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Clan MacNaucht of Kilquanity is a branch of Clan Macnaghten (sometimes spelt as MacNachten or MacNaughton). Consequently, Clan MacNaucht is an off-shoot of a Highland Scottish clan.

Traditional origins
The Clan Macnaghten are amongst the Scottish clans who claim descent from the early Pictish rulers of the Mormaer of Moray. The name Nectan means pure or clear and was popular in at least one Pictish royal branch.

Recorded origins
Three brothers are recorded in the thirteenth century: Gilchrist, Athe and Gilbert, all sons of Malcolm Macnachten. In 1297 Gilchrist received a charter from Alexander III of Scotland which granted to him the keepership of a castle warding the narrow Pass of Brander, which was the gateway to the west.

Highland MacNauchtans helped Malcom IV get the MacDougalls of Lorne under control in 1164 after which they moved into Galloway to become neighbors (VVM, 44, 7). A hazy tradition passed down by Galloway McNaughts is that the first of them was a John MacNacht-an. Some effort has been made to demonstrate that this John was the son of the thirteenth century Gilchrist MacNauchtan whose 1246 charter for an Argyll parish church is still in existence today (VVM, 45, 1).

Disputed Origins
Not all writers agree that the McNaught/McKnight are a branch of the McNaughton family. All agree that if they are, the split occurred very early in history. George Fraser Black, in his book, The Surnames of Scotland, 1946, has paragraphs on both Macknight and Macnaught. He found a MacNaught (Makenaght) in Dumfriesshire as early as 1296. He also says that the Macneights were an old family in an old family in Ayrshire. He also says that the Macneights of Ayrshire and Galloway are said to be a branch of the Macnaughts of Carrick.

V.V. McNitt made the case that the Argyll and Galloway families are kinsmen in his book xxxxxx. He quotes from a family member born in 1844 who knew much about the family in the Galloway region and who’s grandfather had migrated south from Argyll.

Galloway


The early kingdom of Galloway embraced the present Shires of Wigtown and Kircudbright, along with the Carrick (southern) section of Ayr. Its capital was Maybole. There the name seemed to evolve from all the various spellings primarily to McNaught, and McKnight, but with all the variations in spelling that resulted from the widespread illiteracy of those days remaining in some localities. The earliest ancestors located to date were in Ayr, and their names were spelled McKnaught. (JCM, p9, para2-3)

Ayrshire
James C. McKnight found eight generations of McNaughts living in seven different parishes in the Scottish Lowlands, and all but Kirkconnel are in present day Ayrshire (JCM, 22,5). This is an area that only extends as far south as Dalmellington, as far north and west as Kilwinning, and as far east as Kirkconnel. The other four parishes were: Ayr, Old Cumnock, New Cumnock, and Maybole. This represents over 200 years of McNaughts in an era 25x35 miles.

Wars of Scottish Independence
The Macnaghtens came to Loch Awe and as a result became neighbours of the powerful and acquisitive Clan Campbell. The Campbells were quick to support Robert the Bruce when he set out to claim his throne, however the Macnaghtens who were under the influence of the Clan MacDougall opposed him. The Macnaghtens formed part of the MacDougall host that fought against Robert the Bruce's army at the Battle of the Pass of Brander in 1306 and again at the Battle of Dalrigh. However the Macnaghtens later changed their allegiance and a Baron Macnachten (possibly Alexander Macnachten) is recorded as fighting at the Battle of Bannockburn for the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence. The Macnaghtens did not gain much from their late change of allegiance and from that point onwards the Campbells dominated Loch Awe.

The second wife of Alexander Macnaghten, who may have fought at Bannockburn, was Christina Campbell. When she became a widow in 1361 she granted one third of the Macnaghten lands to her cousin, Colin Campbell of Lochow. Alexander Macnaghten's son, Duncan, succeeded to the rest of the lands. His seat was at Dunderave Castle and Dunderave became the territorial designation of the clan chiefs.

In his book, XXXXXX, V.V. McNitt refers to the unsubstantiated research of a Ms. Margaret Macknight of Tunbridge Wells, England. She gave details of one John MacNacht, the first known MacNacht to have the Galloway lands (called Kilquhanity) conferred upon him about 1286 A.D.

15th and 16th centuries
In 1478 Duncan's heir, Alexander, accepted a charter from the Campbell Earls of Argyll for his lands and thus accepted them as feudal superiors. His grandson, also called Alexander, was knighted by James IV of Scotland. He followed the king to the Battle of Flodden and was one of the few survivors of the battle. He died two years later but had married twice and left six sons, the eldest of which succeeded as clan chief. The second son was Ian, father of another Ian or John Dhu who could be the Shane Dhu who is credited with founding the Irish branch of Clan Macnaghten.

Gilbert Macnaghten succeeded as clan chief in 1548 but died without issue and was therefore succeeded by his younger brother, Alexander. Alexander started the rebuilding of Dunderave Castle on Loch Fyne which was completed by his son, Iain, in 1596.

17th century and Civil War
The Macnaghten chiefs raised a force of bowmen to go and assist the French Huguenot rebels in the Siege of La Rochelle in 1627. The chief of Clan Macnaghten was in high favour with Charles I of England and served as a Gentlemen of the Privy Chamber but the expense of the French expedition and the extravagance of living in court forced Macnaghten to mortgage his lands. Alexander died in 1630 leaving Dunderave in the hands of his brother, Macolm Macnaghten of Killearn.

Malcolm's son was a royalist and called out his clan to fight in Glencairn's rising against Oliver Cromwell in 1653. After the Restoration of 1660 Macnaghten was knighted but through the influence of Campbell, Earl of Argyll he was later denounced as a rebel. As a result the clan lands were nearly entirely lost by debt and the next chief, Iain, inherited little more than an empty title.

Iain joined the forces of John Graham, 1st Viscount Dundee and fought at the Battle of Killiecrankie in 1689. As a result he was denounced as a Jacobite rebel and his remaining lands were forfeited. His younger son, John Macnaghten, was the last chief of this line. John was forced to make a formal disposition of his remaining lands to Sir James Campbell of Ardkinglas in 1710.

Modern history
In 1818 Edmund Alexander Macnaghten was recognized as the new clan chief. He was descended from the Irish branch of Macnaghtens who are descended from John Macnaughten Shane Dhu of the 16th century. Edmund Alexander Macnaghten died in 1832 and was succeeded by his brother, Francis, who was a judge in Madras and Calcutta. Francis was a distinguished lawyer and became a Lord of Appeal in 1887. He was succeeded by his son, Sir Edward, whose two sons were both killed in World War I. They were succeeded by their uncle Sir Francis, eighth Baronet.

Clan Chief

 * Clan chief: Sir Malcolm MacNaghten of MacNaghten, Bt.

Clan profile

 * Chief's Motto: Omnia Fortunae Committo
 * Chief's Slogan & War Cry:
 * Chief's Crest:
 * Clan Badge: Trailing Azalea.

Historical forms of the name
Macnaghten, Macnauchtan, Macnachten, Macnaught, Macnaughtan, Macnaughtens, Macnaughton, Macnechtan , McNaughton, MacNaught, McKnaight, Macneight, McNaught, MacKnight, McKnight, McNatt, McNutt, McNitt

Clan castles

 * Dundarave (or "Dunderawe"), Bushmills, Antrim, Ireland.
 * Dundarave Castle, Scottish seat in Argyll and Bute
 * Kilquhanty, Scottish seat of the MacNaughts of Kilquhanty