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In modern Gaelic, the name MacFie is usually
written as “maca’phi”. The name appears to be derived from “McDuhuibbshith”;
which means “son of the dark fairy”. In many countries the remnants of the
original bearers of the name are believed to have mystic powers. In 1164
Duibhshith (the leader of the MacFie clan) was known to have been a
“ferleighinn” or mystic at Iona when Malcolm IV was king. Scottish
tradition asserts that the MacFies are descended from a seal-woman who had
been prevented from returning to the sea. The MacFie’s of Colonsay,
Scotland were the hereditary keepers of the records of man and the Isles.
There is little or no trace of these records today, though they were thought
to have been kept at Tynwald, still the seat of the Manx Parliament.
The MacFie clan was closely associated with and fought beside the MacDonald
clan during many battles, including the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, where
Sir Gile de Argentine was defeated. In 1615 Malcolm MacFie of Colonsay
joined with Sir James MacDonlad in the southern islands during the rebellion
against the Earl of Argyll. MacFie and eighteen others were betrayed to the
Campbell clan, supporters of the Earl. They were forced to sign the
Statutes of Iona, which forced them to abandon the ancient Lordship of the
Isles – their hereditary right to rule Colonsay. Malcolm was later murdered
in 1623.
After the MacFies were dispossessed of their home, some continued to follow
the MacDonalds. Others went to the mainland, finding shelter in Lochaber.
Many of the MacFies are believed to have followed Cameron of Lochaber at the
ill-fated Battle of Culloden in 1746, further reducing their ranks.
In the middle of the nineteenth century Ewan MacFie became famous as the
last Scottish outlaw. Ewan, being discontent that his family’s birthright
had been stolen, moved his family to Loch Quoich. There he lived a secluded
life, recognizing no law or authority, stealing when needed to provide for
his family.
Sadly, many of the clan were so destitute after being dispossessed that they
could make no permanent home. After a time, many fled to Ireland for
sanctuary and to start a new life. Today only a relative few of the MacFie
clan still reside in Scotland; and only a handful of those occupy the home
Island of Colonsay.
The MacFie members who fled to Ireland fared little better than those who
remained in Scotland. The bulk of the clan came to the United States with
the great influx of Irish immigrants. All were in search of a common dream
– to live as free men in a new country where one’s opportunities were
restricted only by one’s ambitions. Clan MacFie suffered that same as many
other European families upon their arrival in the United States. When
landing in America and being asked their name, the MacFie name was often
misunderstood; either because of the Gaelic brogue, illiteracy, or harried
immigration officials.
In that way the MacFie name was reborn into many various spellings which are
evident today. The clan was scattered all over the United States, and
the variations in the spelling of the name made it very difficult for clan
members to reunite. This remained true until the past few years, when
individuals researching their genealogical history undertook the immense
task of tying together members of the lost clan. The result of that
effort was so impressive that the clan has been reinstated and Lord Lyon has
approved the commission of a clan commander.
Perhaps the crowning achievement came in
1999 at Stone Mountain, Georgia.
There, during the national Gathering of the Clans, Clan MacFie was
recognized for the first time with “Most Honored Clan” status.
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