Clan Macqueen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clan MacQueen / Clan Revan |
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| MacShuibhne | |||
Crest: An heraldic wolf rampant Ermine holding an arrow, point downwards Argent pheoned Gules
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| Motto | Constant and faithful | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Highland | ||
| Plant badge | boxwood or red whortleberry | ||
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| Clan MacQueen / Clan Revan has no chief, and is an armigerous clan | |||
| Last Chief | The MacQueen of Corrybrough | ||
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Clan MacQueen is a Scottish clan from the Highlands. It is part of a larger group of clans called the Chattan Confederation. Today, the clan does not have a main leader, or "chief." Because of this, it is known as an armigerous clan.
History
Where the Clan Came From
The name MacQueen sometimes also appears as MacSween. This means "son of Sweyn." People believe the MacQueens are related to the Clan Donald. They might even be connected to the High Kings of Ireland.
The MacQueens are said to have protected a daughter of the chief of Clan MacDonald of Clan Ranald. She married a chief of the Clan Mackintosh. The Mackintosh clan were also leaders of the Chattan Confederation. So, the MacQueens settled near Findhorn and became part of the Chattan group.
The Clan MacQueen was once known as the Clan Revan. Their leaders became the Lairds of Corrieborough. They were highly respected by the MacDonalds.
The 1700s
In 1778, the chief of the Clan MacDonald of Sleat spoke highly of the MacQueens. He said it was an honor to have their sons in his army. He believed the MacQueens had always been loyal to his family.
Many MacQueens, or MacSweens, lived in the Hebrides islands. A smart minister named Donald MacQueen lived in Snizort. He even impressed a famous writer, Samuel Johnson, when he visited the Hebrides.
It is thought that the chief's family moved to New Zealand. Over time, members of the clan spread out across Scotland and other English-speaking countries.
Clan Symbols Today
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Today, members of Scottish clans show their loyalty by wearing special items. These include Scottish crest badges, clan tartans, and sometimes plant badges.
The crest badge for Clan MacQueen has a special design. It shows a tyger (a mythical tiger) standing on its back legs. It holds an arrow pointing downwards. The clan's motto, "CONSTANT AND FAITHFUL," is also on the badge.
Another symbol is the clan badge, or plant badge. Different plants have been linked to various MacQueens. MacQueens connected to Clan Chattan use boxwood and red whortleberry. Many other clans in the Chattan Confederation use these same plants. MacQueens from Skye, however, use common heath as their plant badge. This plant is also a symbol for many clans linked to Clan Donald.
The MacQueen tartan was first shown in 1842 in a book called the Vestiarium Scoticum. This book was created by two people known as the "Sobieski Stuarts." Today, most people believe the Vestiarium was a trick or a hoax from the Victorian era.
The tartan is supposedly named after Clan Revan. It is said to be for Revan MacMulmor MacAngus MacQueen. He led a MacDonald bride to marry a chief of Clan Mackintosh. The Scottish Tartans World Register (STWR) says the MacQueen tartan looks like the Fraser and Gunn tartans. Both of these have four bold stripes. However, the STWR also thinks it combines parts of the MacDonald and Mackintosh tartans. A tartan expert, D. C. Stewart, noticed that the MacQueen tartan is the opposite of the MacKeane tartan. This might be because their names sound similar, even though their histories are different.
Related Names
Here are some Scottish and Irish names that are different spellings of MacQueen:
- Mhic Suibne
- Mhic Cuithein
- Mhic Cuithain
- M'Quain
- McQuain
- McSwain
- MacShuain
- MacQuien
- MacSuain
- MacCunn
- MacCuinn
- MacSwan
- MacSwen
- MacSween
- McSweeney
- MacSwyde
- Queen
- Sween
- Sweeney
- Swann
- Swan
- Swyne
- Swain
- McQueen
See also
- Clan Chattan
- Clan Sweeney
- MacQueen of Findhorn
- McQueen (disambiguation)
- McQueen (surname)
