The chiefs of the Scottish highland Clan Mackenzie

Clan MacKenzie

Clan Mackenzie is a Highland Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire.-Origins:The Mackenzies, a powerful clan of Celtic stock, were not among the clans that originated from Norman ancestry. Descendants of the long defunct royal Cenél Loairn of Dál Riata, they...

were historically known as the Mackenzies of Kintail. By tradition the Mackenzie chiefs descend from Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st of Kintail (d. 1304) however their earliest ancestor proven by contemporary evidence is Alexander Mackenzie, 6th of Kintail (d. 1488). The chiefly line became the Earls of Seaforth

Earl of Seaforth

Earl of Seaforth was a title in the Peerage of Scotland and Peerage of Great Britain. It was held by the family of Mackenzie from 1623 to 1716, and again from 1771 to 1781....

 during the 17th century but this title was later forfeited in the 18th century due to support of the Jacobite Rising

Jacobite rising

The Jacobite Risings were a series of uprisings, rebellions, and wars in Great Britain and Ireland occurring between 1688 and 1746. The uprisings were aimed at returning James VII of Scotland and II of England, and later his descendants of the House of Stuart, to the throne after he was deposed by...

. The current official chief of the Clan Mackenzie is John Ruaridh Grant Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Cromartie

Earl of Cromartie

Earl of Cromartie is a title that has been created twice, both times for members of the Mackenzie family. This branch of the family descends from Sir Roderick Mackenzie, whose elder brother Kenneth Mackenzie was created Lord Mackenzie of Kintail in 1609 and was the father of Colin Mackenzie, 1st...

.

Direct descent through female line

The following is a list of some of the previous clan chiefs as listed by Alexander Mackenzie in his book A History of the Clan Mackenzie, published 1890. The last three, cited here, are disputed and the acknowledged chiefs were the Mackenzies of Allangrange; George Falconer Mackenzie, IVth of Allangrange; his son, John F.; and his younger brother, James Fowler Mackenzie (died 1907).

Name	Died	Notes
James Alexander Francis Humberston Mackenzie	1923	Of Seaforth, a Captain, 9th Lancers. The Lords Lyon ruled in a dispute with Mrs Beatrice Anna Fraser-Mackenzie of Allangrange that neither had the right to the undifferentiated arms of Mackenzie as neither were heirs-male of the clan.
Keith William Stewart Mackenzie	1881	Officer in the 90th Regiment and Colonel Commendant of the Rosshire Volunteers. Married firstly Hannah, daughter of James Joseph Hope, Vere of Craigehall. Married secondly Alicia Almeira Bell.
Mary Elizabeth Fredrica Mackenzie	1843	Married firstly Sir Samuel Hood, MP for Westminster. Married secondly James Alexander Stewart of Glesserton, who assumed the name Mackenzie. Succeeded by her eldest son.

Historical undisputed line

Name	Died	Notes
Francis Humberston Mackenzie, 1st Baron Seaforth Francis Mackenzie, 1st Baron Seaforth Francis Humberston Mackenzie, 1st Baron Seaforth FRS was a British politician and general and Chief of the Highland Clan Mackenzie....	1815	Later made Lord Seaforth and Baron of Kintail. Elected MP for the county of Ross in 1784 and 1790. Raised the Seaforth Highlanders. Succeeded by his daughter.
Colonel Thomas Frederick Mackenzie Humberston Thomas Frederick Mackenzie Humberston Thomas Frederick Mackenzie Humberston was a British soldier and Chief of the Highland Clan Mackenzie.-Origins:Mackenzie was the eldest son of Major William Mackenzie , by Mary, daughter and heiress of Matthew Humberston of Humberston, in Lincolnshire. His father was the son of the Hon...	1783	Killed by a gunshot wound while serving on the Ranger which was attacked by the Maratha Maratha The Maratha are an Indian caste, predominantly in the state of Maharashtra. The term Marāthā has three related usages: within the Marathi speaking region it describes the dominant Maratha caste; outside Maharashtra it can refer to the entire regional population of Marathi-speaking people;... . Captain in the 78th Rosshire Highland Regiment. Succeeded by his brother.
Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth (second creation) Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth FRS was a British peer and politician and Chief of the Highland Clan Mackenzie.-Origins:...	1781	Created Earl of Seaforth, Viscount Fortrose and Baron of Ardelve in the Peerage of Ireland. Known as the "Little Lord" due to his small stature. Succeeded by his cousin.
Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord Fortrose Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord Fortrose Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord Fortrose was a British politician and Chief of the Highland Clan Mackenzie.-Origins:...	1761	Did not openly support the Jacobite Stewarts. Married Mary, daughter of Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway Alexander Stewart, 6th Earl of Galloway was the son of James Stewart, 5th Earl of Galloway by Catherine, daughter of Alexander Montgomerie, 9th Earl of Eglinton .... . Buried at Westminster Abbey.
William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth William Mackenzie, 5th Earl of Seaforth was a Scottish nobleman.He who joined the Jacobite standard at Braemar, during the rising of 1715, and then, having raised 3000 men, was present at the battle of Sheriffmuir and was appointed lieutenant-general of the northern counties...	1740	Jacobite. Present at the Battle of Sheriffmuir Battle of Sheriffmuir The Battle of Sheriffmuir was an engagement in 1715 at the height of the Jacobite rebellion in England and Scotland.-History:John Erskine, 6th Earl of Mar, standard-bearer for the Jacobite cause in Scotland, mustered Highland chiefs, and on 6 September declared James Francis Edward Stuart as King...  and the Battle of Glenshiel, escaped to France on both occasions. Married Mary, daughter of Nicholas Coxhow of Northumberland. Titles forfeited. Died on the Isle of Lews.
Kenneth Mackenzie, 4th Earl of Seaforth Kenneth Mackenzie, 4th Earl of Seaforth Kenneth Mackenzie, 4th Earl of Seaforth, KT, PC was a Scottish peer and Jacobite supporter, known as Lord Mackenzie of Kintail from birth until 1678....	1701	Fought at the Battle of the Boyne Battle of the Boyne The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland... . Married Frances, daughter of William Herbert, Marquess of Powis (An English nobleman). Died in Paris.
Kenneth Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Seaforth Kenneth Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Seaforth Kenneth Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Seaforth was a Highland clan chief and Scottish nobleman, who adhered faithfully to Charles II through his tribulations...	1678	Imprisoned by Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland.... , released upon the Restoration of Charles II Charles II of England Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War... . Married Isobel Mackenzie, daughter of John Mackenzie of Tarbat, father of George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie George Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Cromartie FRS , known as Sir George Mackenzie, 2nd Baronet from 1654 to 1685 and as The Viscount of Tarbat from 1685 to 1703, was a Scottish statesman.... .
George Mackenzie, 2nd Earl of Seaforth George Mackenzie, 2nd Earl of Seaforth George Mackenzie, 2nd Earl of Seaforth was a Highland clan chief and Scottish nobleman, who played an equivocating role in Scotland in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms.-Origins:...	1651	Supported royalist James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose was a Scottish nobleman and soldier, who initially joined the Covenanters in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms, but subsequently supported King Charles I as the English Civil War developed... . Married Barbara, daughter of Aurthur Lord Forbes. Died in Holland.
Colin Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth Colin Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth Colin Mackenzie, 1st Earl of Seaforth , was a Highland clan chief and Scottish nobleman, possessed of vast estates and wealth.-Origins:...	1633	Built Brahan Castle. Married Margaret, daughter of Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline Alexander Seton, 1st Earl of Dunfermline was a Scottish lawyer, judge and politician. He was Lord President of the Court of Session from 1598 to 1604 and Lord Chancellor of Scotland from 1604 to 1622.... . Succeeded by his brother.
Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st Lord Mackenzie of Kintail Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st Lord Mackenzie of Kintail Kenneth Mackenzie, the first Lord Mackenzie of Kintail , was a Highland clan chief who secured for himself and his heirs the entirety of the island of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and successfully pursued a bloody feud with the Macdonells of Glengarry.-Origins:Mackenzie was the son of Colin Cam...	1611	Feuded with the MacDonalds of Glengarry. Married Ann, daughter of George Ross Clan Ross Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan. The original chiefs of the clan were the original Earls of Ross.-Origins:Clan Ross is a Highland Scottish clan first named as such by King Malcolm IV of Scotland in 1160...  of Balnagowan.
Colin Mackenzie, 11th of Kintail Colin Cam Mackenzie of Kintail Colin Mackenzie of Kintail , nicknamed “Cam” , was a Highland chief of the Scottish clan Mackenzie who greatly increased his ancestral estates through royal favour and a career of vigorous self-aggrandisement....	1594	Feuded with the Munros over ownership of the Chanonry of Ross. Feuded with the MacDonalds of Glengarry over the lands of Lochalsh, Lochcarron and Lochbroom. Married Barbara, daughter of John Grant of Grant.
Kenneth Mackenzie, 10th of Kintail Kenneth Mackenzie, 10th of Kintail Kenneth Mackenzie , traditionally reckoned 10th of Kintail and nicknamed Coinneach na Cuirc , was a Highland chief, head of the Clan Mackenzie, who flourished in the turbulent Scottish politics of the mid-16th century.-Origins:Kenneth was the only son of John Mackenzie, 9th of Kintail and...	1568	Killed fighting for Mary, Queen of Scots. Married Elizabeth, daughter of John Stewart, Earl of Atholl Earl of Atholl The Mormaer of Earl of Atholl refers to a medieval comital lordship straddling the highland province of Atholl , now in northern Perthshire. Atholl is a special Mormaerdom, because a King of Atholl is reported from the Pictish period. The only other two Pictish kingdoms to be known from... . Buried at Beauly Priory Beauly Priory Beauly Priory was a Valliscaulian monastic community located at "Insula de Achenbady", now Beauly, Inverness-shire. It was probably founded in 1230. It is not known for certain who the founder was, different sources giving Alexander II of Scotland, John Byset, and both... .
John Mackenzie, 9th of Kintail John Mackenzie, 9th of Kintail John Mackenzie , or "John of Killin", traditionally reckoned 9th of Kintail, was a Highland chief, being head of the Clan Mackenzie.-Origins and education:...	1561	Feuded with his kinsman, Hector Roy Mackenzie Hector Roy Mackenzie Hector Roy Mackenzie of Gairloch was a prominent member of the Mackenzie clan, who acquired vast estates in and around Gairloch as a result of his services to the Scottish crown and challenged his nephew for the chiefship of the clan.-Origins:...  of Gairloch. Captured at Flodden Field but later escaped. Captured at Pinkie Cleugh but a ransom was paid for his release.
Kenneth Og Mackenzie, 8th of Kintail Kenneth Mackenzie, 8th of Kintail Kenneth Mackenzie , or "Coinneach Oig", traditionally reckoned 8th of Kintail, was a Highland chief, being head of the Clan Mackenzie.-Origins:...	c.1497	Killed by the Laird of Buchanan Clan Buchanan Clan Buchanan is an Armigerous Scottish clan whose origins are said to lie in the 1225 grant of lands on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond to clergyman Sir Absalon of Buchanan by the Earl of Lennox.-Origins:... . Succeeded by his brother.
Kenneth Mackenzie, 7th of Kintail Kenneth Mackenzie, 7th of Kintail Kenneth Mackenzie , traditionally reckoned 7th of Kintail and nicknamed Coinneach a'bhlair , was a Highland chief, being head of the Clan Mackenzie.-Origins:...	1492	Fought at the Battle of Park. Married Margarat, daughter of John of Isla.
Alexander Mackenzie, 6th of Kintail	1488	Married a daughter of MacDougall of Lorn.

Traditional chiefs

Name	Died	Notes
Murdoch Mackenzie, 5th of Kintail		"Of the bridge". Made an alliance with the Clan MacRae Clan MacRae The Clan Macrae is a Highland Scottish clan. The clan has no chief; it is therefore considered an Armigerous clan.-Surname:The surname Macrae is an Anglicisation of the patronymic from the Gaelic personal name Macraith. This personal name means "son of grace"... .
Murdoch Dubh Mackenzie, 4th of Kintail		"Of the cave". Married a daughter of the chief of Clan MacAulay.
Kenneth Mackenzie, 3rd of Kintail	1346	Executed at Inverness for rebelling against the Earl of Ross Earl of Ross The Mormaer or Earl of Ross was the leader of a medieval Gaelic lordship in northern Scotland, roughly between the River Oykel and the River Beauly.-Origins and transfers:... .
Ian Maccoinnich Mackenzie, 2nd of Kintail	1328	Supported Robert the Bruce Robert I of Scotland Robert I , popularly known as Robert the Bruce , was King of Scots from March 25, 1306, until his death in 1329.His paternal ancestors were of Scoto-Norman heritage , and... .
Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st of Kintail	1304	Married Morba, daughter of MacDougall of Lorn Clan MacDougall Clan MacDougall is a Highland Scottish clan consisting of the descendants of Dubgall mac Somairle, son of Somerled, who ruled Lorne and the Isle of Mull in Argyll in the 13th century... .

Direct descent through male line

The question of the legitimate heir-male of the Mackenzie Clan chiefs is most contentious: the Mackenzies of Allangrange were acknowledged as chiefs, both by election (in 1829, of George F. Mackenzie by jury) and being considered the heirs-male of the clan by the Lord Lyon, as their progenitor was Simon Mackenzie of Lochslinn. Colin Cam Mackenzie's son, Kenneth Mor Mackenzie, Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, was father to both Colin (1st Earl of Seaforth), George (2nd Earl) and Simon of Lochslinn, (his seventh son).

Colin Cam Mackenzie was father of Alexander Mackenzie, of Coul & Applecross, who was in turn, father of Hector Mackenzie, of Assynt (extinct); Roderick Mackenzie, 1st of Applecross (extinct); and Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st Bart of Coul (Peter Douglas Mackenzie, XIIIth Bart. of Coul, Ross, 28 Jul 1990). Alexander Mackenzie, of Coul & Applecross was a 'natural son' i.e., illegitimate

Colin Cam Mackenzie other sons included; Kenneth Mor Mackenzie, Lord Mackenzie of Kintail, who succeeded his father as Chief and from whom the Earls of Seaforth, acknowledged Chiefs of Clan Mackenzie, spring; Colin Mackenzie, of Kennock & Pitlundie; Murdoch Mackenzie, 1st of Kernsary; and the aforementioned Roderick (Sir) Mackenzie, Knight of Tarbat (Roderick of Coigeach, the "Tutor of Kintail"), from whom the Earls of Cromartie and the current Chief (in the female line), descends; Roderick (Sir) Mackenzie, Knight of Tarbat (ancestor of the Earls of Cromartie and Mackenzies of Scatwell; and Alexander Mackenzie, 1st of Kilcoy.

The Mackenzies of Scatwell claim descent through Kenneth Mackenzie, 1st of Scatwell, younger brother of John (Sir) Mackenzie, 1st Bt of Tarbat and father of George (Sir) Mackenzie, 1st Earl Cromartie (through whom the present Chiefs descends in the female line). The head of the Mackenzies of Scatwell, Tarbat is Dashwood George Roderick Barrett Mackenzie, 14th Baronet

The Mackenzies of Kilcoy, descended from Roderick (Sir) Mackenzie, Knight of Tarbat's younger brother Alexander Mackenzie, 1st of Kilcoy and from whom the families of Kilcoy (extinct), Inverallochy, Findon (extinct), Kinnoch, Kernsary, Muirton (extinct), and Cleanwaters are descended.

The Mackenzies of Redcastle and cadet branches, Kincraig, descend from Roderick More Mackenzie, Baron of Redcastle, a younger brother of Colin Cam Mackenzie, 11th Baronet of Kintail.

Descent from Kenneth Na Cuire Mackenzie, 10th Baron of Kintail.

The eldest cadet line of Kintail are the Mackenzies of Hilton.

According to A.M. Mackenzie's History of the Mackenzies:
The Mackenzies of Allangrange succeeded F.H. Mackenzie as chiefs, upon the latter's death in 1815.

Name	Died	Notes
James Fowler Mackenzie	1907	Brother of John, died unmarried.
John Falconer Mackenzie	1849	John Fowler Mackenzie of Allangrange, as lineal representative of Simon Mackenzie of Lochshin, seventh son of Kenneth, first Lord Mackenzie.
George Falconer Mackenzie	1829	Elected Chief by Jury, at Tain in 1829

The next collateral branch of Clan Mackenzies closest to the Allangrange family are The Old Mackenzies of Dundonnel, descended from the Hon. Simon Mackenzie of Lochslinn by his second wife, Agnes Fraser. The last of this branch was Thomas, the eighth of Dundonnel (old) and John Hope Mackenzie, third son of Thomas, (the sixth) predeceased him in 1892. The only members of this family whose descendants can ever now by any possibility succeed to the Chiefship should it pass from the Mackenzies of Allangrange are (1) Alexander, second son of Kenneth Mor, first of Dundonnel, but of him there is no trace for more than two hundred years, and never likely to be. (2) Simon, Alexander's youngest brother, of whom nothing has been heard during the same period. (3) Captain Alexander, of the 73rd Regiment, second son of Kenneth Mackenzie, II. of Dundonnel, who died, probably unmarried, in 1783. In any case there is nothing known of any descendants. (4) Kenneth, W.S., second son of Kenneth Mackenzie, III. of Dundonnel, who died in 1790, and is not known to have been married. (5) William, third son of the same Kenneth, an Episcopalian minister, who was married, and left issue, of whom, however, we know nothing. (6) Roderick, William's immediate younger brother, and third son of the same Kenneth Mackenzie, III. of Dundonnel, who was also married, with issue, but whether extinct or not we cannot say. (7) Captain Simon, who was married and died in Nairn in 1812, but of his descendants, if any, we at present know nothing. (8) Captain Lewis, who died in India, probably, unmarried, but this has not been conclusively established; and (9) Thomas, second son of Thomas, VI. of Dundonnel, who in early life emigrated to California, and regarding whom nothing has since been heard. If he is still alive or has left any surviving male issue the late John Hope Mackenzie could not have succeeded as head of the family, and Thomas, or his male heir, if now in life, occupies that position; and on the failure of the Mackenzies of Allangrange, he or his representative will become Chief of the Mackenzies. The male line of the Allangrange, family became extinct in 1907 by the death of James Fowler Mackenzie. He entailed his, estates on the respondent, who was it cousin and had married it Fraser of Bunchrew. The entail contained it a name and arms clause binding, the heirs of entail to assume the name and bear the arms of Mackenzie of Allangrange.

The eldest cadet branch of Clan Kenneth are Mackenzies of Hilton, descended from Alexander Mackenzie, VI. of Kintail, known among the Highlanders as "Alastair Ionraic". His only son and heir, ALLAN MACKENZIE, second of Hilton, Loggie or Brea, from whom the family is known in Gaelic as "Clann Alain", but by his second son John, Mackenzies of Loggie. The main line was extinct upon the death of Alexander Mackenzies, 10th of Hilton and was successed by Roderick Mackenzie, I. of Brea, Chamberlain of Ferintosh, second son of Colin, by his wife Mary Simpson, third son of Murdoch, V. of Hilton, all the intermediate male heirs having, as has been shown, become extinct. XIV. Kenneth Mackenzie, who recently resided at Tyrl-Tyrl, Taralga, near Sydney, New South Wales. He married his cousin, Mary James, daughter of Captain Alexander Mackenzie of Brea, second son of Alexander, XI. of Hilton, with issue including sons John (heir) and Downie, in Australia at the turn of the 19th century.

The Mackenzies of Glack are descended from Roderick, second son of Colin, third son of Murdoch Mackenzie, V. of Hilton, or rather from his second son. Roderick, Chamberlain of the Lewis. This Roderick had three sons—(1) John Mackenzie, I. of Brea, who carried on the male line of Hilton; (2) Colin, from whom the Mackenzies of Glack. The Rev. Duncan Campbell Mackenzie, Vicar of Shephall, Herts, 5th of Glack who was born on the 6th of January, 1824, and married on the 31st of January, 1854, Louisa, daughter of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Nicolls, of Chichester, with issue—1. Donald, an officer in the Marines. 2. Allan, an officer in the Ross-shire Militia, later Mackenzie-Penderel and 3. Malcolm.

The Mackenzies of Loggie: extinct

The Mackenzies of Gairloch are descended from Alexander Mackenzie, VI. of Kintail, by his second wife Margaret, daughter of Roderick Macdonald, III. of Moydart and Clanranald, the famous "Ruairidh MacAlain". Sir Hector David Mackenzie, 8th Baronet, assumed name Inglis; this invalidates his claim to the position of Chief of Clan Mackenzie. His grandson Sir Roderick John Inglis is 10th Baronet. Other branches of the Mackenzies of Gairloch include:

Branch	Mackenzie Baronet in order of creation
Mackenzie of Lochend	Extinct
Mackenzie of Letterewe	Extant in 1890 viz.John Alexander Mackenzie, of Ardlair, Edinburgh
Mackenzie of Mornish	JOHN ALEXANDER HUGH MUNRO MACKENZIE OF MORNISH (1974)
Mackenzie of Portmore	Extinct
Mackenzie of Inverness
Mackenzie of Dingwall
Mackenzie of Mountgerald	Extinct
Mackenzie of Dailuaine	Heir-male (Thomas Mackenzie, of Dailuaine Whisky fame) dies in 1915, though brothers in S. Africa, California but unmarried at the turn of the 19th Century.
Mackenzie of Belmaduthy
Mackenzie of Flowerburn
Mackenzie of Pitlundi and Culbo