Tormod MacLeod, sometimes referred to as Norman MacLeod, (

Scottish Gaelic Scottish Gaelic ( gd, Gàidhlig ), also known as Scots Gaelic and Gaelic, is a Goidelic language (in the Celtic branch of the Indo-European language family) native to the Gaels of Scotland. As a Goidelic language, Scottish Gaelic, as well as ...

: Tormod MacLeòid, and Tormod mac Leòd) ('' fl.'' late 13th century) was a west Highland lord, and son of

Leod Leod (Scottish Gaelic: Leòd; Old Norse: Ljótr) ( 1200 – 1280) was the eponymous ancestor and founder of Clan MacLeod and Clan MacLeod of Lewis. Almost nothing is known about him and he does not appear in any contemporary records. Tradition ...

, the traditional founder and

eponymous An eponym is a person, a place, or a thing after whom or which someone or something is, or is believed to be, named. The adjectives which are derived from the word eponym include ''eponymous'' and ''eponymic''. Usage of the word The term ''epon ...

ancestor of

Clan MacLeod Clan MacLeod (; gd, Clann Mac Leòid ) is a Highland Scottish clan associated with the Isle of Skye. There are two main branches of the clan: the MacLeods of Harris and Dunvegan, whose chief is MacLeod of MacLeod, are known in Gaelic as ' ("see ...

. Little is known about Tormod; like his father Leod, he does not appear in any

contemporary records Contemporary Records was a jazz record company and label founded by Lester Koenig in Los Angeles in 1951. Contemporary produced music from a variety of jazz styles and players. West Coast players Contemporary became identified with a style of ja ...

. His name is remembered today in the

name ''Sìol Thormoid'' ("seed of Tormod"), used by a branch of his descendants, the MacLeods of

Dunvegan Dunvegan ( gd, Dùn Bheagain) is a village on the Isle of Skye in Scotland. It is famous for Dunvegan Castle, seat of the chief of Clan MacLeod. Dunvegan is within the parish of Duirinish, and Duirinish Parish Church is at Dunvegan. In 2011 it ...

, who are chiefs of Clan MacLeod.

Biography

Tormod was a son of

, the traditional founder and

ancestor of

. Tormod, just Like his father, does not appear in any

. The earliest contemporary record to a MacLeod chief dates to the generation after Tormod, during the reign of David II (r. 1329–1371). The ''

Bannatyne manuscript The Bannatyne Manuscript is an anthology of literature compiled in Scotland in the sixteenth century. It is an important source for the Scots poetry of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The manuscript contains texts of the poems of the gr ...

'' is a traditional history of Clan MacLeod, dating from the early 19th century. It is the main authority for the information on the early chiefs of Clan MacLeod. It makes several references to Tormod and makes him a grandson of

. The early 20th-century historian R.C. MacLeod thought it possible that Tormod had a father also named ''Tormod'', who died before Leod. MacLeod stated that this father married the daughter of an Irish chieftain named ''M'Crotan''. The current view by modern historians is that Tormod was, however, not a grandson, but the son of Leod. The ''

'' states that Tormod was considered to be one of the greatest soldiers of his era; that it was said he fought at the

Battle of Bannockburn The Battle of Bannockburn ( gd, Blàr Allt nam Bànag or ) fought on June 23–24, 1314, was a victory of the army of King of Scots Robert the Bruce over the army of King Edward II of England in the First War of Scottish Independence. It was ...

. It relates that Tormod held the office of

sheriff A sheriff is a government official, with varying duties, existing in some countries with historical ties to England where the office originated. There is an analogous, although independently developed, office in Iceland that is commonly transla ...

Skye The Isle of Skye, or simply Skye (; gd, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach or ; sco, Isle o Skye), is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated b ...

, and of " the Long Island". It describes how Tormod lived to a great age and was traditionally said to have had a white beard, which was so long that he had to tuck it into his

girdle A belt, especially if a cord or rope, is called a girdle if it is worn as part of Christian liturgical vestments, or in certain historical, literary or sports contexts. Girdles are used to close a cassock in Christian denominations, including th ...

. The manuscript rounds out Tormod's life by stating that he died at his castle on Pabbay and was buried alongside his grandfather at

Iona Iona (; gd, Ì Chaluim Chille (IPA: �iːˈxaɫ̪ɯimˈçiʎə, sometimes simply ''Ì''; sco, Iona) is a small island in the Inner Hebrides, off the Ross of Mull on the western coast of Scotland. It is mainly known for Iona Abbey, though there ...

. The manuscript states that Tormod had three sons by his wife—Malcolm, Leod, and Godfrey. The manuscript relates that Leod was said to have followed

Bruce The English language name Bruce arrived in Scotland with the Normans, from the place name Brix, Manche in Normandy, France, meaning "the willowlands". Initially promulgated via the descendants of king Robert the Bruce (1274−1329), it has been a ...

to Ireland, where Leod was killed without an

heir Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Officiall ...

; and that Godfrey was a

monk A monk (, from el, μοναχός, ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a person who practices religious asceticism by monastic living, either alone or with any number of other monks. A monk may be a person who decides to dedica ...

and died abroad. Tormod was succeeded by his eldest son,

Malcolm Malcolm, Malcom, Máel Coluim, or Maol Choluim may refer to: People * Malcolm (given name), includes a list of people and fictional characters * Clan Malcolm * Maol Choluim de Innerpeffray, 14th-century bishop-elect of Dunkeld Nobility * Máe ...

. The late 20th-century historian William Matheson considered the ''Bannatyne manuscript'' to be of dubious authority, as it is the only source for the sons ''Leod'' and ''Godrey'' and it made no mention of the son ''Murdoch''. This Murdoch was an important son and a glaring omission since he is considered to have been the father of

Torquil Torquil is an Anglicised form of the Norwegian and Swedish masculine name ''Torkel'', and the Scottish Gaelic name ''Torcall''. The Scottish Gaelic name ''Torcall'' is a Gaelicised form of the Old Norse name ''Þorkell''. The Scandinavian '' Tork ...

, founder of the MacLeods of Lewis who are known in Scottish Gaelic as ''Sìol Torcaill'' ("seed of Torcall").

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Macleod, Tormod 13th-century Scottish people Tormod Burials in Iona

Biography

See also

References