Clan Shaw: Origins, History, and Legacy
Origins and Early History
Clan Shaw is a Highland Scottish clan with ancient roots tracing back to Celtic nobility. The clan’s progenitor was Shaw MacDuff, a younger son of Duncan, Thane of Fife and descendant of King Kenneth MacAlpin (Cinéad Mac Aílpin) (the 9th-century king who united the Scots and Picts). In the 12th century, Shaw MacDuff earned the king’s favor, he was appointed Constable of Inverness Castle by King Malcolm IV around 1163. His descendants, known as the Mhic an Toiseach (“sons of the Thane”), settled in the Inverness area and loyally supported the Scottish crown. By the mid-13th century the family acquired lands in Strathspey: Shaw’s grandson obtained the estate of Rothiemurchus (1236), establishing the clan’s early power base.
Alliances through marriage helped shape the clan’s destiny. Shaw’s great-grandson Farquhar Mackintosh (son of Shaw’s grandson) forged an alliance against the powerful Comyn family by marrying Mora, daughter of Aonghas Mór of Clan Donald (later, with John of Islay, the Lords of the Isles).
Farquhar’s own son Angus Mackintosh, 6th chief of Clan Mackintosh, married Eva (heiress of Clan Chattan) in 1291. Their second son, John, became the first chief of Clan Shaw, effectively marking the start of Clan Shaw as a distinct lineage within the Clan Chattan confederation. Thus, by the late 14th century the Shaws emerged as an independent clan, descended from royal Fife lineage and entwined with the Mackintoshes and Clan Chattan. They established themselves at the Doune of Rothiemurchus near Aviemore, which became the clan’s early seat after John’s grandson, Shaw Mór, helped secure it for the family.
Key Figures, Branches, and Battles
Throughout their history, the Shaws produced notable figures and took part in key conflicts and alliances that shaped the Highlands:
· Wars of Independence (14th century): As part of Clan Chattan, the Shaws supported King Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence. They fought for Bruce’s cause at the decisive Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, helping secure Scotland’s freedom from England. Their longstanding feud with the rival Clan Comyn (who opposed Bruce) earned the Shaws royal favor; Bruce’s gratitude further cemented the clan’s status.
· Clan Feuds and Alliances: To withstand powerful neighbors, the Shaws entered strategic alliances. In addition to the marriage into Clan Donald mentioned above, their Mackintosh cousins bound them into the Clan Chattan alliance – a federation of allied Highland clans symbolized by the wildcat. This gave the relatively small Clan Shaw the protection of a larger confederacy in struggles against enemies like the Comyns and the Camerons. Conversely, rivalry with the Camerons led to famous clan battles. The Shaws were likely present at the Battle of Invernahavon (c. 1370) alongside other Clan Chattan forces, where they clashed with Clan Cameron in a bloody skirmish over cattle raiding.
· Clan Chattan (or the Chattan configuration) was made up of 16 Clans, some more prominent than others.
· The notes on the name of Clan Chattan:
· The old or mythical history of the Clan Chattan is, that a certain number of the Catti of Tacitus were driven from central Germany to the Lower Rhine; that from thence they reached the north, of Scotland, which, after them, was called Caithness; that they gradually moved South, and called the next district Sutherland; that, finally, they moved further south and settled in Inverness-shire “Those who came not into Badenoch (in Inverness-shire) went by other names."
· The date when the Clan Chattan was first spoken of is uncertain. The earliest official document which recognises the Clan Chattan is of the year 1467; but Bower, writing about 1440, speaks of Clan Chatan in 1429.
· Bellenden, in his translation of Boece, about 1525, is the first who talks of the clan having been at the Inches in Perth in 1396, and this probably owing to a misprint in the original, of Clan Quhete for Quhele'. He calls it Quhattan.
· It has usually been considered that Clan Chatan consisted of sixteen septs : in all such questions much depends on the family pre- possession of the compiler of the list, much also on the period to which the list refers. What is a mere family in one generation becomes a sept in another one; or what may have been a great name may dwindle down into insignificance, like the names of MacBeth or MacWilliam. The following is a sort of average list of the chief septs belonging to Clan Catan some 250 years ago, arranged without much reference to their relative importance
· Champions at the North Inch (1396): One of Clan Shaw’s proudest legends is their role in the Battle of the North Inch of Perth in 1396. Thirty champions from Clan Chattan (including many Shaws) fought thirty from Clan Cameron in a staged trial by combat to settle a feud. The Chattan warriors, led by Shaw Mór (grandson of the first chief), won a fierce contest in front of King Robert III of Scotland and the French Dauphin. For his valor in leading Clan Chattan’s champions to victory, Shaw Mór earned great renown – and the clan was rewarded with continued rights to Rothiemurchus in Strathspey. This episode has become legendary in Highland history, underlining the Shaws’ reputation for courage.
· Branches and Septs: Over time the clan expanded into several branches (septs). Shaw Mór’s grandson Aedh (Hugh) settled in Tordarroch, Strathnairn in 1468, founding the “Clan Ay” branch in the north. In the Rothiemurchus area, cadet branches took root at Dell, Dalnavert, and Kinrara. A western offshoot on Skye, known as Clan Mhic Iver, spread to Harris and Jura in the Hebrides. An eastern branch established in Deeside (Aberdeenshire) eventually grew into an independent clan – the Clan Farquharson – by the 17th century. (The Farquharsons trace their lineage to a Shaw of Rothiemurchus, illustrating how influential the Shaw bloodline became in Highland society.) Each branch held the Shaw name and loyalties, even as some evolved separate identities.
· Later Conflicts: The Shaws continued to take up arms in major Highland conflicts. James Shaw of Rothiemurchus fell fighting the Lord of the Isles at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411, one of Scotland's most prolific, if not the most prolific internal battle. Fought between the Lords of the Isles ad his force,s ad the ROyal forces, under the Stewarts. Clan Donald is suspected, according to contemporary sources to have had as much as 10,000 men. Donald, Lord of the Isles won this great victory, granting him the Earldom of Ross, as recorded; ‘he won a great victory over the Galls.’ - Non-Gaels (Gaelic Speakers).
· In the 17th century, the clan supported the royalist general James Graham, Marquis of Montrose, in his 1640s campaign during the Wars of the Three Kingdoms. By the 18th century, Clan Shaw (as part of Clan Chattan) became involved in the Jacobite risings – the attempts to restore the exiled Stuart kings. In 1715, Robert Shaw of Tordarroch and his brother Angus led the Shaw contingent at the Battle of Sheriffmuir on the Jacobite side. Renowned for their discipline and bravery, the Shaws fought valiantly, but the uprising failed. Robert died in prison, and Angus was captured and transported to the American colonies (the Carolinas) until pardoned in 1722. Thirty years later, in the Jacobite Rising of 1745, the Shaw chief (bitter from past losses) hesitated, but many Shaw clansmen nevertheless rallied to Prince Charlie’s cause under the overall leadership of Lady Anne Mackintosh. Several Shaws fought at the final defeat of Culloden in 1746. These repeated engagements – from medieval clan combats to the Jacobite rebellions – highlight Clan Shaw’s warrior tradition and its willingness to risk everything alongside larger Highland forces.
Geographical Territory and Migrations
Homelands in Scotland: The historical territory of Clan Shaw lies in the central Highlands of Scotland. Their early power center was Strathspey, around Rothiemurchus in what is now the Cairngorms region. The clan’s seat, the Doune of Rothiemurchus (a fortified mound where a castle once stood), was held by the Shaws from the late 14th century. However, the family’s hold on Rothiemurchus was contested by powerful neighbors. By 1567, the Shaws had lost these lands to the rising Clan Grant, partly due to clan feuds and a notorious incident in which Chief Alan Shaw was accused of murdering his stepfather (triggering his exile). After losing Rothiemurchus, the clan shifted its base northward. The chiefs took up residence at Tordarroch in Strathnairn (south of Inverness), where the Clan branch became the leading line of the family. Tordarroch remained the focal point of Clan Shaw from the 17th century onward. Beyond these primary areas, cadet branches settled in other Highland locales: for example, Shaws were established in the Atholl and Angus glens (Glenshee and Glenisla) by the XVII–XVIII centuries, and on Deeside under the Farquharsons. In summary, the clan’s footprint covered parts of Inverness-shire, Strathspey, Strathnairn, and even the western Isles and eastern Highlands through its septs.
Migrations and Diaspora: Like many Highland clans, the Shaws experienced significant migration, especially in the 18th and 19th centuries. The failure of the Jacobite rebellions and the ensuing collapse of the old clan system had a profound effect. After the Battle of Culloden (1746), the British government imposed harsh measures to break Gaelic clan culture – banning Highland dress and weaponry, crushing traditional rights, and enacting the infamous Highland Clearances that evicted thousands of Highlanders from their lands. Facing repression, poverty, and loss of land, many members of Clan Shaw were forced to seek new lives elsewhere. Beginning in the mid-1700s, some Shaw rebels were exiled to North America as prisoners (as happened to Angus Shaw in 1716). In the decades that followed, numerous Shaw families emigrated voluntarily to the British colonies. By the 19th century, large numbers of Shaws had resettled in Canada, the American colonies/United States, and Australia, as well as in Lowland Scotland. This diaspora spread the clan’s descendants across the globe. Today, many Americans and Canadians of Scottish heritage can trace ancestry to Highland Shaws. The widespread migrations mean that Clan Shaw’s presence is truly international, far beyond its Highland birthplace.
Role in Highland and Gaelic Scottish History
Clan Shaw’s story is interwoven with the broader history of Gaelic Scotland and the Highland clans. As a member of the Clan Chattan federation, the clan contributed to one of the most significant alliances in Highland history. The Clan Chattan confederacy (whose emblem is the wildcat) united a dozen tribes – including the Shaws, Mackintoshes, Macphersons, and others – in mutual defense and mutual feuds. Through this alliance, the Shaws played roles in regional power struggles that often had national implications, from fighting in the Wars of Independence to enduring the feuds and wars that shaped Highland history. Their willingness to support Robert the Bruce in the 14th century and the Stuart cause in the 18th century reflects the wider Gaelic loyalty to Scotland’s monarchs (and would-be monarchs) during critical eras. In these struggles, the Shaws exemplified the Highland warrior ethos, while also sharing in the collective fate of the Gaels.
Importantly, Clan Shaw illustrates the clan system’s evolution and suppression. For centuries, they lived under the traditional Gaelic social structure of hereditary chiefs (the Shaw chiefs claim an unbroken line back to the ancient Earls of Fife) and a network of chieftains and tacksmen, all bound by kinship and Celtic law. After 1746, like other Highland clans, the Shaws suffered under government policies aimed at dismantling Highland society. The wearing of tartan, speaking of Gaelic, and even the bearing of the clan name were discouraged or outlawed in the aftermath of the last Jacobite rising. The clan system “was eradicated with a finality” by the end of the 18th century, and the old way of life in Shaw territory largely disappeared as families were cleared from their ancestral glens.
Tartan, Badge, Symbols, and Motto
Figure: The Clan Shaw tartan (Modern variant). The Shaw tartan is a classic Highland tartan of greens and blues with red and white over-stripes. Like many clans, Shaw tartans come in “modern” hues (darker, using chemical dyes) and “ancient” variants (softer, subdued tones reflecting natural dyes). The pattern symbolizes clan identity and is worn in kilts, plaids, and shawls by clan members. (It is a very similar t
· Crest Badge: The clan’s crest – displayed on a badge worn by clan members – is a dexter arm holding a dagger upright. This imagery, showing a hand grasping a dagger, is a symbol of defense and readiness. It originates from the chief’s coat of arms and signifies the clan’s warrior spirit. Around the crest is a strap-and-buckle design typically inscribed with the chief’s motto. For Clan Shaw, the motto is “Fide et Fortitudine,” Latin for “By Fidelity and Fortitude”. This motto emphasizes loyalty and bravery – virtues that the Shaws have prized through centuries of adversity.
· Clan Motto and War Cry: As noted, Fide et Fortitudine is the official motto. In addition, the Shaws share in the traditional war cry of Clan Chattan, “Na Bean Ris a’ Chat”, Gaelic for “Touch not the cat”. The “cat” here refers to the wildcat emblem of Clan Chattan. This ancient warning – essentially, “don’t provoke the wildcat” – conveyed to foes that the united clan confederation was fierce and would retaliate savagely if threatened. It’s often seen in the fuller phrase “Touch not the cat but a glove,” meaning the wildcat (the clan) is safe to handle only when its claws are sheathed. Clan Shaw, as a member of Chattan, still honors this old Highland slogan as part of its heritage.
· Plant Badge: In Highland tradition, each clan is associated with a plant badge worn in bonnets or on clothing. The badge of Clan Shaw is the Red Whortleberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea, also known as the cowberry or red bilberry). This small evergreen shrub, with its red berries, is common in the Highland hills. Wearing a sprig of red whortleberry is a sign of allegiance to the Shaw clan, just as other clans wear heather, oak, pine, or other plants. The choice of whortleberry may date back to the Clan’s origins in the woods of Rothiemurchus; it also connects to the wider Clan Chattan, whose members often share the wildcat and associated symbols of the Highland forests.
· Tartan: The Clan Shaw tartan is a distinctive plaid that visually represents the clan. The most recognizable Shaw tartan sett features a predominance of dark green and navy blue, intersected by bold stripes of red and white. This pattern is often referred to as “Shaw of Tordarroch” tartan, acknowledging the line of the chiefs. Like most tartans it exists in different color palettes: the Modernversion (seen above) uses deeper hues (a result of 19th-century aniline dyes), while the Ancient version uses lighter, muted tones that reflect how the tartan might have appeared with natural plant dyes in earlier times. There are also variants such as Shaw (hunting) or Shaw (dress) tartans, and the clan is historically associated with the tartans of the Clan Chattan alliance as well. The tartan is more than just a pattern; it is a proud symbol of the Shaw identity. When Highland attire was banned after 1746, secretly keeping a piece of tartan alive was an act of resistance; today, wearing the Shaw tartan at gatherings or Highland games is a celebrated expression of clan pride.
Cultural Legacy, Traditions, and Modern-Day Presence
Despite the upheavals of history, Clan Shaw’s cultural legacy endures in Scotland and among the diaspora. The clan maintains a rich heritage of oral tradition and storytelling. In the centuries after the clan’s dispersal, family historians (seannachaidhean or bards) played a crucial role in preserving the lore of the Shaws. They kept alive tales of the clan’s origins, its genealogy, and its beloved landscapes – from Rothiemurchus to the Braes of Mar – ensuring that displaced Shaws “always knew from whence we came”. These oral histories, later supplemented by written accounts (like those by Lachlan and William Shaw), helped sustain a sense of community among far-flung descendants until such time as the clan could reconstitute itself openly.
In the modern era, the Shaws, like many Scottish clans, have experienced a revival of tradition. In 1970 the Clan’s leadership was formally restored when Major Charles John Shaw of Tordarroch was recognized by the Lord Lyon King of Arms as the 21st Chief of Clan Shaw. After a long period without an officially acknowledged chief, this marked a renaissance for the clan. The current chief, Iain Shaw of Tordarroch, 23rd of the line, remains involved in clan affairs even while residing abroad. The clan’s official seat was re-established at Newhall House on the Black Isle (in Ross-shire), and efforts were made to reconnect Shaw kinsfolk worldwide. Annual gatherings (often in conjunction with the Clan Chattan Association) and clan society events have since brought members together to celebrate their heritage.
Importantly, there is a strong diaspora presence in North America. Many American and Canadian Shaws participate in regional Highland games, Scottish festivals, and genealogical societies. A Clan Shaw Society was formed to unite those of Shaw descent in the United States and Canada, fostering connections back to Scotland. The clan also remains a constituent of the Clan Chattan Association, linking it with related clans in heritage events. Through these organizations, Scottish-Americans of Clan Shaw lineage can celebrate their roots with tartan attire, clan tents at Highland gatherings, and the sharing of family history. The chief and clan officers maintain contact with Shaw families around the world, underscoring that the “clan” today is a global family.
In terms of cultural contributions, the legacy of fidelity and fortitude continues. Clan members over generations have distinguished themselves in various fields – from military service to literature and public life – carrying forward the clan’s reputation. The clan’s name itself, Shaw (anglicized from the Gaelic Sitheach or from Toiseach, meaning “wolf” or “leader”), has become common in Scotland and in diaspora communities. it means "sprightly, proud, or spirited." Perhaps the fairies of the Highlanders, the Daoine Shiih or Shì, (men of peace/ people of the mounds) may have something to do with it.