Clan MacGregor
also McGregor, Gregor
The persecuted clan — proscribed but never broken.
Draft entry · awaiting community review
Motto
'S rioghal mo dhream
— Royal is my race
What does the MacGregor name mean?
Son of Gregor — from Gaelic, claimed by tradition to descend from a son of Kenneth MacAlpin, first King of Scots.
The history of Clan MacGregor
Clan MacGregor traces its descent, by tradition, from a son of Kenneth MacAlpin, first King of Scots — hence the proud motto 'royal is my race'. Their lands lay around Glen Orchy, Glen Strae and Glen Lyon, in the heart of the southern Highlands.
Pressed by the rising Campbells and other neighbours, the MacGregors became known for raiding and resistance. In 1603 the very name MacGregor was proscribed by the crown — punishable by death — after the Battle of Glen Fruin against the Colquhouns. The proscription was renewed under Cromwell and again after the 1715 Jacobite Rising.
Their most famous son, Rob Roy MacGregor (1671–1734), became a folk hero through Walter Scott's novel and a long line of films thereafter. The proscription was finally lifted in 1774; the chief's line was restored shortly after.
Notable bearers of the MacGregor name
- Rob Roy MacGregor
Frequently asked
What does the surname MacGregor mean?
Where does the MacGregor family come from?
What is the Clan MacGregor motto?
Who are some famous MacGregors?
Is McGregor the same family as MacGregor?
Editor notes
- · Verify proscription dates and motto.