Cailean mac Dhonnchaidh
Encyclopedia
Cailean of Carrick or Cailean mac D[h]onnchaidh ("Colin, son of Duncan", died before 1250) was the son of Donnchadh, Earl of Carrick
(† 1250), and probably the father of Niall, Earl of Carrick
(† 1256). Although once heir to the earldom of Carrick, Cailean appears to have died before 1250 (the year of his father's death).
The traditional view, going back to the 19th century, is that Donnchadh's son and heir was Niall
. This view has been criticised by genealogist Andrew MacEwen, who has argued that Niall was not the son of Donnchadh, but rather his grandson, a view embraced by leading Scottish medievalist Professor G. W. S. Barrow
. According to this argument, Donnchadh's son and intended heir was Cailean (alias Nicholaus of Carrick), who as his son and heir, issued a charter in Donnchadh's lifetime, but seemingly predeceased him.
It was further suggested that Cailean's wife, Earl Niall's mother, was a daughter of the Tir Eoghain king Niall Ruadh Ó Neill, tying in with Donnchadh's Irish activities, accounting for the use of the name Niall, and explaining the strong alliance with the Ó Neill held by Niall's grandsons.
Cailean appears to have had a daughter, Afraig, who married Gilleasbaig of Menstrie
, a Clackmannanshire
baron who was the first attested man to bare the surname "Campbell". With this lady, Gilleasbaig fathered Cailean Mór
, the ancestor of the later Earls of Argyll.
Donnchadh, Earl of Carrick
Donnchadh was a Gall-Gaidhil prince and Scottish magnate in what is now south-western Scotland, whose career stretched from the last quarter of the 12th century until his death in 1250...
(† 1250), and probably the father of Niall, Earl of Carrick
Niall, Earl of Carrick
Níall of Carrick was the second man to bear the title Mormaer, or Earl, of Carrick. He was successor of mormaer Donnchadh of Carrick. He may have been Donnchadh's son, or else as suggested by one recent genealogical theory, his grandson...
(† 1256). Although once heir to the earldom of Carrick, Cailean appears to have died before 1250 (the year of his father's death).
The traditional view, going back to the 19th century, is that Donnchadh's son and heir was Niall
Niall, Earl of Carrick
Níall of Carrick was the second man to bear the title Mormaer, or Earl, of Carrick. He was successor of mormaer Donnchadh of Carrick. He may have been Donnchadh's son, or else as suggested by one recent genealogical theory, his grandson...
. This view has been criticised by genealogist Andrew MacEwen, who has argued that Niall was not the son of Donnchadh, but rather his grandson, a view embraced by leading Scottish medievalist Professor G. W. S. Barrow
G. W. S. Barrow
Geoffrey Wallis Steuart Barrow DLitt FBA FRSE is a British historian and academic. He is Professor Emeritus at the University of Edinburgh, and arguably the most prominent Scottish medievalist of the last century....
. According to this argument, Donnchadh's son and intended heir was Cailean (alias Nicholaus of Carrick), who as his son and heir, issued a charter in Donnchadh's lifetime, but seemingly predeceased him.
It was further suggested that Cailean's wife, Earl Niall's mother, was a daughter of the Tir Eoghain king Niall Ruadh Ó Neill, tying in with Donnchadh's Irish activities, accounting for the use of the name Niall, and explaining the strong alliance with the Ó Neill held by Niall's grandsons.
Cailean appears to have had a daughter, Afraig, who married Gilleasbaig of Menstrie
Gilleasbaig of Menstrie
Gille Escoib or Gilleasbaig of Menstrie is the earliest member of the Campbell family to be attested in contemporary sources, appearing in royal charters dating to the 1260s. His existence is confirmed by later Campbell pedigrees. According to these genealogies, he was the son of a man named...
, a Clackmannanshire
Clackmannanshire
Clackmannanshire, often abbreviated to Clacks is a local government council area in Scotland, and a lieutenancy area, bordering Perth and Kinross, Stirling and Fife.As Scotland's smallest historic county, it is often nicknamed 'The Wee County'....
baron who was the first attested man to bare the surname "Campbell". With this lady, Gilleasbaig fathered Cailean Mór
Cailean Mór
Cailean Mór Caimbeul, also known as Sir Colin Campbell , is one of the earliest attested members of Clan Campbell and an important ancestor figure of the later medieval Earls of Argyll....
, the ancestor of the later Earls of Argyll.