Chiefs of Clan Mackenzie facts for kids
The chiefs of the Scottish highland Clan Mackenzie were historically known as the Mackenzies of Kintail. By tradition the Mackenzie chiefs descend from Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st of Kintail (d. 1304) however their earliest ancestor proven by contemporary evidence is Alexander Mackenzie, 6th of Kintail (d. 1488). The chiefly line became the Earls of Seaforth during the 17th century but this title was later forfeited in the 18th century due to support of the Jacobite rising of 1715. The current official chief of the Clan Mackenzie is John Ruaridh Grant Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Cromartie.
Chiefs – the Caberféidh
The Blunt-Mackenzies
The current chief is John Ruaridh Grant Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Cromartie. His father was Ruaridh Grant Francis Blunt-Mackenzie, 4th Earl of Cromartie, who legally changed his surname to Mackenzie and was appointed chief of Clan Mackenzie by the Lord Lyon King of Arms in 1979. He therefore is the second modern 'chief'. Ruaridh was born a Blunt and later changed to Blunt-Mackenzie. His mother Sibell Lilian Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, Countess of Cromartie, married Colonel Blunt, and he inherited his titles and Mackenzie descent through her. (Even she only claims a Mackenzie descent as a 4th great-granddaughter of George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie). The Earl of Cromartie still owns lands in clan country, however the largest remaining Mackenzie landowner by some margin is Mackenzie of Gairloch, with an estate which extends to over 50,000 acres. Like the clan chief, Mackenzie of Gairloch has inherited his clan name and lands through the female line. The last acknowledged chief through agnatic seniority (i.e. male sibling descent) was James Fowler Mackenzie, VIth of Allangrange (died 1907).
See also
- Kermac Macmaghan, apparent ancestor of the clan
