Clan McGillivray Tours of Scotland

Clan McGillivray Tours of Scotland. The Macgillivrays held a prominent role in the affairs of the western isles even before the 12th century. The first record of the Macgillivrays in their own right is c.1500 when Duncan Macgillivray is recorded as being in Dunmaglas. It is generally believed that the Macgillivray chief was quite young and so placed into the protection of the Chief of Clan Mackintosh. Through Clan Mackintosh, the Macgillivrays were part of the great Clan Chattan although the Bond of Union could not be signed by the young chief so was, instead, signed by three prominent members of the clan on his behalf.

The Macgillivrays supported the Episcopal church which led to them being discriminated against by the Calvinists and Presbyterians who lived around them. The Chief of Clan Mackintosh was an officer in a Hanoverian regiment during 1745. The wife of the chief was a Jacobite who called forth Alexander Macgillivray to command a regiment supplied by Clan Chattan.

Towards the end of the 18th century financial pressures took their toll on the family and their estates suffered as a consequence. The chief at the time, William, served as a captain in the famous Gordon Regiment. His son, John Lachlan Macgillivray of Dunmaglas, succeeded him in 1783 and is perhaps best remembered for his chiefship of the clan which lasted over seventy years. His generosity was demonstrated when, upon his death, his savings were passed to his tenants. After this point theses lands became dispersed throughout the family.

The estates of Dunmaglas left the family when they had to be sold in 1890; the last chief of the clan is thought to have died in Canada. The clan became particularly dispersed during the various waves of migration that swept through Scotland which saw many Scots leaving for the New World.

Septs of Clan: Gilray, Gilroy, Gilvray, MacGillivoor, MacGilroy, MacGilvra, MacGilvray, MacIlroy, MacIlvrae, Milroy, Roy.