Clan Martin

Clan Martin Scotland, though best described as the "Tribe of Martin", because of its migratory history and geographic movement, the Martin name in Scotland is associated with and delineated among the historical Clan system.

Clan MacMairtin (MacMartin) is a part of the Dal Riada and the Ulaid kinship groups, the second wave of Celts into Northern Ireland and the Western Scottish Archipelagos, as well as the area of Argyle in Scotland around 500 AD. The seat of the king of the Dal Riada was in Ireland until about 490 A.D. when Fergus Mor MacEarca moved to what is now Scotland. For centuries before then, however, the kings of Dal Riada exercised control from Ireland over the Dal Riada in Scotland and, despite their location in what is now two countries, the people of Dal Riada were one community. Travel over the narrow channel of water that separated the two parts of Dal Riada was easier than communication over land with other parts of Ireland. The business and cultural hub of the Dal Riada in Scotland was centered around Kilmartin, also in Argyll.

Later migrations spread up the Great Glen and Clan Martin (MacMartin) proper extended as well. Early writings state that Clan MacMartin has inhabited the area around Loch Lochy since “very ancient times”. There were populations of Clan Martin in Letterfinlay, Invergloy, and GlenLoy, parts of Dochanassie, Stronaba and Mucomer / Mucomir. The ancient burial place of the MacMartins is at Cill 'Icomar, Achnanaimhnichean, although current research is underway by the Dal Riada society to validate the true timeline of the migrations.

Later Clan Martin ancestors can be found in the Lothian area in the 12th Century, with the Court of William the Lion.

The associations of Clan Martin in the West and Western Isles are with the Clans Donald and MacDonald. In the Hebrides, there is more of an affiliation with the Clan Macleod.

The closest clan association is with Clan Camshron (Cameron). Clan MacMartin was one of four progenitors of the clan in its current form. It is unclear how Clan MacMartin lost its status as a major clan, but it is doubtful it was because of a marriage. The Dal Riada were patrilineal and it is unlikely they would give up chieftain status for what was probably an arranged agreement. Tradition holds that the 11th Chief of Clan Cameron, Donald Dubh, married the daughter of a MacMartin Chief in the early fifteenth century, securing the support of the MacMartin "following." The MacMartins continued to have their own chief, associated lands and followers, although after the mid-sixteenth century they became "fully identified with the Camerons" and were known as "Cameron, alias, MacMartin," or visa versa.

The Clan MacMartin were certainly Jacobite supporters The MacMartins are said to have been amongst the most loyal and valuable followers of Lochiel. In the 1745 Jacobite Uprising, the MacMartins were "out with" Lochiel's regiment.

At the mustering of the clans at Delmacomer, early in 1689, under Dundee and here is a translation of the description of young Letterflnlay in the Grameid.

"“Here too is MacMartin the younger, rising high above his whole line. His dark locks hang around his face and cover his cheeks, and his eyes shine like the stars, while his neck rivals the white flowers. His father and a great force of dependants accompany him, and an illustrious company of his brethren in their ranks surround him on every side. He himself, in variegated array, advances with lofty mein. Thó garter ribbons hanging at his leg were dyed with Corycian saffron, and with the tint of the Syrian shell, as was his plaid. The crest of his helmet glows with floating plumes, and the trappings of his mounted powder horn gleam in shining brass. His sister had embroidered his tunic with the red gold, and a double line of purple went round his terrible shoulders. ~Mighty of limb, mighty in strength”"

The official motto of Clan MacMartin of Scotland is “Hinc Fortior et Clarior”, which translates as: “Hence,(from battle), Stronger and Bright Shining”