Clan Davidson is a Highland

Scottish clan A Scottish clan (from Goidelic languages, Gaelic , literally 'children', more broadly 'kindred') is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared identity and descent to members, and in modern times have an official ...

and a member of the

Chattan Confederation Clan Chattan ( gd, Na Catanaich or gd, Clann Chatain) is a unique confederation of Highland clans. The clan is distinctive in highland clan history in that it was acknowledged to be a community or confederation, of twelve separate Scottish cla ...

.Way, George and Squire, Romily. ''Collins Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia''. (Foreword by The Rt Hon. The Earl of Elgin KT, Convenor, The

Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs The Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs (SCSC) is the organisation that represents the Chiefs of many prominent Scottish Clans and Families. It describes itself as "the definitive and authoritative body for information on the Scottish Clan System ...

). Published in 1994. Pages 381 - 382.

History

Origins

There are several versions of Clan Davidson's origins. *According to William Skene, in his Celtic Scotland, Clan Davidson co-founded the

with

Clan MacPherson Clan Macpherson (, ) is a Highland Scottish clan and a member of the Chattan Confederation. History Origins The Scottish Gaelic surname for Macpherson is ''Mac a' Phearsain'' which means ''son of the parson''. The Celtic church allowed pries ...

and are together referred to as ''Old Clan Chattan.'' Skene used sources that show the Davidsons to be descended from one of the sons of Gilliecattan Mhor, chief of

Clan Chattan Clan Chattan ( gd, Na Catanaich or gd, Clann Chatain) is a unique confederation of Highland clans. The clan is distinctive in highland clan history in that it was acknowledged to be a community or confederation, of twelve separate Scottish cla ...

in the 11th to 12th century. *According to Sir Aeneas Macpherson,

John Burk John Burk (born January 6, 1962) is a record producer and co-founder of the American record label Concord Records. John Burk was born in Oakland, CA and attended high school at De La Salle. In 1995 Glen Barros and John Burk co-founded Concord R ...

, and

William Anderson William Anderson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * William Anderson (artist) (1757–1837), painter of marine and historical paintings * William Anderson (theatre) (1868–1940), Australian stage entrepreneur * William Anderson (1911–1986), ...

, the Davidsons are descended from the younger son of Muriach. Muriach (or Murdoch) was parson of

Kingussie Kingussie ( ; gd, Ceann a' Ghiùthsaich ) is a small town in the Badenoch and Strathspey ward of the Highland council area of Scotland. Historically in Inverness-shire, it lies beside the A9 road, although the old route of the A9 serves as the ...

and became Captain of Clan Chatten on his brother's death. He obtained a dispensation from the

Pope The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...

in 1173 and married a daughter of the

Thane of Cawdor Thane of Cawdor is a title in the Peerage of Scotland. The current 7th Earl of Cawdor, of Clan Campbell of Cawdor, is the 26th Thane of Cawdor. In William Shakespeare's play '' Macbeth'', this title was given to Macbeth after the previous Tha ...

. From this union five sons were born, one of the youngest being David Dow (the black). Burk says he was the 5th son, Anderson the 4th. From here the Davidsons of Invernahavon are said to be descended. Clan Chattan Tree (corrected)

*According to the Kinrara manuscript the Davidsons are descended from David Dubh of

Clan Cumming Clan Cumming ( gd, Na Cuimeinich ), also known as Clan Comyn, is a Scottish clan from the central Highlands that played a major role in the history of 13th-century Scotland and in the Wars of Scottish Independence. The Clan Comyn was once the mo ...

. The first chief of Clan Davidson was David, son in law of Slane Mackintosh who was wed to a daughter of the sixth chief of

Clan Mackintosh Clan Mackintosh (''Clann Mhic an Tòisich'') is a Scottish clan from Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. The chiefs of the clan are the Mackintoshes of Mackintosh. Another branch of the clan, the Mackintoshes of Torcastle, are the chiefs of Cl ...

, who was also chief of the

. David's father was Donald, the third son of Robert Comyn who in turn was a grandson of

John III Comyn, Lord of Badenoch John Comyn III of Badenoch, nicknamed the Red (c. 1274 – 10 February 1306), was a leading Scottish baron and magnate who played an important role in the First War of Scottish Independence. He served as Guardian of Scotland after the forced ab ...

, chief of the

Clan Comyn Clan Cumming ( gd, Na Cuimeinich ), also known as Clan Comyn, is a Scottish clan from the central Highlands that played a major role in the history of 13th-century Scotland and in the Wars of Scottish Independence. The Clan Comyn was once the mo ...

. David and his followers became known as the ''Clan Dhai'' because the Comyn name had been proscribed in 1320, although Thomas Comyn or Cumming, son of Donald's elder brother was exempted from the prescription and gave rise to the Cummings of Altyre.

14th to 15th centuries

The Clan Davidson or ''Clan Dhai'' are recorded as being wiped out as a fighting force in 1370 at the

Battle of Invernahavon The Battle of Invernahavon was a Scottish clan battle between the Clan Cameron and the confederation of Clan Chattan that consisted of the Clan Mackintosh, Clan Macpherson, and Clan Davidson. Some sources give the date as 1386, others as 1370. ...

, which was fought between the Chattan Confederation and the

Clan Cameron Clan Cameron is a West Highland Scottish clan, with one main branch Lochiel, and numerous cadet branches. The Clan Cameron lands are in Lochaber and within their lands lies Ben Nevis which is the highest mountain in the British Isles. The Chief ...

. There was a dispute between the Davidsons and another clan of the Chattan Confederation, the

Clan Macpherson Clan Macpherson (, ) is a Highland Scottish clan and a member of the Chattan Confederation. History Origins The Scottish Gaelic surname for Macpherson is ''Mac a' Phearsain'' which means ''son of the parson''. The Celtic church allowed pries ...

, over who would command the right wing in the battle. The Mackintoshes, chiefs of the confederation supported the Davidsons and as a result the Macphersons left the field. The Clan Cameron took advantage of this situation and the Davidsons were virtually destroyed. However the Macphersons did eventually join the battle and the Camerons were defeated. In 1396 the

Battle of the North Inch The Battle of the North Inch (also known as the Battle of the Clans) was a staged battle between the Clan Chattan and the "Clan Quhele" in September 1396. Thirty men were selected to represent each side in front of spectators, including King Ro ...

took place, in which most evidence suggests was fought between the Clan Cameron and Clan Chattan, the latter whose forces included both the Davidsons and Macphersons. Although

Lowland Upland and lowland are conditional descriptions of a plain based on elevation above sea level. In studies of the ecology of freshwater rivers, habitats are classified as upland or lowland. Definitions Upland and lowland are portions of ...

accounts suggest that it was fought between the rival Davidson and Macpherson clans. After the battle of the North Inch the chief of Clan Davidson is said to have moved north from where the Davidson of Cantray and Tulloch families appeared.

16th, 17th and 18th centuries

By the 16th century the name Davidson could be found from

Ayr Ayr (; sco, Ayr; gd, Inbhir Àir, "Mouth of the River Ayr") is a town situated on the southwest coast of Scotland. It is the administrative centre of the South Ayrshire council area and the historic county town of Ayrshire. With a population ...

in the south to

Aberdeen Aberdeen (; sco, Aiberdeen ; gd, Obar Dheathain ; la, Aberdonia) is a city in North East Scotland, and is the third most populous city in the country. Aberdeen is one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas (as Aberdeen City), and ...

in the north. The first Davidsons recorded in

Cromarty Cromarty (; gd, Cromba, ) is a town, civil parish and former royal burgh in Ross and Cromarty, in the Highland area of Scotland. Situated at the tip of the Black Isle on the southern shore of the mouth of Cromarty Firth, it is seaward from In ...

were Donald Davidson and Alexander Davidson who were living in the new town of Cromarty and who are listed as "in the council" in July 1670. Another Alexander Davidson who was known as Clerk Davidson was the town clerk of

Fortrose Fortrose (; gd, A' Chananaich, sco, Chainry) is a town and former royal burgh in Highland, Scotland, United Kingdom. It is on the Moray Firth, about north-east of Inverness. The burgh is a popular location for trying to spot bottlenose dolp ...

. He married Elizabeth Bremmer, second daughter of a

burgess __NOTOC__ Burgess may refer to: People and fictional characters * Burgess (surname), a list of people and fictional characters * Burgess (given name), a list of people Places * Burgess, Michigan, an unincorporated community * Burgess, Missouri, U ...

of Fortrose in November 1689. From Alexander descended the Davidson Lairds of

Tulloch Castle Tulloch Castle is located in the town of Dingwall in the Highlands of Scotland. It dates at least to the late 14th century as the birthplace of Mariota Leslie, daughter of Euphemia I, countess of Ross. Mariota was the wife of Donald Macdonald, Lo ...

who became chiefs of the clan. In the 18th century members of the Clan Chattan Confederation, including many Davidsons, were convicted of

Jacobitism Jacobitism (; gd, Seumasachas, ; ga, Seacaibíteachas, ) was a political movement that supported the restoration of the senior line of the House of Stuart to the Monarchy of the United Kingdom, British throne. The name derives from the first name ...

and transported to the North American colonies.

American Revolutionary War

Many of these Jacobite convicts upon gaining their freedom settled in the Piedmont Mountains of

North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...

and raised families, leading the British by the time of the American Revolution to declare the area a ''Hornet's Nest'' of rebels. Notable amongst the many Davidsons fighting the

American Revolutionary War The American Revolutionary War (April 19, 1775 – September 3, 1783), also known as the Revolutionary War or American War of Independence, was a major war of the American Revolution. Widely considered as the war that secured the independence of t ...

was Brigadier General

William Lee Davidson William Lee Davidson (1746–1781) was an officer in the North Carolina militia and Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was born in Pennsylvania and moved with his family to Rowan County, North Carolina in 1750. He was kil ...

(1746–1781), a

militia general during the

who was killed in action at the

battle of Cowan's Ford The Battle of Cowan's Ford was a battle in the Southern Theater of Cornwallis's 1780–1782 Campaign that eventually led to the British Army's surrender at Yorktown during the American Revolutionary War. It was fought on February 1, 1781, at ...

. Muster Roll of 5th NC Division at Valley Forge
Vaccinium vitis-idaea 20060824 003

Clan Seat and relics

became the seat of the chiefs of Clan Davidson in the 18th century and it was extensively restored by

Robert Lorimer Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer, KBE (4 November 1864 – 13 September 1929) was a prolific Scottish architect and furniture designer noted for his sensitive restorations of historic houses and castles, for new work in Scots Baronial and Gothi ...

in 1922. The castle was later sold by the Davidsons but remains a focal point for Davidson traditions. A Davidson clan relic preserved by the local City Council is a suit of

armour Armour (British English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or fr ...

that is said to have been worn by the Davidson Provost of Aberdeen who was killed at the Battle of Harlaw in 1411. The Clan Davidson Association was formed (as the Clan Dhai Association) in 1909 and is still very active.

Clan Chiefs

*Grant Guthrie Davidson 3rd of Davidston, New Zealand, 2015- * Alister Davidson of Davidston, New Zealand, 1998-2014 * Duncan Davidson of Davidston, New Zealand, 1997-1997 * 1917-1997 Vacant and disputed. * Duncan VI of Tulloch, Deceased 1917.

References

External links

Clan Davidson Association

Clan Davidson Society in Australia, Inc.

Clan Davidson Society North America

Davidson family in France

Clan Piper
{{Scottish clans

Davidson Davidson may refer to: * Davidson (name) * Clan Davidson, a Highland Scottish clan * Davidson Media Group * Davidson Seamount, undersea mountain southwest of Monterey, California, USA * Tyler Davidson Fountain, monument in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA * ...