Clan Donald Today

After the battle of Culloden (1746) many of Clan Donald were driven from their homelands and scattered all over the world.   Instead of this being the end of this great family it was the beginning of its world wide influence.  Clan Donald organizations can be found all over the world.  The slogan of Clan Donald is in Latin, "Per Mare Per Terras" meaning By Sea By Land, which fits the lifestyle of our seafaring ancestors who ruled the seas, islands, & peninsulas of Scotland's Western coast because of their ability to quickly move armies with what they called birlinn naibhigs (or nyvaigs Gaelic for small ship or galley).   The slogan is said to recall the mighty Sòmhairlidh (commonly pronounced Somerled, but in Gaelic is pronounced Sorley) who conveyed his armies on 160 nyvaigs "by sea" to assault "by land".   The ancient arms of "the Macdonald" have a black nyvaig, in heraldry called a lymphad, and a red eagle.   The earliest arms bearing the eagle were of Donald of Harlaw in 1411.  One historian attributed the addition of the eagle as a symbol of their claim to Earldom of Ross shire in the Highlands, but others attribute the claim of Ross for the addition of the rampant lion.  The galley & eagle are the eariest recorded arms of a Lord of the Isles.

Clan Donald's battle cry, "Fraoch Eilean" is Gaelic for Heathered Isle.   The full coat of arms are the property of "The Macdonald" currently Lord Godfrey Macdonald, Chief of Clan Donald.   His coat of arms, or the modern coat of arms for each chief of each branch of Clan Donald should not be displayed without their permission under heraldic law as enforced by the Lord Lyons of Scotland.  Lord Godfrey Macdonald has given permission for the ancient Macdonald coat of arms (shown here) to be displayed where Clan Donald gathers.   The top (or crest) of the helmet originally bore an emblem or plant badge properly worn by any member of the clan to identify them with the clan.  This practice is far more ancient than the use of tartans to identify a clan member.   The clan crest evolved from antlers, horns, or a carving of an animal on the top (or crest) of the chief's helmet.   The belt encircling the crest takes the place of the Gaelic phrase "an cirean ceann cinneadh" (crest of the clan chief).  The "belt" indicates the wearer is a member of the clan symbolized by the chief's crest within the "belt".  The "belted" crest emblem became part of a pin used to hold a sprig of the plant badge in the clansman's hat.  

The plant badge for Clan Donald is heather.   The emblem on the pin became increasingly ornate and eventually the pin became known as the badge or crest.   Most crests of Clan Donald bear a red cross crosslet fitchee held in either a gauntlet (knights glove) or a bare hand.   This type of cross is composed of three crosses (crosslet) and a sword blade (fitchee) which was considered the warrior's cross.   The point was used to plant the cross in the ground before battle.   It has also been identified with St. Columba (Gaelic Columcille).   It is not proper for anyone other than a clan chief to wear eagle feathers pinned to their cap so it is best you just stick with a sprig of heather pinned with your appropriate clan crest.  One variation you may see is a white cockade or ribbon folded behind the clan crest to show your ancestors' support of the Jacobite cause.   Most, but not all branches of Clan Donald were Jacobites. 

Modern members of Clan Donald are found in almost every culture of the western world.   Wearing a kilt made of your family tartan, attending Scottish festivals and Highland Games, and teaching your children & grandchildren about their heritage are the most important things you can do to preserve our Clan Donald Heritage.   Go through this web site to learn more about your ancestors.   And we encourage you to join your local Clan Donald Association and participate in their activities with your children & grandchildren.