Motto: I hope in God.
The name MacNaughton has numerous forms, all variants on the Gaelic – MacNeachdain, ‘son of Neachdainn’, an old favourite personal name. The name appears to have been borrowed into Gaelic from the Pictish where it is found as ‘Nechtan’ – literally, ‘the pure one’. The earliest record we find of the name is in 1247 when Gillecrist MacNachtan granted the Church of Kelmurhe (Kilmorich) to the Abbey of Inchaffray. Clan MacNaughton are traditionally associated with Argyllshire where they are of great antiquity.
They are supposed to descend from Nachtan Mor, who is said to have lived in the 10th century. According to Buchanan of Auchmar, the 18th century historian, the clan were originally resident in Perthshire where they were Thanes of Loch Tay. By the early 13th century they had begun to move westwards gaining possession of lands in Glenore, Loch Awe, Glenshira and on Loch Fyne, where they had their seat at the Castle of Dundarave – The Castle of the Two Oars.
During the reign of Alexander III, the Chief, Gillecrest MacNaughton, was styled ‘of that Ilk’, and was by that Monarch appointed Heritable Keeper of the Castle of Froach Eilean of Lochawe.
Unfortunately at the beginning of the 14th century the MacNaughtons threw in their lot with the MacDougalls against Robert the Bruce, who removed the great part of their lands from them. Later they supported David II and had some lands restored.
In 1436 Donald MacNaughton was elected Bishop of Dunkeld. By the 16th century the MacNaughtons seemed to have become followers of the Stuart cause. Alexander, the Chief, was one of the Scottish nobles killed along with James IV at Flodden. They later followed Charles I and James VII; making their lands forfeit in 1601. The ancestral seat passed to the Campbells in payment of debts.
This tartan closely resembles the MacDuff tartan but there would appear to be no significance in this.
Choose from one of the MacNaughton Tartans listed below
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