Clan Mackenzie Society of Scotland and the UK - History, Castles, Genealogy and Events

Welcome to the Clan Mackenzie Society
of Scotland and the UK

Arms of Clan Mackenzie Society of Scotland
Arms of the Clan Mackenzie Society of Scotland and the UK

Motto: Cuidich 'N Righ (Help the King)
Motto: Luceo non Uro (I shine not burn)
War Cry: Tullach Ard (The High Hill)

The Clan Mackenzie and its Septs

Is your surname Mackenzie, or a variation of this name? , or
Is your surname among those Septs of the Clan Mackenzie below? , or

Are you related to a Mackenzie or any of the Sept surnames below? , or

Are you sympathetic to the Clan Mackenzie Society's aims and activities and interested in the history of the famous Clan Mackenzie?

A Mackenzie Clansman

The mid-19th century R. R. McIan illustration of
a Mackenzie Clansman as published in the
"The Clans of the Scottish Highlands."

Join the Clan Mackenzie Society of Scotland and the UK!

Septs of the Clan Mackenzie

Charles
Charleson
Clunes
Clunies
Cross
Iverach
Iverson
Ivory
Kenneth
Kennethson
Kinnach

Kynoch
Macaweeney
MacBeolain
MacBeath
MacBeth
MacConnach
MacCure
Maceur
MacIver
MacIvor
MacKenna

MacKenney
MacKerlich
MacKinna
MacKinney
MacKinnie
MacLeay
MacMurchie
MacMurchy
MacQueenie
MacThearliach
MacVanish

MacVennie
MacVinish
MacVinnie
MacWeeny
MacWhinnie
Makiver
Murchie
Murchison
Smart
Tuach

NB There are several variations in the spelling of the name Mackenzie, i.e. MacKenzie, McKenzie, Macenzie, McEnzie, Makenzie, MaKenzie, M'Kenzie, Kenny, Kenney, MacKenny, MacKenney, McKenny, McKenney, Mackinzie, McKinzie, MacKinney, McKinney &c, they are accepted as Septs or variations of the Mackenzie Clan name. Often in centuries past it was the local Monk or Minister who could read and write and who also decided on the spelling of people's names when entering Baptism, Marriage or Burial records. So when writing an unfamiliar name it had to be written as it sounded and misspellings would often occur especially when the informant had a strong accent. If you are not sure that your name was derived from "Mackenzie" or a Sept name then please do ask us.

See: Rules of the Clan System

If your name is Mackenzie, one of the above Sept names or a variation then you are entitled to wear the Clan Mackenzie Tartan.

There are eight Mackenzie tartans available

Modern Colours

Mackenzie Old Colours

Mackenzie Ancient Colours

Mackenzie Dress:-
Modern and Ancient Colours

Mackenzie Hunting:-
Muted Brown and Muted Green

Mackenzie Millennium Tartan:-
Mackenzie 78th Highlanders

It is believed that an earlier Mackenzie tartan once existed, predominantly red in colour resembling tartans of neighbouring Ross-shire clans. This is being investigated.

Mackenzie Modern Colours Tartan

Click here to go to the tartans page.

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The Clan Mackenzie Society Magazine

The Clan Mackenzie Society's Annual Magazine (ISSN 1352-3430) has been running since 1994.
To purchase back issues or a copy of the current edition please visit our Magazine Web page or receive a copy by becoming a Member of the CMS.

Submit an Article: Do you have an article or a story to tell that you would like to submit to the CMS Magazine? If so we would be grateful for your contributions, please submit your article to Philippa Mackenzie, by no later than the end of September for the following year's edition.

Events Calendar

Details of events in 2008 to be attended by The Clan Mackenzie Society of Scotland and the UK:

Saturday 19th April - Culloden Memorial Service at Culloden Battlefield (the service is usually around 11am), followed by lunch at a nearby hotel (details to be confirmed)

Saturday 12th July - Roderick MacKenzie Memorial Day with Picnic by river at 12 noon, Glenmoriston. See page on RM_1745

Saturday 19th July - Inverness Highland Games - The Clan Village includes the Clan Mackenzie Tent (from 11am to late afternoon).

Saturday 9th August Strathpeffer Highland Games and Clan Mackenzie Tent (from 11am to late afternoon), followed by a locally organised ceilidh in the evening at the Strathpeffer Pavilion.

Sunday 10th August - Tea & Poetry with Ian Blake at Castle Leod, by generous permission of The Earl of Cromartie - click here to book
27th & 28th September - Iain Dall Piping Competition at Gairloch.

3rd - 5th October - AGM Weekend in Gairloch - click here for details

Castle Leod will be open to visitors on certain days this year - click here for details.
The next Clan Mackenzie International Gathering will be held in Strathpeffer from Monday 2 August - Sunday 8 August 2010.

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Hereditary Chief of the Clan Mackenzie

"Cabarfeidh"

The 5th Earl of Cromartie

John Ruaridh Grant Mackenzie; Baron Castlehaven, Baron MacLeod of Castle Leod

5th Earl of Cromartie (Mackenzie)
(Earl UK, 1861)

John Ruaridh Grant Mackenzie; Viscount Tarbat, Baron Castlehaven, Baron MacLeod, created 1861; MIExpE; explosives engineer; recognised by Lord Lyon as Chief of Clan Mackenzie; discontinued the use of the forename and surname of Blunt 1962; b. 12 June 1948; son of 4th Earl of Cromartie, MC, TD and Olga (d. 1996), daughter of the late Stuart Laurence; succeeded his father, 1989; educated: Rannoch School, Perthshire, and Strathclyde University; Member: Council, Mountaineering Council of Scotland, 1995-; author of Selected Climbs in Skye, 1982; articles in Classic Rock Climbs and Cold Climbs; married, 1985, Janet Clare, daughter of Christopher James Harley, of Strathpeffer, Ross-shire, and has issue. Recreations: mountaineering, art, astronomy, geology. Heir: his son the Viscount Tarbat, quod vide. Address: Castle Leod, Strathpeffer, Ross-shire, IV4 9AA.
Clubs: Army and Navy; Scottish Mountaineering.

Sons:
Colin Ruaridh (Viscount Tarbat), b 1987.
Hon Alasdair Kenelm Stuart, b 1989.

[Sources: Extracted from Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage 1995 and Who's who 1998, 150th edition ]

Arms of the 5th Earl of Cromartie

Blazon of Arms of the 5th Earl of Cromartie

Shield:

Azure, a deer's head cabossed Or

Crest:

A mountain in flames Proper

Motto:

LUCEO NON URO

Supporters:

On a compartment embellished with stag's horn club moss two savages wreathed about the head and middle each holding in the exterior hand a baton resting on the shoulder burning at the end and the hair likewise enflamed all Proper.

COMMITTEE of the CLAN MACKENZIE of SCOTLAND and THE UK

OFFICE BEARERS OF THE COMMITTEE

President
and Clan Centre Project Manager
(TACT - Tulach Ard Charitable Trust)

Peadair Mackenzie
Farm Cottage, Urray
by Muir of Ord
Ross-shire
Scotland
IV6 7UX

E-mail:

Past President

Dr Ian M. Blake
Blair Cottage
Aultgrishan, Melvaig
Gairloch
Wester Ross
Scotland
IV21 2DG

Vice President

Hugh Courtney
"Soilsean"
Tomatin
by Inverness
Scotland
IV13 7XY

Membership Secretary
& Treasurer

Mary Mackenzie

Mrs Mary MacKenzie
Kingsway Cottage
Shandwick Street
Tain
Ross-shire
Scotland
IV19 1BQ

Click here to Email

Susan Weinmann
Honorary Secretary

Susan Weinmann

The Grange
Clachan Road
Ardersier IV2 7SS

Click here to Email

Vice President

Lady Julia Mackenzie
Tigh na Fraoch, Craigton,
Cullicudden,
by Dingwall,
Ross-shire,
Scotland,
IV7 8LL

COUNCIL MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE
CMS Magazine Editor Mrs Philippa Mackenzie 11 Heatherley Crescent Inverness IV2 4AW Scotland Click here to Email
Mr Keith MacKenzie Kingsway Cottage Shandwick Street Tain Ross-shire Scotland IV19 1BQ	Hamish MacKenzie, O.B.E. Firthview Main Street Portmahomack Ross-shire IV20 1YS Scotland	Graeme MacKenzie 24 Rangemore Road Inverness IV3 5EA Scotland
Roderick Balfour Torran Gorm Cantray Croy Scotland IV2 5PS	Donnaie Mackenzie Tigh na H'ath Dulnain Bridge by Grantown on Spey Scotland PH2 3NU	John Graham, Cluanie Farm Teanassie Beauly Inverness-shire Scotland

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Clan Mackenzie Badges

There are two main types of badges. This is because in 1605 the chief of the clan, then the Earl of Seaforth, adopted the crest of his wife, heiress to Macleod of the Lewes, being a mountain in flames. The clan badge displays the crest of the clan chief. However most of the principle branches of the clan and the later formed Seaforth Highlanders regiment held the original "Kintail" crest of a golden stag's head.

Clan Mackenzie of Seaforth badge incorporating the crest of a Rock in Flames with the motto: "Luceo non Uro" meaning "I shine not burn". Sir Roderick Mackenzie, Knight of Tarbat (2nd son of Colin Mackenzie, of Kintail; brother of Kenneth, 1st Lord Mackenzie of Kintail; and ancestor to the Earls of Cromarty and Cromartie) married (contract: 6 May 1605) Margaret, daughter and heir of Torquil Macleod of the Lewes, and thereupon added to his armorial bearing the achievement of Macleod.

Mackenzie of Kintail / Seaforth Highlanders Badge

Incorporating the original Mackenzie shield of a Stag's Head with the motto: "Cuidich 'N Righ" meaning "Help the King". The motto and stag's head come from the heroic rescue of King Alexander III by Colin MacCoinneach in 1263 who saved the king from a charging stag by shooting it dead with an arrow. For this deed and for his victory at the battle of Largs against the Danes in 1263, he was awarded the lands of Kintail, the free Barony of Kintail, the arms of a golden stag's head with a trickle of blood from between its eyes on a blue background and the right to be the hereditary Royal body guard (a tradition that was upheld until the battle of Pinkie in 1547).
Below the badge a water colour of Eilean Donan Castle and the Mackenzie Ancient colours tartan in the background.

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Find out more about the the Clan Mackenzie Society

Contacts:
General enquiries ---- Membership enquiries

Top of Page
Last updated by JMW: 17 June 2008

Hereditary Chief of the Clan Mackenzie

"Cabarfeidh"

The 5th Earl of Cromartie

John Ruaridh Grant Mackenzie; Baron Castlehaven, Baron MacLeod of Castle Leod

5th Earl of Cromartie (Mackenzie)(Earl UK, 1861)

5th Earl of Cromartie (Mackenzie)
(Earl UK, 1861)