Chiefs of Clan MacLeod facts for kids
The Chiefs of Clan MacLeod are the leaders of a famous Scottish clan. They believe they are related to Leod, a powerful Norse-Gael (a person with both Norse and Gaelic roots) who lived around the 1200s. It is said that the chiefs have lived at Dunvegan Castle on the Isle of Skye for centuries. For a long time, they were like rulers in their own lands.
In 1716, Norman MacLeod, who was the 22nd Chief, was given the title Lord MacLeod in the Jacobite Peerage (a special title given by the Jacobite royal family).
In the early 1900s, the direct male line of the chiefs ended. This happened with Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod, who was the 28th chief. She was the daughter of Sir Reginald MacLeod of MacLeod, the 27th chief. Sir Reginald was the first president of the Clan MacLeod Society, and his daughter Flora also became president. Dame Flora chose one of her grandsons, John Wolrige-Gordon, to be her successor. John later changed his last name to MacLeod of MacLeod. When his grandmother died in 1976, he inherited Dunvegan Castle and the MacLeod lands. He was recognized by the MacLeod clan groups as the 29th chief. He was also given the official clan symbol (arms) by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, who is the Scottish official in charge of coats of arms. His second son, Hugh Magnus MacLeod of MacLeod, is currently recognized as the clan's 30th chief by the Associated Clan MacLeod Societies.
Recently, an Australian man named Guy MacLeod has claimed to be the rightful chief. He says this because he can show a direct male family line back to a chief from the 1600s. His supporters argue that because he is the oldest male descendant in that specific family branch, he should be the true chief. They believe this is true no matter who the Court of the Lord Lyon or the modern clan society recognizes. Guy MacLeod of Talisker has said he does not want the lands or castle, only to be recognized as the rightful chief. This idea is called agnatic seniority, which means leadership passes through the oldest male line.
Contents
Who Were the Chiefs?
A List of Clan MacLeod Leaders
Not descended in the male-line from previous clan chiefs
| # | Name | Dates | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leod (Leòd) | c. 1200–1280. | The first chief. His family background is not fully known. |
| 2 | Norman (Tormod) | aft.1220–bef.1280. | Son of Leod. Not much is known about him. The clan's Gaelic name, Sìol Thormoid, comes from him. |
| 3 | Malcolm (Gillecaluim) | 1296–1370. | Son of Norman. He is thought to be the older brother of Murdoch, from whom Clan Macleod of The Lewes are believed to come. |
| 4 | John (Iain Ciar) | 1320–1392. | Son of Malcolm. |
| 5 | William 'the Clerk' (Uilleam Cleireach) | 1365–1409. | Son of John. |
| 6 | John 'the Turbulent' (Iain Borb) | 1392–1448. | Son of William. |
| 7 | William 'Long Sword' (Uilleam Dubh) | 1415–1480. | Son of John 'the Turbulent'. |
| 8 | Alexander 'the Humpbacked' (Alasdair Crotach) | 1455–1547. | Son of William 'Long Sword'. |
| 9 | William | 1505–1551. | Son of Alexander. |
| 10 | Mary | 1543–aft.1602. | Daughter of William. |
| 11 | Donald | c. 1507–1557. | Younger son of Alexander, and uncle to Mary. |
| 12 | Norman (Tormod) | c. 1509–1589. | Younger son of Alexander, and uncle to Mary. |
| 13 | William | c. 1560–1590. | Son of Norman. |
| 14 | John | 1580–1595. | Son of William. |
| 15 | Sir Roderick (Rory Mor; Ruairidh Mor) | 1573–1626. | Son of Norman, and uncle to John. |
| 16 | John (Iain Mor) | 1595–1649. | Son of Sir Roderick. |
| 17 | Roderick 'the Witty' (Ruairidh Mir) | 1635–1664. | Son of John. |
| 18 | John 'the Speckled' (Iain Breac) | 1637–1693. | Son of John. |
| 19 | Roderick (Ruairidh Og) | 1674–1699. | Son of John 'the Speckled'. |
| 20 | Norman | 1685–1706. | Son of John 'the Speckled'. |
| 21 | John | 1704–1706. | Son of Norman. |
| 22 | Norman 'the Wicked Man' | 1705–1772. | Son of Norman. |
| 23 | Norman 'the General' | 1754–1801. | Grandson of Norman 'the Wicked Man'. |
| 24 | John Norman | 1788–1835. | Son of 'the General'. |
| 25 | Norman | 1812–1895. | Eldest son of John Norman. |
| 26 | Norman Magnus | 1839–1929. | Eldest son of Norman. |
| 27 | Sir Reginald, KCB | 1847–1935. | Third son of Norman. |
| 28 | Dame Flora Louisa Cecilia, DBE | 1878–1976. | Eldest daughter of Sir Reginald. |
| 29 | John | 1935–2007. | Grandson of Flora Louisa Cecilia. He was chosen as heir by his grandmother in 1951 and changed his last name to Macleod of Macleod. |
| 30 | Hugh Magnus | 1973–Present. | Second son of John. |
How the Chiefs Changed Families
The Wolrige-Gordon Family's Role
Norman MacLeod of MacLeod, the 25th chief, passed away in 1895. He had three sons. Norman Magnus MacLeod of MacLeod became the 26th chief after his father. The rules for inheriting the family estate said that Dunvegan Castle could only go to a male heir. If there were no more male heirs, it would go to the daughter of the last surviving son.
Norman Magnus died in 1929, and his brother, Sir Reginald MacLeod of MacLeod, became the 27th chief. When Sir Reginald's younger brother, Canon Roderick MacLeod, died in 1934, Sir Reginald's oldest daughter, Flora, became the next in line for the estate. When Sir Reginald died in 1935, Flora inherited Dunvegan Castle and the MacLeod lands.
Flora MacLeod of MacLeod was recognized as the clan's chief by the Clan MacLeod Society, which started in the 1800s. Later, she was officially given the arms (family symbol) of MacLeod of MacLeod by the Lord Lyon King of Arms.
Dame Flora chose one of her grandsons, John Wolridge-Gordon, to be her successor. John was the younger son of Capt. Robert Wolrige-Gordon and Joan Walter (who was Dame Flora's daughter). When he was chosen as heir, John changed his surname to MacLeod of MacLeod. When his grandmother died in 1976, he inherited the castle and estate. John MacLeod of MacLeod was also recognized as the clan's chief by the society. He was later given his grandmother's arms by the Lord Lyon. When John died in 2007, his second son, Hugh Magnus MacLeod of MacLeod, became the chief. Hugh Magnus was recognized as the clan's 30th chief by the Associated Clan MacLeod Societies and was given his father's arms by the Lord Lyon.
Who Else Claims to Be Chief?
The MacLeod of Talisker Claim
In 2007, after John MacLeod of MacLeod died, Guy MacLeod of Talisker, who lives in Australia, claimed to be the rightful chief of Clan MacLeod. Guy MacLeod of Talisker can show that his family line goes directly back through male relatives to the 17th-century chief Sir Rory Mor MacLeod. Important clan family historians agree with this family tree. Guy MacLeod of Talisker has said he wants to make sure "the bloodline shouldn't be lost."
The current chiefs, recognized by the Clan MacLeod Societies, are descended from Dame Flora MacLeod of MacLeod (who died in 1976). However, their direct male family line comes from Robert Wolrige-Gordon (who died in 1939), who was the husband of Dame Flora's daughter, Joan Walter. Guy MacLeod of Talisker has been quoted asking, "How could John have been the chief of the MacLeods when he wasn't even a MacLeod?"
Even though the Head of Clan MacLeod of Lewis comes through the male line, there are some cases where clan leadership can follow a female line. Examples include Clan MacLeod, Clan Keith, and Clan Mackenzie.
More to Learn
- Derbfhine
- Tanistry
