A Clan MacTavish Official Website

A MacTavish History Tutorial 

By Patrick L. Thompson

Seannachie to the 27th Chief of Clan MacTavish

Copyright © 2006 – Chief of Clan MacTavish

and

Patrick L. Thompson

Pedigree Chart drawn up by Lachlan MacTavish of Dunardrie

Likely submitted to Lyon Court

when taking out Arms in 1793.

Written ca. 1790-1793

As found in the MacTavish of Dunardry Papers. 

One must consider that this chart, when compared with research conducted as late as 2001, is inaccurate. There were a few generations missed by Chief Lachlan, but this is not unusual as it seems that he did not have access to records that undoubtedly contain material significant to the lineage that are held at Inverary Castle. There is some indication that the Lords Campbell did not readily grant access to their records, even to relatives, and such still appears to be the case.  Relatively few records of those thousands held at Inverary Castle, have ever been seen by outsiders, making it rather difficult to chart one's own ancestry if such had an early connection to either the MacDuines or latter Campbells of Argyll. In Argyllshire, there are few public records that exist prior to 1530 that pertain to Clan MacDuine and/or Campbell or its offshoots. Many other Lairds or Chiefs have allowed their historical records to be published, while the Dukes of Argyll have held most of their records to be private and personal. Most historical assets for Argyllshire prior to 1530 are believed to be at Inverary Castle, the home of the Dukes of Argyll, and Chiefs of Clan Campbell.  While the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, has been allowed to microfilm some few assets held at Inverary, among which is the 'Argyll Transcripts' compiled by the 10th Duke, little else has been given over to the public domain, except those records of the Crown of Scotland or Great Britain that pertain, or those records referred to in several Campbell, or other, histories.  The early history of Scotland, and Argyllshire, and of certain clans of the region, might be clearer if Clan Campbell were to acquiesce regarding requests for publishing the records at Inverary.

There has been suggestion, at times, that Taviss Corr (Tavis/Taus,Coir/Coor) was a fictional character, that he was an imaginary figure conceived to connect the MacTavishes to the Campbells. If this is so, then, surely the beautiful gallant warrior Diarmid O'Duihne, that the Campbells claim as their own, is also a myth; for Taviss lived some 133 years after the time of Diarmid.  It is said that Diarmid's grave is located in the Knapdale Forest, marked by a standing stone, and that he was a contemporary of Cullen, 79th King of Scots. If this is actually the resting place of Diarmid, then we can believe that he existed, and not just recount Diarmid from the mythical Ossian Tales.  Likewise, only 100 years ago, it was noted by Principal Campbell that the graves of the brothers Taviss Corr and Ivor Croumb, could be seen side by side at the Kilmartin Church graveyard.  Unfortunately many of the old carved gravestones at Kilmartin Church have been moved to protect them from the ravages of the elements, so that the last resting place of the brothers, epytoms of Clans MacTavish and MacIver, has been lost to us. One wonders at the logic used in preserving ancient grave markers that would destroy the knowledge of who it is that lies beneath those stones, and where they rest.  History tells us that Kilmartin Church graveyard is the resting place of generations of MacTavish Chiefs, it was the "burying place of the MacTavishes." Of significance, we can readily see whom Lachlan MacTavish of Dunardry knew to be his ancestor - warrior Taviss.  This firmly establishes the MacTavish epytom in both time and place as storied in the old accounts, regardless of the missing generations not seen in the chart.  Tavis is the beginning of the MacTavishes.  Equally important is the fact that in the Popular Tales of the West Highlands by J. F. Campbell [1890], is noted the belief by MacTavishes that they were indeed related to the ancient Diarmid O'Duihne, from whom the Campbells, MacTavishes and MacIvers all appear to be related.  It would be ridiculous therefore, to suppose that any MacTavish, and particularly Lachlan, Chief of the MacTavish, would not be knowledgeable also of the founder who gave rise to their own race, or clan. This man, a renowned warrior, was obviously Taviss Corr who is mentioned in no less that five historical accounts.

The MacTavish were, in all likelihood, not permanently located at Dunardry before the 12th Century. One must recall that Taviss was the Conqueror of Cowall, and that he and his followers would have occupied the lands they had gained. This land in Cowall was once known as Scannish, but long ago its name changed to a more Anglicized form so that it is no longer recognizable, and thus its location is unknown.  It seems, however, that the Scannish lands would have encompassed an area near Strathlachlan, that part of Cowall known to have been held by the MacLauchlans, or Lauchlan of that Ilk, and is set as the dividing place between Knapdale and Cowall.  What better place for the brothers Taviss and Ivor to stage a siege on the Lamonts?

This seems logical for the following reasons. The union of Colin MacDuine (Bold Good Colin) and the Lady De Swyen, produced two sons, Taviss and Ivor.  Upon Colin's death at Dunstaffnage in 1110, Sween took his daughter and gave her in marriage to the MacLauchlan Chief. Taviss and Ivor then being minor children about five or less years of age, births about 1105-1107, would have been raised in the household of the MacLauchlan Chief by their mother; at least until such a time as they would have been reared by foster parents, as was the custom.

We have no indication as to whom the foster families of Taviss or Ivor might have been. 'The MacLauchlan' might have reared these young lads as his own, and if so, one might consider that both the brothers would have an affinity for the MacLachlans, having been brought to their adulthood in this 'step or foster family' environment. There is no indication that there were any major confrontations between the MacTavishes, MacIvers or the MacLauchlans. In fact, there are copies of old papers spanning several generations that show that Campbells, MacIvers, MacLachlans, and MacTavishes were all witnesses for each other where land transfers or other events needed legal signatories. Too Lachlan MacTavish's own mother was Isobella MacLauchlan, daughter of Lauchlan MacLauchlan of that Ilk.  The pattern of respect and a close affinity over time seem obvious, if not family orientated, then at least such was neighborly among clan and individual alike. The descendants of Taviss Corr, his unnamed son or grandson, would if need arose, pass such land to his MacLauchlan foster kin, or perhaps even to the Lords of Lochow.  Eventually the jurisdiction for lands of Cowall fell to the Earls and later Dukes of Argyll and became part of the whole of Argyllshire, where the Campbell Chiefs ruled as demi-monarchs.  Often there are no early records for land held by persons or clans, such charters have simply vanished, with the lands they held or claimed being known by traditional alone.

The main line of MacIvers are noted in Argyllshire as MacIver-Campbells of Arknish, but not until the early 1920s, does this author find, where the double-barreled or hyphenated 'Campbell' notation falls upon the MacTavishes, and this after the Chiefly line of the MacTavish had migrated to Canada with the heir, HBC Governor William MacTavish; with nearly all of the William's siblings following him to North America. One truly wonders then, who it was that first penned "Tavish-Campbell", for such appears nowhere in the old records.

It is true that we know little of the Taviss Corr himself, or for that matter a few generations of MacTavish that followed. Whether this is by design, or for lack of available records, is unknown. What we are able to glean from the old records and surmise from custom and conquest is that Taviss Corr did not conquer Cowall by himself. He surely was a Warlord in his own right, and thus had a substantial following. Hence the clan he founded, whether some of its members adopted his name, or were of his own blood, this clan was known in ancient times as Clan Tavish. Today, it is evolved to be called by the name of Clan MacTavish. 

No matter how one cares to address the name of the clan, called it Tavish or MacTavish, it is the same clan founded by Taviss Corr nine hundred years ago (1110 to 2005). Lachlan MacTavish of Dunardry knew this well, when about 1793, he drew up his pedigree.

Note: The name of Tavis, Taviss or Taus, appears to be an Anglocized variant of the Gaelic Thamais, Thamhais, or Thamhais, just as MacTavish is the Englished, and modernly accepted surname of the Chief and Clan of the same name. Another version appears as, Tammas.

Source: Surnames of Scotland.