"Cuimhnich air na daoine
        o'n d'thaninig thu"                
            Remember the people from
                  whom you came                        

   Our ancestors came from across the Irish and North Sea to establish Dalriada and utimately Scotland in Pictish Alba

                                 
        This may be the only website dedicated to the history and development of the seven 
modern day clans that claim descent from King Alpin and his seed, the House of Alpin. 
Sìol Alpin (SHE-ul  ALL-pin) for over a thousand years has been carried on by these clans.

                                  Clan Grant ~ Clan Gregor ~ MacAulay
                    MacFie ~MacKinnon ~MacNab ~ MacQuarrie

        The belief in the Sìol Alpin tradition, amongst the individual clans that claim to be part of it, is without question a strong one. The clans, for instance, share the same plant badge, the Scots Pine, worn in their bonnets. Some of the Clans further emphasize this tradition through their respective mottos and slogans. The MacGregor motto for instance is ‘My Blood is Royal’, while the MacFie clan uses ‘For the King’. Clan MacKinnon on the other hand has their clan slogan as ‘Remember the Death of Alpin’.

             Although the name MacAlpin is used today as a surname, there is little trace of an effective clan of that name in historical record. In fact, the concept, or better said, "organization" of "clan" and clan chiefs as we think of them today had yet to be characterized as such at the time of Kenneth MacAlpine.  

        Charles MacKinnon makes the claim that the overarching Clan of MacAlpin was not a clan in and of itself, and he asserts that those of the surname MacAlpin never held their own lands and in almost all cases they belong to one of the other seven clans. The name was often taken as an alias during the proscription of Highland names by the throne in London.  Members of 
Clan MacAlpin Society are challenging this belief, and are pursuing the goal of recognition as a clan in their own right through application to the Court of the Lord Lyon.    

        There are many historical examples which point to the strong beliefs each clan had in the Sìol Alpin. One example is in the aid given by Clan Grant to Clan Gregor during the time of the  proscription of  the name MacGregor by the Crown in the 17th century. The Grants in particular, because they held such strong familial ties to the MacGregors gave an inordinate amount of aid to MacGregor during the period of their proscription. Documents show that the Chief of Grants paid out huge sums in fines for providing aid to proscribed MacGregors during this period, and there can be no other reason for this than a belief by the Chief of Grant himself that he was protecting and aiding his own kin.

        The belief in the close relationship and blood-ties between the Grants and MacGregors was so strong, in fact, that at one point the chief of Grant and Gregor met at Blair Athol to discuss merging the two clans into one. This meeting broke up when it could not be decided which clan's name they would take, or who would be chief.

        The following pages represent a search for the roots, history, descendency and the contribution of Sìol Alpin, both in ancient times beyond Alba and later Scotland, and as much information as possible to discover and understand the identity of the clan which bore the name and leadership of the race of Alpin through the middle ages to modern times.

       Much credit is due to the research and writings from long past as well as current works.  In addition much has been gleaned from the work represented in websites, the clans, as well as
bardic and anecdotal histories.  It is fully recognized that there are many myths, traditions and outright misinformation that continue to this day regarding the facts and true roots of the House of Alpin.  However, at some point, traditions, physical evidence and openmindedness will yield a much more complete and correct perspective regarding ancient events, evolution of society, and those who claim to be the race of Alpin.

       It is hoped that you'll find your time here worthwhile.  Your input, information, insight, suggestions as well as constructive criticism is welcome.  In any event, attempting to perceive beyond the the times of the Dark Ages requires the view of many more experienced,
educated and insightful individuals than myself. Your patience is with this effort is appreciated.

                                                            Thank you for visiting
                                                           Dodd Greer, FSA Scot



                                                       
                                                             
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