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ORIGIN OF NAME
Here is an excerpt from a book on the subject scottish families...
"This branch [MacAlister] of the clan Donald traces its history back to the
13th century, and its origin back to Alexander, or Alasdair, son
of Donald of Isla and great-grandson of the famous Somerled. The
clan territory was principally in Kintyre, and in 1481 Charles
MacAllestar is designated steward of Kintyre. Later the clan was
numerically strong in Bute and Arran. The principal family was
the MacAlisters of Loup whose chieftan in 1493 was Ian Dubh.
This family continued to figure prominently in the history of
Kintyre, and their name appears in the General Band of King James
VII and fought under Viscount Dundee at Killiecrankie, and in the
following year he was present at the Battle of the Boyne.
His son Hector died without issue
and was succeeded by his brother Charles, who married Janet
Somervill, heiress of Kennox, and assumed the name and arms
of Somervill in addition to his own. An important branch of
the clan was the MacAlesters of Tarbert who were constables of
Tarbert Castle, a strong-hold on Loch Fyne built by King Robert
the Bruce."
-Bain, Robert. The Clans and Tartans of Scotland.
Harper Collins Publishers 1968, 1976. 929.209411 B162 cl
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