History of Clan MacNicol
The Ancient Sea Kings: History of Clan MacNicol
Clan MacNicol (Gaelic: Clann MacNeacail) is one of the most ancient clans of the Hebrides, with a history stretching back over 800 years. Their name derives from the personal name Nicol (Nicholas), a name popular in Scandinavia, reflecting their mixed Norse and Celtic heritage. The clan was the earliest Celtic clan to inhabit the northern Hebrides, flourishing in the mid-13th century under the suzerainty of the Norwegian Kings of Mann and the Isles. Their original territory included the Isle of Lewis and extensive lands on the mainland, where they served as potent sea-kings in a mixed Norse-Gaelic environment.
Loss of Lewis and the Move to Skye
The clan’s early power was centered in Lewis, where tradition holds they built Stornoway Castle (Castle MacNicol). However, in the 14th century, the vast MacNicol estates passed to the MacLeods of Lewis through the marriage of a MacNicol heiress. Despite this loss, the male line continued. They established a new stronghold on the Isle of Skye, specifically the Trotternish peninsula. Their seat became Scorrybreac near Portree, a land they would hold for centuries. The MacNicols became trusted councilors to the Lords of the Isles and custodians of the cathedral church at Snizort, where 28 chiefs are buried.
Jacobites and Bonnie Prince Charlie
The MacNicols (often Anglicized as Nicolson by the 17th century) were staunch Jacobites. During the 1745 Rising, the clan supported the House of Stuart. Tradition maintains that after the defeat at Culloden, Bonnie Prince Charlie was hidden overnight in a cow-shed on MacNicol land at Scorrybreac by the Chief. Other members of the clan played vital roles in the Prince's escape, with Margaret Nicolson crossing the Minch to warn of his arrival. For this loyalty, the clan suffered; the Chief was forced to abandon Scorrybreac in the 19th century due to economic pressure and the Highland Clearances.
Modern Revival and Ben Chracaig
The Chief's family emigrated to Tasmania, but the connection to Skye was never broken. In a remarkable modern achievement, the worldwide clan raised funds in 1987 to purchase the Ben Chracaig estate, part of their original ancestral lands near Portree. This property is now held in trust for the clan and the public. Today, the Chief is John MacNeacail of MacNeacail and Scorrybreac, who resides in Australia. The clan is celebrated for its motto Sgorr-a-bhreac (signifying their ancestral land) and continues to thrive globally, preserving the legacy of the ancient Hebridean seafarers.