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The Clans of Loch Lomond
(Some of the following is from LochLomond.net)
In the 12-14th Century most of the land around the Loch belonged to the Earls of
Lennox. This powerful family owned Balloch Castle, which is still visible to this
date within the present castle grounds. They also owned castles on Inchmurrin and
at Boturich. As was customary, the Earls granted lands to favoured families -
Arrochar and the north-west to the MacFarlanes, Luss and the south-west to the
Colquhouns. The Buchanan, Cunningham and Grahams had land on the eastern
side, the MacGregor's held sway to the north-east of Loch Lomond and the
Stewarts on the southern shore.
The MacFarlanes, on the rough northern land, were given to night raids on their
southern neighbours cattle - hence the moon was referred to as "MacFarlanes
lantern". Their castle at Inveruglas was destroyed by Cromwell, and another built
on Eilean I Vow, (Gaelic:Eilean a' Bho - 'island of the cow'), where ruins can still
be seen today.
The Colquhouns share a common ancestry with the Clan Lennox, their castle is
at Rossdhu, south of Luss, (Gaelic:'black wooded promontory').
In the grounds of the present Georgian house there are the remains of a 12th
Century Chapel, a 15th Century deer park - meadow enclosed by a ditch and a
bank - and a 16th Century square keep. (Site of the Loch Lomond Golf Course).
The small island of Eilean Rossdhu has the remains of an earlier castle.
The MacGregors of Argyll and Perthshire, to the north of Loch Lomond, made
a raid on Luss in 1603 which was followed by a massacre of the Colquhouns in
Glen Fruin - 'the Glen of Sorrow'. For this, the MacGregors chiefs were executed,
and the whole Clan proscribed - dispossessed of their land and their name. To
harbor a MacGregor was a punishable offence, so they became outlaws. Rob Roy
MacGregor was undoubtedly the most famous.
Scholars have long debated whence came the people and name Graham. Some
say the Grahams are descendants of the Graeme who commanded the armies of
Fergus II in 404 AD. Others are equally convinced that they are of Norman
descent, while yet others claim a Flemish or even Danish descent. (Clan Graham
Society)
The Stewart family's first traceable ancestor was Alan, a Breton noble and
hereditary Steward of Dol in the Brittany living about 1045, and appears to have
had connections with the Counts of Dol and Dinan, who were a branch of the
ancient ruling Dynasty of Brittany. Alan's second son, Flaald fitz Alan, became the
hereditary Steward of Dol in the Brittany when his elder brother perished on the
First Crusade in 1097. Fitz is the Norman-French word for "son" (French fils)
Stewart migrations.
After the Norman conquest and during the time of Flaald's son, Alan fitz Flaald,
the family moved to England and acquired lands there. Alan fitz Flaald became
Sheriff of Shropshire. About 1124, at the start of the reign of King David I, the
family migrated to Scotland led by Walter FitzAlan. (Clan Stewart)
The name Cunningham, which according to some may signify “courage in battle,”
could have come from “Cunedda” who was a king of the “Gododdin,” a Celtic
branch of Britons known by the Romans as the “Votadini.” When the Dalriada
Scots emigrated from Ireland in about 500AD, they were confronted by the
Strathclyde Britons, the Gododdin Britons and the Picts. The name Cunedda
eventually led to the names and words Cyning, Kynge and finally King. The
“ham” signifies “hamlet” or small town and was probably added in Norman times.
Still others claim that in the Celtic language Cunedda was rendered as Cinneidigh
(meaning ugly or grim-headed). The name gradually became especially associated
with the district of Carrick in Ayrshire, Scotland. (Clan Cunningham Society
International)
(Some of the following is from LochLomond.net)
In the 12-14th Century most of the land around the Loch belonged to the Earls of
Lennox. This powerful family owned Balloch Castle, which is still visible to this
date within the present castle grounds. They also owned castles on Inchmurrin and
at Boturich. As was customary, the Earls granted lands to favoured families -
Arrochar and the north-west to the MacFarlanes, Luss and the south-west to the
Colquhouns. The Buchanan, Cunningham and Grahams had land on the eastern
side, the MacGregor's held sway to the north-east of Loch Lomond and the
Stewarts on the southern shore.
The MacFarlanes, on the rough northern land, were given to night raids on their
southern neighbours cattle - hence the moon was referred to as "MacFarlanes
lantern". Their castle at Inveruglas was destroyed by Cromwell, and another built
on Eilean I Vow, (Gaelic:Eilean a' Bho - 'island of the cow'), where ruins can still
be seen today.
The Colquhouns share a common ancestry with the Clan Lennox, their castle is
at Rossdhu, south of Luss, (Gaelic:'black wooded promontory').
In the grounds of the present Georgian house there are the remains of a 12th
Century Chapel, a 15th Century deer park - meadow enclosed by a ditch and a
bank - and a 16th Century square keep. (Site of the Loch Lomond Golf Course).
The small island of Eilean Rossdhu has the remains of an earlier castle.
The MacGregors of Argyll and Perthshire, to the north of Loch Lomond, made
a raid on Luss in 1603 which was followed by a massacre of the Colquhouns in
Glen Fruin - 'the Glen of Sorrow'. For this, the MacGregors chiefs were executed,
and the whole Clan proscribed - dispossessed of their land and their name. To
harbor a MacGregor was a punishable offence, so they became outlaws. Rob Roy
MacGregor was undoubtedly the most famous.
Scholars have long debated whence came the people and name Graham. Some
say the Grahams are descendants of the Graeme who commanded the armies of
Fergus II in 404 AD. Others are equally convinced that they are of Norman
descent, while yet others claim a Flemish or even Danish descent. (Clan Graham
Society)
The Stewart family's first traceable ancestor was Alan, a Breton noble and
hereditary Steward of Dol in the Brittany living about 1045, and appears to have
had connections with the Counts of Dol and Dinan, who were a branch of the
ancient ruling Dynasty of Brittany. Alan's second son, Flaald fitz Alan, became the
hereditary Steward of Dol in the Brittany when his elder brother perished on the
First Crusade in 1097. Fitz is the Norman-French word for "son" (French fils)
Stewart migrations.
After the Norman conquest and during the time of Flaald's son, Alan fitz Flaald,
the family moved to England and acquired lands there. Alan fitz Flaald became
Sheriff of Shropshire. About 1124, at the start of the reign of King David I, the
family migrated to Scotland led by Walter FitzAlan. (Clan Stewart)
The name Cunningham, which according to some may signify “courage in battle,”
could have come from “Cunedda” who was a king of the “Gododdin,” a Celtic
branch of Britons known by the Romans as the “Votadini.” When the Dalriada
Scots emigrated from Ireland in about 500AD, they were confronted by the
Strathclyde Britons, the Gododdin Britons and the Picts. The name Cunedda
eventually led to the names and words Cyning, Kynge and finally King. The
“ham” signifies “hamlet” or small town and was probably added in Norman times.
Still others claim that in the Celtic language Cunedda was rendered as Cinneidigh
(meaning ugly or grim-headed). The name gradually became especially associated
with the district of Carrick in Ayrshire, Scotland. (Clan Cunningham Society
International)