Alwyn MacArchill facts for kids

Alwyn MacArchill was an important person in Scotland during the middle of the 12th century. He is mentioned in many official documents from the time of the Scottish Kings.

Alwyn and his son held a special job called rannair. This job meant they were in charge of sharing out food and supplies for the King of Scots.

For many years, some historians have wondered if Alwyn MacArchill was an ancestor of the powerful Earls of Lennox. Some even thought he was the very first Earl of Lennox. Others believed he was an ancestor through his male family line or his female family line.

Who Was Alwyn MacArchill?

An old David I, and young Malcolm IV, illustrated in a mid-12th-century charter.

Alwyn MacArchill appears in many records from the time of King David I and King Malcolm IV. A historian named G. W. S. Barrow found that Alwyn MacArchill witnessed 19 official documents for King David I.

What Was His Name?

Alwyn MacArchill's name was written in different ways. A language expert, Kenneth Hurlstone Jackson, found that his name appeared as Alfwin, Alfwin, Alwyn, and Algune. His father's name was also spelled in several ways, like Arkil, Archill, and Archil.

Jackson noted that his father's name, Arkil, came from an old language called Old Danish. The name Alfwin comes from Old English. This suggests Alwyn's family might have had roots in both Anglo-Saxon and Danish cultures.

Where Did His Family Come From?

Some people have thought that Alwyn's father might have been a noble from Northumbria. This was a kingdom in what is now northern England. However, Kenneth Jackson did not agree with this idea.

Jackson believed that the different spellings of their names showed they were of Anglo-Danish descent. There is a record from King David I's time that mentions a man named Arkil. This Arkil owned land near Haddington in Scotland. If this was Alwyn's father, it means Alwyn had connections to that area.

Alwyn's Life and Job

Records show that Alwyn MacArchill's wife was named Ede. His son, Gilleandrais, later took over his job as rannair.

The job of a rannair was to share and divide food for the king and his guests. This was a very important role in the royal household.

Was He an Ancestor of the Earls of Lennox?

Arms of the mediaeval Earls of Lennox.

For a long time, people have wondered if Alwyn MacArchill was an ancestor of the powerful Earls of Lennox.

Through the Male Family Line?

Some historians believed that the Earls of Lennox were direct descendants of Alwyn MacArchill and his father, Archill. This idea first appeared in 1716.

The theory suggested that Alwyn I, Earl of Lennox was the same person as Alwyn MacArchill. This Alwyn MacArchill was known for witnessing many documents for King David I until at least 1154. His father, Archillus, was thought to be a noble from Northumbria who fled to Scotland around 1070. He supposedly received lands in the Lennox area.

However, historian William Forbes Skene said there was no real proof for this idea. He pointed out that Alwyn MacArchill was never called an "earl" in any records. Also, Alwyn MacArchill stops appearing in records after 1155, but Alwyn I, the first Earl of Lennox, only appears in records starting in 1193. During that time, the earldom of Lennox was held by someone else.

Another theory suggests that the Earls of Lennox were of "Celtic" origin through their male line. This idea says that Alwyn I was the son of Muireadhach. A poet from the 13th century, Muireadhach Albanach, wrote a poem about the Lennox family's ancestors. This poem mentioned Muireadhach as an ancestor.

Through the Female Family Line?

It has also been suggested that Alwyn MacArchill might be an ancestor of the Earls of Lennox through the female side of the family. The first Earl of Lennox had a Gaelic name, Alúin or Ailín.

The poem by Muireadhach Albanach says that the first earl's mother (whose name is not given) was the daughter of an Ailín. It is possible that this Ailín could have been Alwyn MacArchill. This would mean that the first earl's name might have come from the Old English or Old Danish name, which was then adapted into Gaelic.

See Also

• Earl of Lennox
• David I of Scotland
• Malcolm IV of Scotland

Images for kids

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  Arms of the mediaeval Earls of Lennox.