CLAN ROSS SEPTS The Gaelic name of the Clan Ross is Siol Aindrea or Clann Aindrea, meaning the "race of Andrew."

The Ross motto is "Spem successus alit" - literaly, "Success nourishes hope", which nowadays we would call "Success breeds success". The Corbet, Dingwall, Duthie, Fair, Gillanders, Haggart, McLulich, MacTaggart, MacTear, MacTire, Taggart, Train, Vass and Wass families are all regarded as septs (sub-branches) of the powerful Clan Ross. A ros was a promontory, such as the fertile land between the Cromarty and Dornoch Firths. MicGille Andras’, ‘son of the follower of St Andrew’, derives from one of the ancient earls who was devoted to Scotland’s patron saint. Those who bore the name rose to be Earls of Ross, and it is believed that the first Earl, Malcolm, who lived in the early twelfth century, allied his family to O’Beolan of the great Irish royal house of Tara, by the marriage of his daughter. The clan was sometimes also referred to as Clan Anrias, or Gille Andras, alluding to Anrias, a distinguished O’Beolan ancestor. The "Son of Andrew" originally signified a devotee of the patron saint of Scotland, St Andrew. A family in Islay named Macillandrais took the Lowland version Anderson. A group of MacAndrews were said to have originated in Moidart and moved to Badenoch around 1400. The motto of the Clan Anderson is "Stand Sure" and the clan is a sept of clan MacIntosh.

The Genealogy of the Clan Andres.- Paul son of Tire son of Ewen son of Murdoch son of Paul son of Gilleanrias son of Martin son of Paul son of Keneth son of Crinan son of Ewen son of Keneth son of Crinan son of Gilleoin of the Aird son of Erc son of Lorn son of Ferchar son of Cormac son of Oirbertaigh son of Feradach. [Many Andersons who trace an ancestry to Islay were once Macillandrais' who anglicised their name. In its present form the name is common in Aberdeenshire where we find the Andersons of Downhill, and of Candacraig in Strathdon, whereas, in Banffshire, the Andersons of Wester Ardbreck are long established. It should also be remembered that the name is also common outwith our shores, particularly in Scandinavia, and Andersons settled furth of Scotland.]

The ancestry of this Andrew of Atholia has been the subject of much discussion. It seems clear, however, that Angus of Cowell, the son of Angus Mor was his father. The Book of Clanranald states clearly that Angus of Cowell was son of Angus Mor and ancestor of the Robertsons, and Andrew de Atholia is known also to be one of their ancestors, further his son Duncan is styled MacInnes na Coalich, and universal repute made the Robertsons, including of course Andrew de Atholia, descendants of the Macdonalds until a doubt was thrown on it by Buchanan of Auchmor (out of deference to the family) suggesting that perhaps they claimed to be an independent instead of a branch clan. It being thus established that Angus of Cowell and Andrew were both ancestors of the family, the dates show that they could only have stood towards each other in the relation of father and son.

The Genealogy of the Clan Kenneth (Canice).- Murdoch son of Keneth son of John son of Keneth son of Angus son of Christian son of Adam son of Gilleoin og son of Gilleoin of the Aird.

The Macphersons and the Mackintoshes were frequent rivals for the leadership of the Clan Chattan. Clark is regarded as a sept (sub-branch) of both Cameron and Macpherson. Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Macpherson clan include Carson, Cattanach, Clark, Clarke, Clarkson, Clerk, Cluny, Ferson, Gillespie, Gillies, Goudie, Gow, Lees, MacCunn, MacCurrach, MacFall, MacGowan, MacKeith, MacLeish, MacMurdo, MacMurdoch, Murdoch, Pearson, Smith. Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the Mackintosh clan include Ayson, Crerar, Dallas, Doles, Elder, Esson, Glennie, Hardie, Hardy, Higginson, Hossack, MacAndrew, MacCartney, MacConchy, MacGlashan, MacHardie, MacHardy, MacKeggie, Mackieson, MacKilligan, MacLerie, MacNiven, MacRitchie, Niven, Noble, Paul, Ritchie, Smith, Thain, Tosh. Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the MacNab clan include Abbot, Abbotson and Gilfillan. The progenitor of the clan is traditionally the abbot of Glendochart and Strathearn who was a younger son of Kenneth Macalpin.

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