Morehead

Morrison

Clan Morrison of Habost, Isle of Lewis, Scotland, descended from O’Muirgheasain of County Donegal, Ireland, who were bards and keepers of the relics of St. Columcille at Clonmany. A branch of this family settled at Habost on the island of Lewis. Another story relates that Ghille Mhurire, or servant of the Virgin Mary, was, according to tradition, washed ashore, having survived a shipwreck by clinging to a piece of driftwood. This is commemorated in the clan’s plant badge. The Macaulays of Urg killed Donald Ban at Habost, brother of Clan Chief John Morrison the Brehon. The Morrisons retaliated by raiding Urg, but the Macaulays joined with the Macleods and defeated the Morrisons, capturing the Chief. He later escaped but was declared an outlaw by the crown, Morrison kidnapped a Macleod heiress and exchanged her for a royal pardon. The feud continued with the next chief, Uisdean, or Hucheon, who invaded north Harris. A fter a battle at Clachan with the Macleods, the Morrisons were virtually wiped out, the chief escaping by swimming two miles to the mainland with severe wounds. On his deathbed in 1566, Hucheon confessed to fathering Torquil by Janet Mackenzie, wife of Roderick Macleod. The feud continued and the next chief, Iain Dubh, and his son, Malcolm Mor, were killed by the Macleods who claimed Lewis. On 14th February 1577, the royal court recognised Torquil of the Mackenzie Clan as rightful heir to the lands at Lewis, and the Macleods were forced to relinquish, while meanwhile Torquil drove out the Morrisons, bringing Lewis under the Mackenzies. They later returned to settle in Ness but had no power. The Morrisons of Aberdeenshire, were not related to those of the Hebrides, and descended from an Anglo-Norman family.

Arms: Per bend sinister gules and argent, a demi-lion rampant issuant or, armed and langued azure, holding in his paws a battleaxe, the shaft curved, of the third, axehead of the fourth in chief, in base, issuing from the sea undy vert and or, a tower sable, windows and port or, over all a bend sinister embattled azure, charged with an open crown or, jewelled gules, between two fleur-de-lis argent.

Crest: Issuant from waves of the sea azure, crested argent, a mount vert, thereon an embattled wall azure, masoned argent, and issuing therefrom a cubit arm naked proper, the hand grasping a dagger hilted or.

Motto: Teaghlack Phabbay (Pabbay family)

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