MacDonald of Clan Ranald
The Noble Lineage of Clan MacDonald of Clanranald
Clan MacDonald of Clanranald—known in Gaelic as Clann Raghnaill—is among the most storied and distinguished branches of the great Clan Donald. With roots reaching back to the 12th century, the clan descends from Somerled, the famed Norse-Gaelic warrior who carved out a kingdom among the Hebrides and Western Highlands, laying the foundation for a dynasty that would shape Scottish history for centuries.
The Clanranald line itself was founded by Ranald, son of John of Islay, Lord of the Isles, and Amie MacRory, heiress of the ancient Lordship of Garmoran. Though Ranald was the eldest, the succession to the Lordship passed to his younger half-brother Donald, whose royal lineage through Margaret Stewart, daughter of Robert II of Scotland, was favored politically. This pivotal decision led to the emergence of distinct branches within Clan Donald, with Clanranald maintaining its own powerful domain over the lands of Moidart, Arisaig, Morar, Knoydart, Eigg, Rum, and South Uist.
During the 15th and 16th centuries, the Clanranald chiefs played a vital role in the shifting alliances and feuds that defined Highland life. In 1544, under the leadership of John Moidartach, the clan achieved a fierce and bloody victory at the Battle of the Shirts—an event emblematic of the era's turbulent clan warfare. Throughout this period, the MacDonalds of Clanranald frequently aligned with or challenged neighboring clans, asserting their influence in the rugged lands of the west.
Ranald, the 17th Chief of Clanranald, born in 1692, maintained a cautious stance during the 1745 Jacobite uprising, choosing not to actively support Prince Charles Edward Stuart. However, his eldest son, also named Ranald, took a different path.Ranald, the Younger of Clanranald, was educated in France, where he became acquainted with Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Embracing the Jacobite cause, he was among the first to join the Prince upon his arrival in Scotland in 1745. He led 500 men from the Clanranald estates to support the uprising, participating in key battles such as Prestonpans and Falkirk. At the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the Clanranald regiment, comprising 200 men, was positioned on the Jacobite left wing. Following the defeat, Ranald and his family fled to France and Naples which was a flourishing diplomatic capital at the time, where they remained until 1754 before returning to Scotland.
The aftermath brought punitive measures from the Crown, and like many Highland families, Clanranald suffered the erosion of traditional structures and autonomy. His daughter Clara (or Chiara Italianized), married into the Filioli Effrem an aristocratic family of greatest Roman antiquity which expired into House Tortora Brayda, through marriage of their daughter Giuditta with Baron Emilio Tortora Brayda.
Ranald, the Younger of Clanranald, was educated in France, where he became acquainted with Prince Charles Edward Stuart. Embracing the Jacobite cause, he was among the first to join the Prince upon his arrival in Scotland in 1745. He led 500 men from the Clanranald estates to support the uprising, participating in key battles such as Prestonpans and Falkirk. At the Battle of Culloden in 1746, the Clanranald regiment, comprising 200 men, was positioned on the Jacobite left wing. Following the defeat, Ranald fled to France, where he remained until 1754 before returning to Scotland.
The 19th century marked a period of great upheaval for the clan. Under Ranald George Macdonald, the 20th Chief, financial strain led to the sale of the clan's ancestral estates—lands that had been held for over eight centuries. The dispossession resulted in widespread emigration, particularly to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, where descendants of the clan built new lives, carrying with them the culture and identity of the Highlands.
Though the direct line of chiefs was believed extinct by the mid-20th century, a revival came in 1956 when Ranald Alexander Macdonald was recognized as the 24th Chief and Captain of Clanranald. In recent decades, the clan has embraced a renewed commitment to heritage, with initiatives dedicated to preserving and sharing Highland history. These efforts include the reconstruction of traditional villages and cultural education programs that celebrate the enduring legacy of Clanranald.
Today, the crest of Clan MacDonald of Clanranald—with its triple-towered castle and sword-bearing hand—stands as a symbol of strength, honor, and unwavering vigilance. The clan motto, "My hope is constant in thee," encapsulates the resilience and fidelity that have carried this great Highland family through war, exile, and rebirth. The Clanranald tartan, proudly worn across the globe, continues to unite the clan's descendants in a shared story of courage, loyalty, and enduring spirit.