MacQuarrie Clan

MacQuarrie Clan Crest: Out of an antique crown, an arm in armour embowed, grasping a dagger, all proper.

MacQuarrie Clan Motto: An T'Arm Breac Dearg (The Red Tartan Army).

MacQuarrie Clan History: A branch of Clan Alpin which anciently held sway over territories on the islands of Mull and Ulva. Hector MacQuarrie of Ulva was a supporter of Robert the Bruce, and fought for him at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

The Clan MacQuarrie became followers of the Lords of the Isles, and joined the Macleans in supporting the Royalist Cause during the Civil War, when the MacQuarrie Chief and his followers were killed fighting against Oliver Cromwell's army at the Battle Inverkeithing in 1561. Tragically most of the family papers were destroyed in a fire in 1688 and, in 1777, Lachlan MacQuarrie of Ulva was obliged to sell Ulva for financial reasons. He subsequently joined the British Army at the age of 63, and served in the American War. He died at Glenforsa, on Mull, in 1818, at the age of 103.

His kinsman, Lachlan MacQuarrie (1761-1824) was born on the Isle of Ulva, off Mull and joined the British Army at the age of 16. He became a Major General, and was Governor General of New South Wales from 1809-1821. He is known as the 'Father of Australia', and his name was given to the Lachlan and MacQuarrie rivers, and also to MacQuarrie Island.

Surname distribution in Scotland: The MacQuarrie name is most common in The Western Isles (the main islands include Lewis and Harris, North Uist, South Uist, Benbecula and Barra).

Places of Interest: The island of Staffa, famous for the romantically named Fingal’s Cave, was once part of the MacQuarrie estates. Gruline House, at Salen, on the island of Mull, was the home of Major General Lachlan MacQuarrie, the first Governor General of New South Wales.

Associated family names (Septs): MacCorrie, MacCorry, MacGorry, MacGorrie, MacGuarie, MacGuire,MacQuaire, MacQuarie, MacQuhirr, MacQuire, Quarry, Wharrie.

Clan MacQuarrie membership certificates.