At a glance...
- Clan Motto:
- Latin: Manu Forti (Strong Hand)
- Gàidhlig: Bi Treun (Be brave/strong/sturdy)
- Slogan (sluagh-ghairm): Bratach Bhan Chlann Aoidh ("By the" White Flag "of" Clan Mackay)
- Pronouncing:
- Officially: Rhymes with Sky or High and no capital K - Mackay
- In the United States: Most commonly pronounced to rhyme with Hay or Say and capitalized K - McKay
- How you pronounce it (especially if your family says it a particular way) is your own.
- Crest Badge: As seen in the image, a hand holding a dagger or dirk aloft in the traditional crest badge belt, with the motto "Manu Forti"
- Plant Badge: The Greater Bullrush / The Cat-Tail (typha latifolia)
- Homeland: Northwest Sutherland in the Highlands, traditionally called Strathnaver
Tartans of Clan Mackay
Below are the major and commonly available tartans of Clan Mackay.
There are a handful of additional tartans as well but are either extremely uncommon, never received official recognition from the chief, or are registered to a single individual. Though we share the "government colors" (black, blue, green) like several other clans with a deep military history - we don't wear the "Black Watch" (which has the "double thin black stripes" of Clan Campbell) as sometimes advertised.
Mackay Modern
Mackay Ancient
Mackay Weathered
Morgan / Blue Mackay
Dutch Mackay
Strathnaver District
Our Chief
The Right Honourable Aeneas Simon Mackay, 15th Lord Reay, Baron Mackay van Ophemert en Zennewijnen, Chief of Clan Mackay
Where are we from?
Mackays hail from all over Scotland and Northern Ireland, and today can be found throughout the world, but our traditional homeland is Strathnaver (Srath Nabhair). This ancient region lies in the far northwest of what most people now call Sutherland (Cataibh), within the modern Highland Council region of Scotland.
Strathnaver is still sometimes referred to as “Mackay Country” (Dùthaich Mhic Aoidh).
The parishes of Farr (Fàrr), Tongue (Tunga), Durness (Diùranais), and Eddrachillis (Eadar dha Chaolais) are considered the heart of old Strathnaver.
Language
Strathnaver is also associated with a critically endangered dialect of Scottish Gaelic known as “Mackay Country Gaelic” (Gàidhlig Dhùthaich Mhic Aoidh). This area is part of the Gàidhealtachd, the historic Gaelic-speaking parts of Scotland, rather than the broader modern and often loosely applied idea of “the Highlands.”
Owing in part to centuries of Norse influence across the north coast and surrounding regions, many local people historically also spoke forms of Scots (a language closely related to English). As a broad generality, the farther west one travelled in Mackay Country it was Gaelic speaking and further east was Scots speaking.