanguinis: Right of blood

² The Battle of Solway Moss (1542): The Battle of Solway Moss was fought in November 1542 in Cumbria, England between Scottish forces led by Robert Lord Maxwell and Sir Oliver Sinclair, and English forces, led by Thomas, Lord Wharton, and Sir William Musgrave. Read more about the Battle of Solway Moss at Wikipedia.

³ suld not be buriet as christian men, bot cassin furth and eitten be doiggis and swyne: should not be buried as Christian men, but cast forth and be eaten by dogs and swine.

⁴ The Battle of Inverlochy (1431): The Battle of Inverlochy was fought by a force of Highlanders led by Donald Balloch, and Royalist forces led by the Earls of Mar and Caithness at Inverlochy, near present-day Fort William. Read more about the Battle of Inverlochy at Wikipedia.

⁵ The Battle of Killiecrankie (1689): The Battle of Killiecrankie was fought on 27 July 1689 near Killiecrankie, in Perthshire, Scotland. It took place during the First Jacobite Rising between a Jacobite force of Scots and Irish, and those of the newly arrived William of Orange's Scottish government forces. Read more about the Battle of Killiecrankie at Wikipedia.

⁶ Flora MacDonald: A member of the Macdonalds of Sleat, who helped Charles Edward Stuart evade government troops after the Battle of Culloden in April 1746. Read more about Flora MacDonald at Wikipedia.