As far as we are led to believe, the list below is accurate for Chiefs as of March 2020.
These Chiefs are recognised by the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs and the Lord Lyon, and all Commanders have been commissioned, again by the Lord Lyon. It obviously does not include armigerous clans.
It is also worth noting that in the case of the heads of large branches of very large clans, a Chief will be recognised, but will fall under the auspices of a High Chief of that Clan. We understand that this structure is only used by large Highland Clans, and is not seen or used in the Lowlands or Borders of Scotland
These branch Chiefs would be the closest thing Scottish Clans have to recognised Chieftains, and some may choose to class them as such. They would also carry a territorial designation with their names suggesting they are not Chiefs of the whole clan, but of a substantial branch.
A typical example of the use of chiefs with territorial designations would be branches of Clan Donald where the MacDonalds of Clanranald, MacDonalds of Sleat, Macdonalds of Keppoch, and in fact the MacDonells of Glengarry, have recognised Chiefs in their own right. However, the High Chief of all MacDonalds and all branches of the same is Lord Macdonald (MacDonald of MacDonald)
The only other obvious case which springs to mind is Clan Leod, where Macleod of Macleod is recognised as High Chief, while Macleod of Rassey and Macleod of Lewes as major branches, again have Chiefs recognised.
The Chiefs of these large clan branches may still sit on the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs in their own capacity.
Clan Chiefs are entitled to, and are granted supporters on their coat of arms. This reflects their ‘high dignity’ and status as chiefs of a Scottish clan or family. A requirement of the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs for membership is that an applicant chief must demonstrate a right to hereditary supporters, as in the case of Bruce, Buchanan, Campbell, Carruthers, Elliot, Irving of Bonshaw, Fraser etc.
A chief without supporters would only be permitted to serve on the Council for their lifetime, and each successive heir would have to be re-elected in the same manner.
* signifies branches of Clan Donald and their High Chief
** signifies branches of Clan Leod and their High Chief.
Reading through the list of names below, there remains a strong sense of ancient Scottish history. From the Isles to the Highlands, to the Lowlands and the Borders, the names of our past still reflect our proud culture and heritage to this very day.
Chiefs accepted by the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, the list includes Commanders holding commissions from the Lord Lyon (who cannot join the Council).
Clan/Family | Chief (Commanders commisioned by the lord Lyon) |
Agnew | Sir Crispin Agnew of Locknaw Bt |
Allardice | Richard Allardice of Allardice |
Anstruther | Toby Anstruther of that Ilk |
Arbuthnott | Keith, Viscount Atbuthnott |
Arthur | John MacArthur of that Ilk |
Bannerman | Sir David Bannerman of Elsick Bt. |
Barclay | Peter Barclay of that Ilk |
Borthwick | John, Lord Borthwick |
Boyle | Patrick, Earl of Glasgow |
Brodie | Alexander Brodie of Brodie |
Broun | Sir Wayne Broun of Colstoun Bt. |
Bruce | Andrew, Earl of Elgin & Kincardine |
Buchan | Charles Buchan of Auchmacoy |
Buchanan | John Michael Baillie-Hamilton Buchanan |
Burnett | James Burnett of Leys |
Cameron | Donald Cameron of Lochiel |
Campbell | Torquhil, Duke of Argyll |
Carmichael | Richard Carmichael of Carmichael |
Carnegie | David, Duke of Fife |
Carruthers | Simon Peter Carruthers of Holmains |
Cathcart | Chales, Earl Cathcart |
Charteris | James, Earl of Wemyss And March |
Chattan | John Mackintosh of Mackintosh |
Chisholm | Hamish Chisholm of Chisholm |
Cochrane | Ian, Earl of Dundonald |
Colville | Charles, Viscount Corville of Culross |
Colquhoun | Sir Malcolm Colquhoun of Luss Bt. |
Cranstoun | David Cranston of that Ilk |
Cumming | Sir Alexander Penrose Gordon Cumming of Altyre Bt |
Cunningham | Sir John Cunninghame of that Ilk and Corsehill |
Currie | Robert Currie (Commander) |
Dalrymple | John, Earl of Stair |
Davidson | Alister Davidson of Davidston |
Dewar | Michael Kenneth Dewar of that Ilk and Vogrie |
Drummond | John, Earl of Perth |
Dunbar | Sir James Dunbar of Mochrum Bt. |
Dundas | David Dundas of Dundas |
Durie | Andrew Durie of Durie |
Elliot | Madam Margaret Elliot of Redheugh |
Elphinstone | Alexander, Lord Elphinstone |
Erskine | James, Earl of Mar And Kellie |
Ewen | Sir John McEwen Bt. (Commander) |
Ewing | Thor Ewing (Commander) |
Farquharson | Alwyne Farquharson of Invercauld |
Fergusson | Sir Charles Fergusson of Kilkerran Bt |
Forbes | Nigel, Lord Gorbes |
Forsyth | Alistair Forsyth of that ilk |
Fraser | Flora, Lady Saltoun |
Fraser of Lovat | Simon, the Lord Lovat |
Grierson | Madam Sarah Grierson of Lag |
Gordon | Granville, Marquess of Huntly |
Graham | James, Duke of Montrose |
Grant | James Patrick Trevor Grant of Grant, |
Gunn | Iain Gunn of Gunn |
Guthrie | Alexander Guthrie of Guthrie |
Haig | Alexander, Earl Haig |
Haldane | Martin Haldane of Gleneagles |
Hannay | David Hannay of Kirkdale and of that Ilk |
Hay | Merlin, Earl of Erroll |
Henderson | Alistair Henderson of Fordell |
Hope | Sir Alexander Hope of Craighall Bt. |
Hunter | Madam Pauline Hunter of Hunterson |
Irvine | Alexander Irvine of Drum |
Irving of Bonshaw | Robert Irving of Bonshaw |
Jardine | Sir William Jardine of Applegirth Bt. |
Johnstone | Patrick, Earl of Annandale And Hartfell |
Keith | James, Earl of Kintore |
Kennedy | David, Marquess of Ailsa |
Kerr | Michael, Marquess of Lothian |
Kincaid | Madam Arabella Kincaid of Kincaid |
Lamont | Peter Noel Lamont of that Ilk |
Leask | Jonathan Leask of that Ilk |
Leslie | James, Earl of Rothes and Lord of Leslie |
Lennox | Edward Lennox of that Ilk |
Lindsay | Robert, Earl of Crawford and Balcarres |
Lockhart | Ranald Lockhart of The Lee |
Lumsden | Gillem Lumsden of that Ilk |
Macalister | William MacAlester of Loup and Kennox |
MacAlpine | Michael T. McAlpin (Commander) |
MacBain | James McBain of McBain |
*MacDonald of Clanranald | Ranald Alexander MacDonald of Clanranald |
*MacDonald of Keppoch | Ranald MacDonald of Keppoch |
*MacDonald of MacDonald | Godfrey, Lord MacDonald, (High Chief of Clan Donald) |
*MacDonald of Sleat | Sir Ian MacDonald of Sleat Bt. |
*MacDonell of Glengarry | Ranald Euan MacDonell of Glengarry |
MacDougall | Morag MacDougall of MacDougall |
MacDowall | Fergus Macdowall of Garthland |
MacPhie | Ian Morris MacPhie (Commander) |
MacGillivray | Iain MacGillivray (Commander) |
MacGregor | Sir Malcolm MacGregor of MacGregor Bt. |
MacIntyre | Donald Russell MacIntyre of Glenoe |
Machlachlan | Euan Maclachlan of Maclachlan |
MacKay | Aeneas, Lord Reay |
MacKenzie | John, Earl of Cromartie |
MacLaine | Lorne Maclaine of Lochbuie |
MacLaren | Donald MacLaren of MacLaren |
Maclea/Livingstone | Niall Livingstone of Bachuil, Baron the Bachuil |
MacLean | Sir Lachlan MacLean of Duart and Morvern Bt. |
MacLennan | Ruairidh MacLennan of MacLennan |
*Macleod of Macleod | Hugh, Macleod of Macleod, (High Chief of Clan Leod) |
*Macleod of Raasay | John Macleod of Raasay |
*Macleod of the Lewes | Torquhil Macleod of the Lewes |
Macmillan | George MacMillan of MacMillan and Knap |
Macnab | Jamie Macnab of Macnab |
MacNaghten | Sir Malcolm Francis MacNaghten of MacNaghten Bt |
Macneacail | John Macneacail of Macneacail & Scorrabreac |
Macneil | Roderick Macneil of Barra |
Macpherson | Sir William Macpherson of Cluny |
MacTavish | Steven MacTavish of Dunardry |
MacThomas | Andrew MacThomas of Finegand |
Maitland | Ian, Earl of Lauderdale |
Makgill | Ian, Viscount Oxfuird |
Malcolm | Robin Malcolm of Poltalloch |
Mar | Margaret, Countess of Mar |
Marjoribanks | Andrew Marjoribanks of that Ilk |
Matheson | Sir Alexander Matheson of Matheson, Bt |
McBain | James McBain of McBain |
Menzies | David Ronald Stuart Menzies of that Ilk |
Moffat | Madam Jean Moffat of that Ilk |
Moncreiffe | Peregrine Moncreiffe of that Ilk |
Montgomery | Archibald, Earl of Eglinton & Winton |
Morrison | John Ruairdh Morrison of Ruchdi |
Munro | Hector Munro of Foulis |
Murray | Bruce, Duke of Atholl |
Napier | Francis, Lord Napier and Ettrick |
Nesbitt | Mark Nesbitt of that Ilk |
Ogilvy | David, Earl of Airlie |
Oliphant | Richard Oliphant of that Ilk |
Pringle | Sir Norman Pringle of that Ilk and Stichil Bt |
Ramsay | Simon, Earl of Dalhousie |
Riddell | Sir Walter John Buchanan Riddell Bt |
Robertson | Gilbert Robertson of Struan |
Rollo | David, Lord Rollo |
Rose | David Rose of Kilravock |
Ross | David Ross of Ross and Balnagowan |
Ruthven | Alexander, Earl of Gowrie |
Sempill | James, Lord Sempill |
Scott | Richard, Duke of Buccleuch |
Scrymgeour | Alexander, Earl of Dundee |
Shaw of Tordarroch | Iain Shaw of Tordarroch |
Sinclair | Sinclair, Earl of Caithness |
Skene | Dugald Skene of Skene |
Stirling | Fraser Stirling of Cader |
Strachan | Rob Strachan (Commander) |
Strange | Timothy Strange of Balcaskie |
Sutherland | Alistair, Earl of Sutherland |
Swinton | John Swinton of that Ilk |
Trotter | Alexander Trotter of Mortonhall |
Urquhart | Wilkins Urquhart of Urquhart |
Wallace | Andrew Wallace of that Ilk |
Wedderburn | David, Lord Scrymgeour |
Wemyss | Michael Wemyss of Wemyss |
Wood | Joseph John Hugh Fawcett Wood of Largo |
-To be or not to be, or when is a ‘chief’ not a Chief-
Q: So when is a claim of being a Scottish Chief not recognised?
A: If the claim is not recognised by the Lord Lyon and the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs, then an individual is not recognised as holding any credibility or legality in that title.
Heads of clan societies, whether Presidents, Convenors or Chairpersons only lead the society and do not lead a Scottish clan or family, nor do any title holders inferred by the same.
If no chief exists, e.g. the clan or family is armigerous, a gathering in Scotland under the auspices of the Lord Lyon may take place. If the derbhfine is successful, a Clan Commander (not a Chief or Chieftain) is commissioned to lead the clan in the absence of a chief for a period of time designated by the Lord Lyon. This is usually up to 10 years, and can be repeated.
This position of Commander exists while the hereditary line of the original Chief is investigated. If no living members of that line are found or choose not to come forward, the Commander may be accepted in due course as the Chief of that clan or family.
The clan or family remains armigerous until a chief is confirmed through the granting of the right to bear the chiefly arms by the Lord Lyon. At this stage supporters are either granted or not, along with other such designations as Chief of the Name and Arms or of that Ilk. At this point, an invitation to sit on the Council of Standing Chiefs would be appropriate.

Therefore, in the same vein as all other Border families and clans, Carruthers do not have anyone who legally holds the title ‘Chieftain’ and our Chief, recognised by both the Lord Lyon King of Arms and the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs is Dr Simon Peter Carruthers of Holmains, Chief of the Name and Arms of Carruthers.
All other claims relating to our Name/Clan/Family are simply inaccurate, misinformed, deliberately fraudulent and/or self-seeking.
Membership of our Society, which is recognised by the Clan Chief, can be found here:
https://clancarrutherssociety.org/membership/
more impressive if it hadn’t the dozen typos I counted before I lost interest
Thank you and hopefully rectified
Could you please update the information on clan chief’s
What would you like updated
What update do you wish changed