The Clan MacKenzie
You asked for it . . .
Mc vs Mac
One of first questions you typically get asked as a 'Mc' MacKenzie rather than a 'Mac' MacKenzie
is what is the difference? For some reason,
there is a common perception that 'Mc' has its roots in
The MacKenzie Tartan:
The tartan forming the background for this page is the ancient
version of the MacKenzie tartan. Green
represents the forest and fields, Blue the
sky and free sea; it is drawn through with White for purity and Red
for blood and bold fighters.
All denote freedom,
fairness, purity, honor and courage.
Apparently we have some issues with the MacDonalds,
the Ranalds, the Campbells,
and all of the Irish . . .
The MacKenzie Prayer
Bless a' the MacKenzies
an' a' the Mackenzie childer; their sons an' son's childer and their dochiter's for
a thousan' years to come.
Be Ye gracious an' send doon
mountains o' snuff, an rivers of whiskey.
An' oh lord send doon swords
an' pistels an' daggers as monie
as the sands on the seashore to kill the MacDonalds,
the Clan Ranalds, and the Campbells.
An oh Lord, bless the wee coo, an' make it a big coo.
An oh Lord bless the sucklin'
and make it a grand board.
An oh Lord, bless the wee bairns,
yon Angus, Alex an' Bessie an' Maggie an' Florrie.
An oh Lord, build up a great wall between us an' the Irish, an' put broken
bottles on the top, so they cannae
come over.
An' oh lord, if ye hae anything gude
to gie, dunna gie it to the Irish, but gie it
to your chosen people, the Scots, especially to the Clan MacKenzie
an' a' their friends.
Glorious ye are forever more.
Tullach-Ard
The name MacKenzie, or MacCoinneach in Gaelic, means literally, "Son of Kenneth." The original Kenneth lived in the 13th Century and was descended from a younger son of Gilleoin of the Aird, from whom can also be traced the once powerful Earls of Ross.
Clan MacKenzie rose rapidly in importance
during the 15th Century through the acquisition of lands extending across
A number of famous regiments have been raised from the MacKenzie clan, including the
Words to Live By . . .
The MacKenzie Crest shows 5 peaks of mountains inflamed with the motto:
"LUCEO NON URO"
(I Shine, Not Burn)
![[MacKenzie Badge]](ClanMacKenzie_files/image002.gif)
It is speculated that the
flaming mountains may be connected with the practice of setting fires on high
hills as signals or beacons.
A second Crest associated with the Clan is that of the Mackenzie of Seaforth.
It shows a Stag's Antlers with the motto:
"CUIDICH' N' RIGH"
(Save the King)
..
The legendary origin of this crest goes back to the 13th century. Kenneth of Kintail was in a royal hunting party. When a wounded stag charged the King, Kenneth shouted "Cuiddiche an Righ" (Save the King) and shot the stag. As a result, the King awarded Kenneth the stag's head as his crest. A perhaps more historically accurate version is that the stag's head represented the tribute that Kenneth paid to the King each year.
Whichever, the chief of the clan is known in Gaelic as "Caberfeigh" or deer's antlers.
The stag's head or the flaming mountains, by themselves, is the Chief's crest. The belt around it indicates loyalty to the chief and this form may be worn by clan members.
The clan's Sloidhgharim, or war shout, makes reference to a high hill, or as loosely translated "Mountain in Kintail".