The Clan MacDonell, also spelled Clan MacDonald, is a Scottish clan with roots in the ancient Kingdom of Dalriada. The clan traces its lineage back to Somerled, the 12th-century Lord of the Isles. The MacDonells played significant roles in Scottish history, particularly in the Western Highlands and Isles. A notable figure of the clan is Alexander Ranaldson MacDonell of Glengarry, who was a Jacobite and Catholic bishop. He actively supported the Jacobite cause and participated in the Jacobite uprisings of the 18th century. Bishop MacDonell’s unwavering loyalty to the Stuart cause and his efforts to preserve Gaelic culture and Catholicism earned him recognition as a notable figure in Clan MacDonell’s history.
