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Clan Chief:             31st Chief is Morag MacDougall of MacDougall

                          and Dunollie, Dunollie Castle Oban Argyll.

Origin of Name:     Gaelic, dubh-gall, meaning "dark stranger"

Gaelic Name:         MacDhughaill 

Clan Crest:             A right arm in armour holding a cross

Clan Motto:            Buaidh no bas (To conquer or die)

Lands:                     Argyll and Lorne

This clan first takes its name from Dougall, who was descended from Somerled, Lord of the Isles, in the year 1164, held most of the islands of Argyll, Mull, Jura, Tiree,  Coll, Lismore, Lorn and the smaller islands nearby. At that time the islands were part of Norway and the mainland was ruled by the King of Scots. His acknowledged royal descent meant he styled himself ‘King of the Hebrides and Lord of Lorne’.

Dougall’s grandson Ewan MacGillivray, retained his island posessions from the king of Norway and his mainland ones from the king of Scots, remaining loyal to both parties was proving more difficult for him. A choice was forced upon him in 1263, when the Norse King Haakon arrived off Oban with a huge fleet to attack the west coast of Scotland. Ewan declined to join the invasion and was left in peace by King Haakon because of the old blood ties. However, Ewan soon realized that remaining neutral could be disastrous, and attacked the Norse fleet near Mull. The Vikings were utterly defeated at the Battle of Largs, and the Hebrides were ceded to Scotland by the Treaty of Perth in 1266.

Their influence in Argyll caused conflict with the Campbells, and in 1294 John MacDougall, led the clan against them. The MacDougalls were intercepted, and there was considerable slaughter on both sides with Sir Colin Campbell killed.



Sir Alexander MacDougall  4^th chief  married the sister of John Comyn , Lord of Badenoch, whose son, was stabbed to death by Robert the Bruce in Dumfries in May 1306. This started the bloody feud between both the Bruce’s family and the MacDougalls. Previously both families supported the cause of Scottish Independence, however they became arch-enemys. On one occasion Bruce narrowly escaped with his life after a surprise ambush by the MacDougalls at Dalrigh near Tyndrum.  A magnificent Celtic brooch was torn from Bruce’s cloak in the struggle. The “Brooch of Lorne” is one of the greatest treasures the MacDougal family still has in their possession.

The MacDougalls paid a high price for opposing Robert the Bruce. Their lands were forfeit, but John of Lorn’s son Ewan was well treated as a prisoner.  He eventually married Joan, King Robert’s granddaughter, the daughter of Matilda Bruce. The Lordship of Lorn was restored, apart from Kerrera, the rest of the islands remained forfeit. Most of the mainland estates were re-granted by a royal charter of King David 11.

Ewan MacDougall was the last Lord of Lorne as he had two daughters but no son. Both daughters married two brothers – Sir John and Sir Robert Stewart of Innermeath and Durrisdeer. Thus the lordship passed to the Stewart Family. The Chief ship of MacDougall, through the Laws of Tanistry, passed to a cousin, Iain MacDougall whose support of Bruce bought rich rewards and was granted Dunollie Castle, which the chief had forfeited in 1314.The MacDougalls supported the Stuarts and in 1715, the 22^nd MacDougall Chief’s wife held Dunollie Castle against the Government troops while her husband was absent fighting with the Jacobite army at Sheriffmuir.The estate was confiscated as a result, but returned in the next generation.  Alexander, 23^rd Chief, wisely refrained from joining the Battle of Culloden, 1745, (although his brother and other clansmen did). He organized the building of Dunnollie House behind the abandoned Dunollie Castle. This was extended by the 25^th Chief, Vice Admiral Sir John Macdougall of Macdougall in the mid- 19^th century.

Donnollie has been the seat of the Clan MacDougall for 900 years, the current Chief is Morag MacDougall of MacDougall and Dunollie. 31^st Chief of the Clan. Dunollie Castle Oban Argyll, Scotland.

The MacDougall Crest carries a right arm in armour holding a cross and the proud MacDougall clan motto, "Buaidh no bas" which means "To conquer or die".

Our Scottish Heritage is the common bond that unites our Anderson family name forever.