Clan MacDuff
|
Clan MacDuff Crest: Deus juvat (God assists) |
The
Clan MacDuff (Gaelic,
MacDhuibh) is an
Armigerous Scottish clan originating in the Scoto-Pictish line.
The son of
Queen Gruoch (very loosely used by
William Shakespeare to create
Lady Macbeth) was murdered in 1058. Thereupon Malcolm Canmore ascended the throne as
Malcolm III of Scotland. His son, Aedh, (
Ethelred, Earl of Fife) married Margaret of Moray, the granddaughter of Owen Gruoch, and became both the
Earl of Fife and the
Abbott of Abernethy. Aedh bore as his arms a red lion rampant. He was the first subject of the kingdom.
Aedh died in 1128, and the men of
Moray made a few unsuccessful attempts to claim the throne whilst Clan Duff gave its support to Queen Margaret.
The male line of Earls failed in 1353 and passed to
Robert Stewart, 1st Duke of Albany and
Regent of Scotland. In 1425 the earldom was absorbed into the crown and the clan lost its great rank.
A title connected to
Fife returned with
William Duff, 1st Earl of Fife and
Viscount Madcap in 1759. Later
Alexander William George Duff, 6th Earl of Fife and 1st Duke of Fife, married the Princess Royal,
HRH Louise (daughter of King
Edward VII).
The direct line of the ancient house, continued in
Wemyss. However, in the northern territories families of Clan Duff emerged with no proof of royal descent.
*Motto:
Deus juvat (God assists)
*Arms: A lion rampant gules, holding a dagger in its paw.
*Badge: Red whortleberry
*Septs of the Clan: Duff, Fife, Fyfe, Spence, Spens, Wemyss
*Lands: Fife,
Lothian,
Strathbran and
Strathbogie*Origin of Name: Gaelic,
Dubh (Black)
The Clan MacDuff has several
septs, including Kilgour.
*
John Paul Jones, American naval officer who was born in Scotland
*
David Kilgour, Canadian member of Parliament
*
Scot Clans*
The Scottish Studies Foundation*
Mormaer of Fife
