Clan Mackenzie

Clan Mackenzie
Clann Choinnich
Crest: A mount in flames Proper
Motto	Luceo non uro (I shine not burn)
Slogan	Tulach Àrd (The high hill or The high knoll or "The high hillock)
Profile
Region	Highland
District	Ross-shire
Plant badge	variegated holly or deer's grass
Chief
John Ruaridh Grant Mackenzie
5th Earl of Cromartie (Caber Feidh)
Seat	Castle Leod
Historic seat	Eilean Donan Castle Redcastle
Septs of Clan Mackenzie Charles, Charleson, Clunes, Clunies, Cross, Iverach, Iverson, Ivory, Kenneth, Kennethson, Kenney, Kenny, Kinnach, Kinne, Kinney, Kynoch, MacAulay, Macaweeney, MacBeolain, MacBeath, MacBeth, MacConnach, MacCure, Maceur, MacIver, MacIvor, MacKenna, MacKinzie, McKinzie, McKenzie, MacKenney, MacKerlich, MacKinna, MacKinney, MacKinnie, MacLeay, MacMurchie, MacMurchy, MacQueenie, MacThearliach, MacVanish, MacVennie, MacVinish, MacVinnie, MacWeeny, MacWhinnie, Makiver, Murchie, Murchison, Smart, Stephan, Tuach, Young
Clan branches Mackenzie of Kintail (historic chiefs) Mackenzie of Seaforth (historic chiefs) Mackenzie of Cromarty (current chiefs) Mackenzie of Achilty Mackenzie of Allangrange Mackenzie of Applecross Mackenzie of Ardloch Mackenzie of Ardross and Dundonnel Mackenzie of Ballone Mackenzie of Belmaduthy Mackenzie of Berkely Square Mackenzie of Brea Mackenzie of Cleanwaters Mackenzie of Coul Mackenzie of Dailuaine Mackenzie of Darien Mackenzie of Davochmaluag Mackenzie of Delvine Mackenzie of Dolphinton Mackenzie of Dundonnel (Old) Mackenzie of Fairburn Mackenzie of Fawley Court and Farr Mackenzie of Findon and Mountgerald Mackenzie of Flowerburn Mackenzie of Gairloch Mackenzie of Glack Mackenzie of Glenbervie Mackenzie of Glen Muick Mackenzie of Groundwater Mackenzie of Gruinard Mackenzie of Highfield Mackenzie of Hilton Mackenzie of Brae Mackenzie of Kernsary Mackenzie of Kilcoy Mackenzie of Killichrist Mackenzie of Kincraig Mackenzie of Letterewe Mackenzie of Lochend Mackenzie of Loggie Mackenzie of Mornish Mackenzie of Mountgerald Mackenzie of Muirton and Meikle Scatwell Mackenzie of Ord Mackenzie of Pitlundie and Culbo Mackenzie of Portmore Mackenzie of Redcastle Mackenzie of Royston Mackenzie of Scatwell Sliochd Alastair Chaim Mackenzie of Suddie Mackenzie of Tarbat Mackenzie of Torridon Mackenzie of Wedellsborg
Allied clans Clan MacRae Clan MacLennan Clan Matheson Clan Mackintosh
Rival clans Clan Munro Clan Ross Clan MacDonell of Glengarry Clan MacDonald of Lochalsh Clan MacDonald of Keppoch Bains of Tulloch

Clan Mackenzie (Scottish Gaelic: Clann Choinnich [ˈkʰl̪ˠãũn̪ˠ ˈxɤɲɪç]) is a Scottish clan, traditionally associated with Kintail and lands in Ross-shire in the Scottish Highlands. Traditional genealogies trace the ancestors of the Mackenzie chiefs to the 12th-century. However, the earliest Mackenzie chief recorded by contemporary evidence is Alexander Mackenzie of Kintail who died some time after 1471. Traditionally, during the Wars of Scottish Independence, the Mackenzies supported Robert the Bruce, but feuded with the Earls of Ross in the latter part of the 14th-century. During the 15th and 16th-centuries the Mackenzies feuded with the neighboring clans of Munro and MacDonald. In the 17th-century the Mackenzie chief was made Earl of Seaforth in the peerage of Scotland. During the Scottish Civil War of the 17th-century the Mackenzies largely supported the Royalists. During the Jacobite rising of 1715 the chief and clan of Mackenzie supported the Jacobite cause. However, during the Jacobite rising of 1745 the clan was divided with the chief, Kenneth Mackenzie, Lord Fortrose, supporting the British-Hanoverian Government and his relative, George Mackenzie, 3rd Earl of Cromartie, supporting the Jacobites.

The surname Mackenzie in Scottish Gaelic is MacCoinneach which means son of the fair bright one. The Mackenzies are believed to have the same ancestry as the Clan Matheson and Clan Anrias. All three are said to be descended from Gilleoin of the Aird, a Gaelic dynast who lived in the early 12th century. Another theory is that all three are descended from the thirteenth century Kermac Macmaghan. The chiefs of the Clan Mackenzie are said to have been settled at their great stronghold on Eilean Donan by 1297.