It is always a pleasure to see the growing ranks of Scottish names who are able to, seek to have a Chief recognised. The latest being the name MacAlpine.
Clan MacAlpine, who are they?
First recorded in the 13th century in Scotland taking their name from the Gaelic MacAilpen (son of Alpin). Black, in his Surnames of Scotland states that John Macalpyne witnessed a charter by Malise, Earl of Stratherne and other in Glenalmond in 1260 and Monus filius Alpini witnessed a Charterby Bricius de Ardrossane to Insula Missarum in 1271. MacAlpine can claim their origins back to the lands of Argyll in the west of Scotland. This is supported by ancestral lines leading back to the areas around Kilmartin Glen, Ford, North Knapdale and Kilmichael Glassary. The motto associated with the clan is in Gaelic: Cuimhnich Bàs Ailpen (remember the death of Alpin).
Already ancient, it retains its own plant badge, Carruthers being Gorse, which is Scots Pine. Currently they have no official crest badge. However it has been common place for MacAlpine to use a boars head or a bearded man’s severed head as their crest, but as there are no official MacAlpine arms and therefore no crest, the Lord Lyon has advised against their usage. The lack of a crest badge is due to the fact that there are no official chiefly arms recorded in the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings of Scotland first recorded by the Lord Lyon in 1672. Since its creation in the reign of Charles II, the Public Register of All Armorial Bearings in Scotland has contained all arms legally in use in Scotland. If a coat of arms is not properly recorded in the Public Register, then it is a criminal offence to use it in Scotland.
Saying that, there are a number of recorded MacAlpine armigers who carry a common theme in their arms but they cannot be ‘off’ nor differenced from the Chiefly arms, as one does not exist. It is however, a possibility that the Lord Lyon, if a chief is ever confirmed, may grant them arms which allow the other arms to dovetail in, or not as the case may be. Outwith that, the clan carries 8 armigers within their ranks it seems.
Sir Thomas Learney, a former Lord Lyon once stated, although unproven, that this clan can claim royal lineage and is one of the most ancient in the Scottish Highlands. So why no chief, well it seems that there are no proven linked genealogies going back to a ‘chiefly line’. Saying this, although not listed in the 11th century Duan Albanach (Song of the Scots) the the name does come through the mists of time as a robust Scottish clan name.
However, what does seem an anomoly is that a surname which claims, along with other clans, ancestry back to the father of the famed king, Kenneth MacAlpin (813-858) (5th last King of the Picts or 1st of the Scots) who died in 858 reportedly near Scone or Forteviot, that they still remain armigerous. Thankfully this is being addressed.
According to Dr Bruce Durie, Shennachie to his Chief and a world renowned Scottish historian and genealogist: Historians now consider Kenneth I to be the fifth last of the Pictish kings rather than the first Scot (Gael) king, and there is no real evidence that he was a Scot who inherited the throne of Pictland through his mother by Pictish matrilineal succession. In any case, the Picts were neither “destroyed” nor “disappeared” but merely merged with the Scoto-Gaelic culture, which, unlike the Picts, had writing. The union of Pict and Gaels strengthened in the face of increased Norse settlement of Shetland, Orkney, Caithness, Sutherland, the Western Isles, the Isle of Man and part of Ross, which threatened and weakened the links with Ireland as the Norse controlled the western sea-ways.
Tartans
MacAlpine has two tartans listed in the Scottish Register of Tartans both recorded prior to the register being set up and both listed as clan/family both recorded prior to the official launch of the Scottis Register of Tartans by the Scottish Goverenment. Where tartans were recorded before the establishment of the Scottish Register of Tartans (SRT) on 5 February 2009, the original Scottish Tartans Authority (STA) and the Scottish Tartans World Register (STWR) reference numbers have been retained.
The first carries the note: The Clans, Sept and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands’ (1908) by Frank Adam, is the first document of the tartan. The history of the Clan MacAlpine is obscure. The Siol Alpin is claimed as the origin of a number of clans, but as D.C. Stewart remarks, “belongs rather to mythology than to history.” It is considered to be a branch of the royal Clan Alpin, of the Kings of Dalriada. The tartan is similar to the hunting MacLean, but for the yellow lines. Other tartans connected with Siol Alpin are red.
The second carries the note: From W & A K Johnstons’ 1906 Book. Scottish Tartans Society notes: Siol Alpine is a name that appears in a number of clans. It is considered to be a branch of the royal Clan Alpin, of the Kings of Dalriada. The tartan is similar to the Hunting Maclean but for the yellow lines. Other tartans connected with Siol Alpin are red. The Scottish Tartans Society graphics in their Register are wrong in that they show a symmetrical tartan.
Seeking a Chief
The House of MacAlpine seeks formal recognition of the Chief of the Name of MacAlpine by The Lord Lyon King of Arms.
In 2017, after a family convention supervised by the Court of the Lord Lyon, Michael T. McAlpin was unanimously recommended to be Commander of MacAlpine. This was accepted by the Lord Lyon.
There is now an opportunity to choose a Chief of the Name of MacAlpine. A Nominee will be selected by a Family Convention of MacAlpines, overseen by Prof. Gillian Black, Carrick Pursuivant, the Supervising Officer appointed by the Lord Lyon. The family Convention will be held at a place in Scotland on 19 June 2027.
Candidates bearing the name MacAlpine or variants, and with the appropriate qualifications and interest, may apply before February 12, 2027 to be considered for the Chiefship. Candidates must bear their own expenses and attend the Family Convention, preferably in person or if unable, by video link
MacAlpines wishing to attend the Family Convention in person or by video link may also apply for a space.
Full information and forms can be found at https://macailpein.com/
Call for candidates – https://macailpein.com/second-family-convention
Apply to participate – https://macailpein.com/second-family-convention
Contact: MacAlpine.organizing.council@gmail.com
Summary
As has been stated many times before, there are only two ways to have a Chief of a Scottish clan or family officially recognised and both are under the auspices of the Lord Lyon.
The first is through proven and documented genealogy of the chiefly line as Carruthers did and only after a full analysis and acceptance of the proof.
The second is by a family gathering of the clan or family, always held in Scotland with no exceptions, and supervised by the Lord Lyon or a member of his court. The gathering/derbfine sees a commander, not a chief, chosen to lead for a period of years set by the Lord Lyon. After that period, and if no one with a better claim comes forward, the commander is declared chief, which is a hereditary position. This brings the clan into a legal status in Scots law that recognises it as a Noble Incorporation.
All our throughts are with MacAlpine as they move forwards and we offer them sincere best wishes.
