!SOURCE: Rev. Dr. Donald MacKinnon and Alick Morrison, THE MACLEODS --
THE GENEALOGY OF A CLAN, Section III, "MacLeod Cadet Families",
Edinburgh, The Clan MacLeod Society, 1979, pp. 187-190, 200.
William, the son of Norman son of William Cleireach, the 5th Chief, is
probably the progenitor of this ''ancient'' family. Nothing is known about
him beyond the fact that his name appears in the family patronymic of
the race -- the ''clan mac mhic Uileim or simply -- clan Uileim (1790).
Some may object that the name ''William'' in the family patronymic really
refers to William Cleireach, the Chief of the Clan. Were that the case, it
would be extraordinary that William''s younger brother, Alasdair Ruadh''s
family are not called after the same chief. The MacLeods of Gesto are
descended from Malcolm, the 3rd Chief, and their family patronymic was
''clan mac mhic Tharmaid'' or simply ''clan Tharmaid'' (1616, 1790). In only
one instance, does a family use the chief''s name in their patronymic.
This was done by members of the Old MacLeods of Berneray in the island
of Pabbay. They called themselves ''Clan Gillichaluim Cas reamhar mhic
Leoid''. In Berneray itself, this family appeared to use their Gaelic
genealogical names as is the custom in the Hebrides to this day. In 1616
and again in 1765-6 they were styled ''Clan Rorye vc Connell mc Eane''
(i.e. the family of Roderick son of Donald son of Iain). It was also
common practice in Gaelic Scotland to call the eldest grandson after his
grandfather. It is therefore probable that the oldest son of Norman son
of William Cleireach, 5th Chief, was called William. These
considerations favour the conclusion that William son of Norman son of
William, the 5th Chief of the Clan, was the progenitor of the ''clan mac
vic Uilleim'', from whom the MacLeods of Borline etc. are sprung.
Although this family were well known for centuries, it is perplexing to
discover that we know so little of their history. About 1790, a certain
Donald MacLeod, who must have been regarded as a genealogical expert at
the time, wrote to his Chief, that his memory could go back ''with
certainty'' to the time of Alasdair Crotach. The following statement
appears in his letter, "The more ancient branches of the House (sic) of
MacLeod are the clan Uileam, who were the possessors of Minginish
before Rory More''s time: the clan vic Hormoid, proprietors of part of
Bracadale and Glenelg until a late period: the clan Ean vic Leoid, the
Balmeanoch, Drynoch, Arnisdale and Feorlig people; the clan Alister Roy,
Old Bay''s family, Alexander MacLeod, sometime tacksman of St. Kilda,
emigrated to America." The old genealogist could also have included one
other family, i.e., the Old MacLeods of Berneray in Harris. It is clear that
about the end of the 16th century, the number of ancient families in the
clan were not very considerable. This is borne out in 1616. In that year,
Sir Ruaridh Mor 16th Chief of the Clan was required to exhibit eight of
the leading men of his clan before the Scottish Privy Council in
Edinburgh as a guarantee that he and his clan were prepared to be
obedient to the laws of the country. Of these eight, seven can be
identified with certainty. They include ''Allaster McCleud'', the Chief''s
brother, from whom descend the ''MacLeods of Ferinlea and Heall'':
Williame mc William vic Cleude, of Meidle, who represented the ''Clan Ean
vic Leoid'' of Waternish: Allaster Avenaugh, the illegitimate son of
William 13th Chief, and hence a nephew of Sir Ruairidh Mor, and who
became the progenitor of the MacLeods of Crackinish and several
families in Shellibost, Meavag, Scadaby and Scarp in Harris: Neill mc
Tormont and his son Murdo vic Tormont (sic), members of the Gesto
family: ''Allaster Bayne mc Allaster Roy'', represented the ''Clan mac mhic
Alasdair Ruaidh'' or simply ''Clan Alasdair Ruaidh'', from whom descended
the MacLeods of Pabbay, St. Kilda, Bay, Balmore & Gillen: ''Eane mc Rorye
vc Connell mc Eane'', a member of the Old MacLeods of Berneray, an
ancient family of importance in Harris. It is noticeable that one ancient
family, the ''Clan Uilleam'' from whom the Borline family is descended,
appears to have been omitted in this list. This could hardly have
happened and it certainly seems that ''Neil mc Eane vic Allaster'', who
appears on the list of 1616, but whose identity cannot be traced with
absolute certainty, must have been the leading man of this race. If this
evidence is acceptable, it would seem that Alexander, the grandfather of
''Neill'', was the great grandson of William, the progenitor of the ''Clan
Uilleim''. Old documents in Dunvegan Castle seem to confirm this.
Lachlan MacDonald of Skeabost, writing last century, claimed that there
was a list of tenants on the MacLeod Estates in 1664. The original was
supposed to have been lost, but a copy of the document was preserved in
the Muniment Room. The Document, however, whose original is still
preserved, clearly refers to tenants who were alive in 1724 rather than
in 1664. In 1724 Norman MacLeod, the Red Man, ordered a Judicial
Enquiry into the rents paid on the various tacks of his Estate as far back
as the time of the Chief, Iain Breac (1664-1693). Very few of the
tenants were born in 1664. For example, William MacLeod of Berneray
(later Luskintyre) was born in 1661, but his son, Roderick of Northton,
Duart, etc., was not born until 1688. Clearly then, we have no list of
tenants on the Dunvegan Estates as early as 1664. We are fortunate
however, to possess the Rentals of Harris from 1679 to 1698 and those
of Skye from 1683 to 1686. In these valuable documents, the tenants
normally give their genealogy as far out as their grandfather and in some
cases their great-grandfather, following the old Gaelic practice still in
operation in the Hebrides, where Gaelic is still spoken. A few of the
more considerable tenants, however, adopt a new style and use ''MacLeod''
as their surname. We are therefore reaching the period when Gaelic
habits are beginning to yield to Lowland practice. This is also the period
when the written lease is beginning to operate as a guarantee of
security for the occupation of the land. The old ''duthchas'' tenure is
disappearing, as well as the preservation of genealogy, which was the
gaelic title deed for landholding. The Highland genealogist would in the
future be subordinate to the notary or feudal lawyer. Amongs those who
use the surname ''McLeod'' is the tenant of Borline from 1683 to 1686.
His name is given as ''rorie McLeod'' but in one of the documents, his
Gaelic genealogy is also given. He is described as ''Rorie mc gillichalum
vc Williame'', thus the first tenant of Borline who possessed his tack by
written lease was Roderick son of Malcolm son of William. His brother,
styled ''Donald mc gillichalum vic Williame'', held the tack of Brainortt in
the vicinity. There is a ''Neill mc gillichalum'' in Grule, and it is stated
that he is a brother of Donald of Brainortt. At the same time, another
tenant in Grule is called ''gillichalum mc Williame''. This is obviously,
the father of Neil, Donald of Brainortt and Roderick MacLeod 1st of
Borline. In 1683, ''gillichalum mc Williame'' occupies the tak of Brunoll
with another person, ''Williame mc Ean, vc Allaster''. It is highly probable
that this tenant was the father of Malcolm or ''gillichalum'', a man far
advanced in years, for the MacLeods of Borline and St. Kilda were
generally regareded as a long living race. It is interesting now to recall
''Neill mc Eane vic Allaster'' who appeared on Sir Rory Mor''s list in 1616
and for whom a strong case can be made that he was the leading member
of the ''clan mac mhic Uillem'' at that time. It looks as if ''Williame mc
Ean vic Allaster'' was a younger brother of Neil mc Eane vic Allaster.
These observations justify us in the belief that a satisfactory genealogy
of the ''Clan William'' has been discovered from the evidence of old
historic documents.
William 1st of the Clann mac mhi Uilleim was no doubt a leading
warrior like his father and grandfather. He left descendants but no
particulars of his sons or grandsons have been preserved.
His great-grandson Alexander was married with issue, John. John was
married and had issue, at least two sons. 1 Neil, who was due to be
exhibited before the Scottish Privy Council. Beyond that nothing is
known about him. 2 William, who became the tacksman of Brunoll in
Minginish, Skye. He was married, with issue.
William, from whom descend the Clann mac mhic Uilleim or the
MacLeods of Brunoll, Grule, Borline and Brainortt in Minginish, of whom
previously.