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2024 Week1: Family lore #52Ancestorsin52Weeks

As I've mentioned previously, my parents never shared family stories with me and I never asked. The only 'family lore' story I can think of was provided to me by my dad's brother, my uncle, George McAra. His bowling blazer carried the coat of arms of the MacGregor clan. He maintained that the McAras were part of this great clan and 'our' motto was "Royal is my line". He also told me our ancestors were kings in Ireland. As a teenager in the 1970s,  my mum even made me a poncho in the Macgregor tartan! (I'm relieved I don't have a photo of that!)

My dad with my Uncle George. The Macgregor crest is on the blazer pocket, though not very clear. Source: own photo

So.. is any of that true? Have I the right to claim I'm part of Clan Macgregor? And were they or their ancestors kings in Ireland?

According to internet name sources, the McAra name itself was first found in Perthshire, likely dating back to the 11th century. Since then, it has been found in a variety of different spellings, such as McArra, McCarry, McCar. I actually have six different spellings in my own McAra line, even for the same individuals on different documentation and I have come across many others.

Research has indicated that the McAras originally belonged to one of the ancient Dalriadan clans on the west coast of Scotland. Dalriada was a Gaelic Kingdom that encompassed present day north Antrim in Northern Ireland and the Inner Hebrides and Argyll in present day Scotland.

The ancient kingdom of Dalriada highlighted. Source: Wikipedia
The kingdom of Dalriada was at its height in the 6th and 7th centuries. In earlier times the Scoti from 'Ireland'  had migrated in large numbers into Argyll. Through competition with neighbouring kingdoms in mainland Britain and Ireland, the power of the Irish Dalriada gradually declined and the expansion of Scottish Dalriada was halted by the Picts. Eventually the King of Dalriada, Kenneth McAlpin, (later Kenneth I of Scotland) succeeded in uniting the Kingdom of Dalriada and the Kingdom of the Picts under the Kingdom of Alba. Soon after, the whole area became known as Scotland.

So ... I have McAra origins possibly on the west coast of Scotland, possibly descended from the Scoti, who came from the 'Irish' Dalriada. The name is first found recorded in Perthshire, but can I now link McAras to Clan Macgregor?

Clan warfare was rife in the Highlands of Scotland before 1745. It was therefore expedient to 'connect' your family to the strongest clan in your neighbourhood to gain their protection, irrespective of your family name or allegiances. Clan Gregor (Macgregor) has its seat in Perthshire. The Macgregors themselves are said to be descended from a line of ancient Celtic kings. This is alluded to in their motto 'Royal is my race'. According to Wikipedia, the original Gregor may have been the brother of Kenneth McAlpin. Although there is little evidence for this, it was supported by historian William Forbes Skene (1809-1892) in his work 'Celtic Scotland - A History of Ancient Alba'.

So there we have it - the McAras may have connected themselves to the MacGregors and thus became 'entitled' to clan membership. Gregor may indeed have been of royal blood. 

Uncle George seems to have been convinced. So maybe he was right after all!

By Celtus (Celtus @ english wikipedia) -  https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4406562


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