History of the Clan MacLean from its first settlement at Duard Castle, in the Isle of Mull, to the present period

82 History of the Clan MacLban.
from the turbulent times which wrought disaster every-where, have left but
little information concerning the ancestry prior to the beginning of the four-
teenth century. However, information is gained here and there which affords
some assistance in unraveling the history.
It has been claimed that the MacLeans and MacKenzies are descended
from a common ancestor. This is based on the following grounds : 1. The
tradition in the families is to that effect. 2. Comneach, the founder of the
clan MacKenzie, was a descendant of Gilleain. 3. There was a close friend-
ship which always existed between the two clans, which was particularly ex-
emplified by Sir Lachlan Mor MacLean sending his son, Hector, to be edu-
cated in the house of Cailean Can, and in Sir John ilacLean, when a child,
being sent for protection from the Campbells to the Earl of Seaforth, with
whom he lived several years. It does not follow that all Gilleains were the
same. The Gilleain of the MacKenzies was known as Gilleain na h'Airde,
proving that he lived either in Aird Mhic Shinii in Inverness-shire, or else in
Aird Rois, the name by which the mountainous region in the center of Ross-
shire was designated in early times. The founder of the Clan MacLean was
Gilleain na Tuaighe, or Gilleain of the Battle-ax, who lived in Argyleshire.
The MacLeans can trace their origin with precision to Old Dougall of
Scone, who must have flourished about the year 1100, and has been described
as an influential, just, and venerable man.* In some genealogies he is made
the son of Mocche, and again the son of Fearchar Abraruadh, who must be
placed four centuries earlier. Raingce, son of Old Dougall, had three sons,
Cucatha, Cusidhe, and Cuduilig. Cucatha, or Dog of Battle, was the pro-
genitor of the Clan Conchatha, in the district of Lennox, by whom it is pos-
sible the Clan Colquhoun is meant. Cusidhe, or Dog of Peace, was the pro-
genitor of the Clan Consithe, in Fife. What clan is here referred to is not
known. Cuduiligh, from whom the Clan Conduilig, that is, the Clan Mac-
Lean, in the island of Mull, became lay-abbot of the Monastery of Lismore,
in Argylshire. His son was called Niall, and Niall's son was named Rath, or
MacRath. Rath is said to have married a sister of Somerled, Sombairle Mor
MacGillebride, who was slain at Renfrew in 1104. He had a son named Gil-
leain, or Gille-Eoin, the founder of the Clan MacLean, or more truly Mac-
Ghilleain.
■"Skene's Celiic Scoiland, Vol. III., p. 343.