Clan MacDowall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clan MacDowall or MacDouall |
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| Mac Dubhghaill | |||
Crest: Issuant from a crest coronet Or, a Lion's paw erased and erected Proper holding a dagger point upwards Proper, hilted and pommelled Or
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| Motto | Vincere Vel Mori (To conquer or die) | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Lowlands | ||
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| Fergus Day Hort Macdowall of Garthland | |||
| The Chief of the Name and Arms of Macdowall | |||
| Seat | Barr Castle | ||
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The Clan MacDowall or MacDouall is a very old and important Scottish clan from the Lowlands of Scotland. Clans are like large families or groups of people who share a common ancestor and a strong sense of identity. The MacDowalls have a long and interesting history, especially in the area of Galloway.
Contents
History of the MacDowalls
Where the Clan Name Comes From
The name MacDowall comes from the region of Galloway in Scotland. This area was named after the Galli, who were Gaelic people who settled there a long time ago. The name Macdowall itself comes from the Gaelic Mac Dubhghaill, which means "son of Dubhghall". The name Dubhghall means "dark stranger".
There are many old stories about the beginnings of Galloway. Some say that a person named Dovall of Galloway was a hero around 230 BC. The early leaders of Galloway were very powerful. They even had a fierce lion with a royal crown on their shield, showing their strength and royal connections.
Early Leaders of Galloway
The Lords of Galloway were very strong rulers. They built many churches and religious places. One important leader was Fergus of Galloway, who lived during the time of King David I of Scotland. He divided his lands among his sons. One of his sons or grandsons was named Dougal.
The last native Lord of Galloway was Alan, who died around 1234. Alan's daughter, Devorgilla, married a lord named Balliol. Their son, John, later became King John Balliol and claimed Galloway through his mother. In 1295, King John Balliol gave the lands of Garthland to Dougal. A year later, in 1296, both Dougal and Fergus M'douall promised their loyalty to King Edward I of England by signing the Ragman Rolls. This was a list of Scottish nobles who swore loyalty to the English king.
Battles and Royal Connections (14th-16th Centuries)
Dougal's grandson, Fergus, became the third Laird of Garthland. He served as a local law officer for Kirkcudbright during the reign of King David II of Scotland. His grandson, Sir Fergus Macdowall, the fifth Laird, was captured by the English at the Battle of Homildon in 1401.
Later, Uchtred, the ninth Laird of Garthland, and his son Thomas were both killed fighting for Scotland at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. This was a huge battle where King James IV of Scotland also died. John, the eleventh Laird, also died fighting the English at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547.
Before going to war, John had given his lands to his son, another Uchtred. This Uchtred was involved in a famous event called the Raid of Ruthven. In 1582, some Protestant nobles kidnapped the young King James VI of Scotland. Uchtred was later forgiven for his part in this event in 1584. The king then gave him new rights to the lands of Garthland and Corswall.
Modern MacDowall History
James Macdowall and William Macdowall were important Lairds in the 1600s. They were members of the Scottish Parliament for Wigtownshire. William and his wife, Grizel Beaton, had fourteen children! Their grandson, James Macdowall, became the Lord Provost of Glasgow, which is like the mayor of the city.
The twenty-first Macdowall Laird, William McDowall, was a lawyer and was elected to the British Parliament. He served in the House of Commons from 1783 until he died in 1810. His nephew, William, took over the title. This William sold the original clan lands of Garthland but moved the name to his estate in Lochwinnoch. He and his brother died without marrying, so the title passed to Lieutenant General Day Macdowall. By the end of the 1800s, the main family of the MacDowalls moved to Canada.
Some MacDowalls also moved to Ireland in the early 1700s. They were part of groups recruited by the English to settle there.
Clan Chief
The current Chief of the Name and Arms of Macdowall is Professor Fergus Day Hort Macdowall of Garthland. He is the official head of the clan.
Clan Castles
The MacDowall clan has been connected to several castles over the centuries:
- Barr Castle, located in Lochwinnoch, Renfrewshire, is the current home of the chief of Clan Macdowall.
- Garthland Castle was near Stoneykirk in Wigtownshire. It might have been built as early as 1211. This castle was the historic home of the MacDowalls of Garthland.
- Logan Castle: In 1295, the MacDouall family received lands in Kirkmaiden, Wigtownshire, from King John Balliol. They built a stronghold called Castle Balzieland, which burned down around 1500. Today, only a small part of this old castle remains in a garden. The family then built the current Logan House in 1702. The Logan estate stayed with the MacDouall/McDowell family for about 700 years, until 1949.
Branches of the Clan
The MacDowall clan has several important family branches:
- The MacDowalls of Garthland Castle, who are the chiefs. Their current home is Barr Castle.
- The MacDoualls of Freugh, also in Wigtownshire.
- The MacDoualls of Logan, in Kirkmaiden, Wigtownshire.
- The MacDowalls of Machrimore, in Wigtownshire. This branch eventually faded out after selling their castle.
- The Makdougals of Makerston, near Jedburgh.
Clan Symbols
- Chief's Coat of Arms: The current chief's shield shows a silver lion standing on its hind legs on a blue background, wearing a gold crown. The lion is a symbol of bravery and royalty. The motto is vincere vel mori, which means "to conquer or die" in Latin.
- Clan Member's Crest Badge: Clan members can wear a badge with the chief's crest and motto. The crest shows a lion's paw holding a dagger, coming out of a gold crown. The motto is the same: vincere vel mori.
- Clan Tartan: In 2007, Chief Fergus D. H. Macdowall designed a special tartan for the Clan MacDowall. Before this, the clan used tartans from other clans or the Galloway region. He officially registered it in 2008.
| Tartan image | Notes |
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This is the official MacDowall Tartan (STA Ref: 7260). |
See also
- Clan MacDougall, a different Scottish clan that also has a similar name origin.
