Donald Munro of Foulis

Donald Munro (died 1039) is the first traditional chief of the Clan Munro.^[1]

There is no existing contemporary evidence for Donald's existence however he is documented in several later family manuscripts such as the Coul MS and Munro Tree 1734.^[2]

According to early 18th century historian Alexander Nisbet, with no quoted source; The first of the name of the (Munro) family, was Donald, son of O'Caan Ro's, a nobleman upon the Water of Ro in Ireland, who came to Scotland with some forces to the assistance of Malcolm II against the Danes; the King for his good-service gave him the lands of East-Dingwall, which he called "Ferin-Donald". i.e. "Donald's Lands": And he was called Donald a Bruno in respect of his father's residence on the Water of Ro in Ireland; and thereafter, by the change of the letter "B" to "M", his descendents were called Munros. They got also other lands in Scotland, which they called Foules, from a place in Ireland, of that name, called "Loch-Feul".^[3]

Donald's father, O'Caan is said to have been the Prince of Fermanagh^[4]

Arguments against Donald Munro's existence include the fact that surnames were not used during the early 11th century in Scotland.^[2]

References

1. ^ The Chief
2. ^ ^{a b} "The Munro Tree 1734". Printed for subscribers, in Edinburgh 1978.
3. ^ "A System of Heraldry" (1722).p.350 by Alexander Nisbet.
4. ^ Horace Monroe. "Foulis Castle and the Monroes of Lower Iveagh"

External links

• Stirnet: Munro01 (requires subscription to view without interruption)
• thePeerage.com: Donald Munro