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MacArthur Crest and Tartan Most Scottish family names originate around the 13th century. All had a meaning. Many are from locality (foreign or home), some from occupation and some from a peculiarity or feature. Northern names are mostly patronymic i.e. Mac- or -son. Some members adopted the name of the chief.

Clan MacArthur in gaelic this name is MacArtair, which means 'son-of-Arthur'. As a clan the Celtic MacArthurs were at the height of their power in the middle of the 14th century. They received large grants of land in Lorne and the keepership of the Castle of Dunstaffnage from Robert the Bruce, whose cause they supported in the War of Independance.

Early in the 15th century their power was broken when their chief, John MacArthur, was beheaded by king James I, and most of the estates forfeited.

A Sept of the same name were hereditary pipers to the MacDonalds of the Isles.

Clan Seat - Tirracladdich, Loch Awe, Argyll.
Stewart Crest and Tartan The Scottish royal family of Stewart descend from a family of Breton (France) nobles who arrived in England after the Norman Invasion of 1066. The name originates from humble beginnings, 'stiward', meaning 'sty warden' or keeper of domestic animals. However the Stewarts were a far grander family than that, being 'stewards' to the king, whose power extended to being chiefs of the royal household, managers of the crown revenues, administrators of justice and right hand men to the king in time of war.

The first recorded Stewart (1142) to arrive in Scotland was Walter Fitz Alan (Walter son of Alan), great, great grandson of one 11th century Breton, Alan Dapifer, of Dol. Walters father was lord of Oswesty.

The royal Stewart line commenced with the marriage of Walter, the sixth Steward, (he fought at Bannockburn and Berwick and was one of the signatories of the Scottish Declaration of Independance in 1320) to Marjory, the daughter of none other than King Robert the Bruce. Their son Robert, became King Robert II, the first of the royal Stewart line. He was crowned in 1371.

Clan Seat - Castle Stalcaire, Argyll.


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