Clan Makgill facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Clan Makgill |
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Crest: A phoenix in flames Proper
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| Motto | Sine Fine (Without end) |
| Profile | |
| Region | Lowland |
| Chief | |
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| Ian Arthur Alexander Makgill | |
| 14th Viscount of Oxfuird | |
Clan Makgill is a Lowland Scottish clan. Clans are groups of people who share a family name and a long history. The Makgill clan has roots in Scotland that go back many centuries.
Contents
History
Where the Clan Name Comes From
The name Makgill likely comes from the old Scottish Gaelic words Mac an ghoill. This means "son of the lowlander" or "son of the stranger." This name was first used in a part of Scotland called Galloway before the 1200s. One of the earliest records of the name is from 1231. A person named Maurice Macgeil was a witness to an important document for the Earl of Lennox.
Important Times (16th and 17th Centuries)
In the 1500s, during the time of James V of Scotland, a man named James Makgill became very important. He was a successful merchant in Edinburgh and later became the city's leader, known as the Provost. He supported a new way of thinking about religion.
His oldest son, also named Sir James Makgill, bought land in Fife. He studied law and became a very smart lawyer. In 1554, he became a judge in Scotland's highest court, called the College of Justice. He was then known as "Lord Rankeillor."
Lord Rankeillor was a friend and supporter of John Knox, a famous religious reformer. When Mary, Queen of Scots came back to Scotland in 1561, James Makgill became one of her special advisors. These advisors were called Privy Councillors.
However, James Makgill was involved in the death of the queen's secretary. Because of this, he lost his job as a judge and had to leave Edinburgh. He was later forgiven but had to stay north of the River Tay. In 1567, he got his job back. He even traveled to England as an ambassador for Scotland. Sadly, while he was away, his house in Edinburgh was attacked, and his wife was killed. He died in 1579.
His younger brother took over his lands and also became a judge. Later, his grandson, James Makgill, was given a special title in 1627. He became a Baronet of Nova Scotia. In 1651, he was given an even higher title: Viscount of Oxfuird. This made him a member of the Scottish nobility. He passed away in 1663, and his son, Robert Makgill, became the second Viscount Oxfuird.
What Happened Next (18th Century and Disputed Chiefship)
Robert Makgill, the second Viscount Oxfuird, had a son named Thomas. Thomas died in 1701, before his father, and did not have any children. After Robert died, there was a disagreement over who should inherit the title of Viscount.
William Maitland, whose mother was Christian Makgill (daughter of the second viscount), claimed the title. But another family member, James Makgill of Nether-Rankeillor, also claimed it. The highest court in Britain, the House of Lords, did not accept either claim. So, the title became "dormant," meaning no one officially held it for a while.
Later, the lands of Nether-Rankeillor went to Frederick Maitland. His family then added Makgill to their name, becoming Maitland Makgill. In 1986, George Hubbard Makgill was officially recognized as the thirteenth Viscount of Oxfuird. He also became the chief of Clan Makgill.
Clan Chief
The current leader of Clan Makgill is Ian Arthur Alexander Makgill. He holds the title of the 14th Viscount of Oxfuird. He is the official head of the clan today.
See also
