Kiln House: Map of the Clans

Map of the Clans

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The Original Map

Colonel David Stewart of Garth was a retired and well respected professional soldier who was the author of the important two volume work, Sketches of the Character, Manners, and Present State of the Highlanders of Scotland, a book first published in 1822. This contained the original Map of the Clans, said to be based on 'Lord President Forbes's Memorial to their Territories, Military Force and Partonymics' a document drawn up in 1746 and 1747. This is a reference to Duncan Forbes of Culloden who was Lord President of the Court of Session at the time of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. Therefore it represents an overview of the areas of clan influence as they were understood to be soon after the defeat of Bonny Prince Charlie.

All subsequent maps of the Scottish Clans seem to be derived from this one, although many versions have embellished upon it since, as indeed has happened with the notion of what the Scottish Clans were, or are. The same is true of Clan tartans, which were also first documented by Colonel David Stewart of Garth.

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Map of the Clans

The Kiln House Collection has two copies of the first edition printing of the Map from 1822, both hand coloured, although slightly differently. Zoom and drag the image of this one to view it in more detail, or use the controls appearing at its top left to help with this. The accompanying References to the Map of the Clans are given below it.

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In his Notes on the Map David Stewart of Garth explains its limitations, beginning with:

It is proper to state, that the divisions into which the clans are arranged on the Map, are not intended to indicate that the chiefs, or heads of the principal branches of all the clans, were the sole proprietors of the lands classed under their names.

The predominance of a clan or tribe in a certain area might give rise to it being thought of as their Country. In the context of the aftermath of the Jacobite Rising the strongholds of support for Charles Edward Stuart were relevant, whereas at the time of its publication Scottish identity was being rehabilitated and reinvented; and Scotland's history revisited, which is an alternative context to view the 1822 Map of the Clans in.

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References to the Map of the Clans

No.

SINCLAIRS.
MACKAYS.
SUTHERLANDS, including the GUNNS, or CLAN-GUINN.
ROSSES; formerly, when the chiefs of this clan were Earls of Ross, they possessed a large portion of the county.
MUNROES.
MACKENZIES, including their ancient followers, the MACRAES.
MACLEODS. This clan formerly possessed the Island of Lewis,and the district of Assynt, in the county of Ross.
MACDONALDS of Sleate.
MACKINNONS.
MACDONELLS of Glengarry.
MACDONALD of Clanronald.*
CAMERONS.
MACDONELLS of Keppoch.
MACPHERSONS.
FRASERS.
GRANT of Glenmoriston.
CHISHOLMS.
MACKINTOSHES, including the MACGILLIVRAYS, MACBEANS &c.
GRANTS of Grant.
GORDONS. In Glenlivet, and in the Braes of Moray, Banff, and Aberdeen, the GORDONS, STEWARTS, and FORBESES, are so intermixed, that their lands cannot be separately classed.
FARQUHARSONS.
STEWARTS of Athole, including the ROBERTSONS, FERGUSONS, &c. Also the STEWARTS of Grandtully.
ROBERTSONS.
MENZIES. It has been mentioned that Glenquaich, and other parts of the estate of Breadalbane, were the property of this clan. They have also been for a long period superiors of part of Glenlyon. The MACDIARMIDS in this glen, are considered one of the most ancient names in the Highlands.
MACNABS.
MACGREGORS. This clan was once numerous in Balquliidder and Monteith, also in Glenorchy, and they are still in great numbers in the district of Fearnan, on the north side of Loch Tay, — on the south side of Glenlyon, — and on the north side of Loch Rannoch.
In Monteith and Stratheam, the GRAHAMS, STEWARTS, and DRUMMONDS, are intermixed in the same manner as the landholders and tenants in the Braes of Banff and Aberdeen.
BUCHANANS. The lands of this clan formerly extended eastward to Kippen, in Stirlingshire.
MACFARLANES.
COLQUHOUNS.
STUARTS of Bute.
LAMONTS. This family formerly held considerable superiorities in Knapdale and Cowal.
MACLACHLANES.
MACNAUGHTONS.
CAMPBELLS. The property of the chief, chieftains, and gentlemen of this clan, extends from the south point of Kintyre, in Argyleshire,to the district of Grandtully, in Perthshire, two miles below Tay Bridge. The LAMONTS, MACLACHLANS, MACNABS, &c. &c., are occasionally intermixed, but their lands bear a small proportion to the great tract of country possessed or occupied by the clan CAMPBELL. The extent of Lord Breaclalbane’s property will he seen by glancing over the Map, from the Island of Eisdale, in Argyleshire, to Grandtully Castle.
MACDOUGALLS. The lands occupied by this clan are so scattered, that, except the estate of the chief, and two others in his immediate neighbourhood, they cannot be distinguished.
MACDONALDS of Glenco.
STEWARTS of Appin.
MACLEANS, including the MACQUARRIES. Morven on the Mainland, and part of the Isle of Mull, now the property of the Duke of Argyle, was formerly the inheritance of this clan.
MACNEILS.

*Although the chieftains of Macdonald are separately numbered, agreeably to the President's Memorial, they form only one clan. The branches of the Stewart family are likewise numbered separately, although they are but one clan. This applies to other clans when the name is repeated.

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Note: The wording of the 'References to the Map of the Clans' varies somewhat from edition to edition. This is as they first appear in the 1822 publication. Minor additions appear in other later printings, although the essential list remains unchanged.