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Clan MacNab

The name Macnab is from the Gaelic "Mac an Abba", meaning sons or children of the Abbot and, according to tradition, the chiefs were descended from the younger son of Kenneth McAlpine, King of the Scots who united the Scots and the Picts. The surname "Macnab" was first found in a document dated 1124 AD in the reign of David I. The early history of the Clan is associated with Saint Fillan, a Scot who succeeded St. Mundus as Abbot of Kilmun, the ruins of his chapel still visible at Kirkton in Strathfillan and many relics important to the Clan still exist - his pastoral staff (or crozier - the Quigrich) which was carried before the Clan in battle, and his bell (both of which can be seen at the National Museum in Edinburgh). There are many colourful tales and intriguing legends of Scotland's clans and those associated with clan MacNab are certainly worth telling, especially on a dark winter's evening by a roaring fire with a generous malt! One such story concerns Clan McNeish, who in 1612 occupied the crannog (a small manmade island dating back to prehistoric times) on Loch Earn. The McNeishes allowed no other boat on the loch other than their own and, as traditional enemies of the MacNabs from Killin, they relied mainly on plunder. So it was, on that day in 1612, that they waylaid a MacNab servant, said to be returning from Crieff with Christmas provisions for his chief. Back home at Killin the MacNabs plotted revenge and on Old Year's Night four sons of the seventh Laird of MacNab led by lain MacNab carried a boat some eight miles up and over Glen Tarken and down into Loch Earn. Their attack on the island surprised the Neishes and all but one small boy were massacred. The severed head of the Neish chieftain was one of those carried back to the MacNab stronghold in Killin. Clan MacNab is said to have commemorated this event by the incorporation into their clan crest of such a head. Although the Macnab lands were forfeited, Gilbert of Bovain received a charter from David II in 1336 and is generally regarded as the first chief. The Macnabs of Bovain and Kinnell held considerable property along the north side of Glendochart, together with the fertile plain of Kinnell and the village of Killin. These were gradually taken over by successful lairds of Breadalbane. The Clan crest is a savage head with the motto Timor Omnis Abesto - "Dreadnought". © Scottish Towns Last updated May 2000