Clan MacNaughton: A Legacy of Loch Awe, Dunderave and Hope in God
Introduction
Clan MacNaughton, also written Macnaghten, MacNachtan, MacNaughtan, MacNauchtan, McNaughton, McNaughtan, McNaghten, and related forms, is a historic Highland Scottish clan rooted especially in Loch Awe, Dunderave Castle, Glen Shira, Loch Fyne, Fraoch Eilean, Argyll, Perthshire, Antrim, and the wider Scottish diaspora.
The Gaelic name is commonly given as:
Mac Neachdainn
meaning:
Son of Neachdann / Nechtan
The personal name Nechtan is ancient and strongly associated with early Pictish and Gaelic royal names.
The clan motto is:
“I Hoip In God”
or in modern spelling:
“I Hope in God.”
The clan crest is:
A castle tower.
ScotsConnection gives the Macnaghten crest as a castle tower and the motto as I Hope In God. It also notes that in the 13th century the clan was settled around Loch Awe, Glenaray, Glen Shira and Loch Fyne.
The historic clan seat most strongly associated with the name is:
Dunderave Castle, on Loch Fyne.
Dunderave Castle’s own history page states that the castle was built on the shores of Loch Fyne in the 1590s for the MacNaughton clan chief.
Chapter I: Origins of Clan MacNaughton
The surname MacNaughton comes from Gaelic:
Mac Neachdainn
This means:
Son of Neachdann
or:
Son of Nechtan
The name Nechtan appears in early Pictish and Gaelic contexts and gives the clan a deep ancient flavour.
Historic spellings and related names include:
MacNaughton
Macnaghten
MacNachtan
MacNaughtan
MacNauchtan
McNaughton
McNaughtan
McNaghten
McNachtan
Naughton
Nachtan
Clan MacNaughton traditions claim descent from the ancient rulers of Moray and connect the name with the older Pictish north. ScotsConnection states that descent is claimed from the Pictish rulers of Moray.
Clan MacNaughton is therefore a clan of:
ancient name roots
Pictish-Moray tradition
Loch Awe settlement
Dunderave Castle
Fraoch Eilean guardianship
Argyll politics
Campbell-era pressure
tartan identity
diaspora survival
Its motto gives the clan its voice:
I Hope in God.
Chapter II: Clan Territory and Ancestral Lands
Clan MacNaughton’s historic territories include:
Loch Awe
Glen Shira
Glenaray
Loch Fyne
Dunderave Castle
Fraoch Eilean
Argyll
Perthshire
Antrim
The wider Scottish diaspora
The great historic seat is:
Dunderave Castle
Dunderave stands on Loch Fyne, placing the clan firmly in the western Highland and Argyll world.
For Clan MacNaughton, Dunderave represents:
chiefship
Loch Fyne identity
Argyll authority
the old seat of the clan
the castle tower behind the crest
The MacNaughton landscape is one of:
sea lochs
castle towers
Argyll forests
Loch Awe routes
Campbell influence
old Gaelic families
migration to Ireland and beyond
Chapter III: Fraoch Eilean and the Pass of Brander
One of the most important early MacNaughton roles was connected with:
Fraoch Eilean
This island stronghold guarded the Pass of Brander, a strategically important route near Loch Awe.
In 1267, King Alexander III appointed the MacNaughtons as hereditary keepers of the Castle of Fraoch Eilean, a stronghold guarding the Pass of Brander.
For Clan MacNaughton, Fraoch Eilean represents:
royal trust
strategic guardianship
Loch Awe authority
military responsibility
the clan’s early role as keepers of a key Highland pass
The slogan or war cry is often given as:
“Fraoch Eilean”
meaning:
The Heathery Isle.
This gives the clan a beautifully Highland phrase: a castle island of heather, guarding a pass through the mountains.
Chapter IV: Dunderave Castle
Dunderave Castle is the great visual symbol of Clan MacNaughton.
It stands on the shore of Loch Fyne, in Argyll.
Dunderave Castle’s history states that it was built in the 1590s on the instructions of the MacNaughton clan chief.
For Clan MacNaughton, Dunderave represents:
the chief’s seat
Loch Fyne power
castle-tower symbolism
the clan’s Argyll identity
the endurance of the name in stone
A tradition connected with Dunderave also says that an earlier castle was destroyed after a plague outbreak, with remains still visible on Dubh Loch at the head of Glen Shira.
This gives the clan story a dramatic sense of old places lost and rebuilt:
plague, ruin, relocation, and a new castle raised on Loch Fyne.
Chapter V: Important People of Clan MacNaughton
Neachdann / Nechtan
The name begins with Neachdann, from the old personal name Nechtan.
From him came:
Mac Neachdainn — son of Nechtan.
This gives the clan one of the oldest-sounding name roots in Scottish clan history.
The MacNaughtons of Loch Awe
The early MacNaughtons became established around Loch Awe, Glenaray, Glen Shira and Loch Fyne by the 13th century.
This placed them in a powerful but dangerous region shaped by royal policy, Campbell rise, MacDougall influence, and later Argyll politics.
The Keepers of Fraoch Eilean
The hereditary keepers of Fraoch Eilean were central to the clan’s early status.
This role connected the MacNaughtons to:
royal authority
castle duty
military guardianship
Loch Awe strategy
The MacNaughtons of Dunderave
The chiefly line became strongly associated with Dunderave Castle.
Dunderave became the clan’s best-known seat and one of the most important symbols of the name.
Alexander MacNaughton
A clan document records that in 1596, Archibald, Earl of Argyll, appointed Alexander MacNaughton, son and heir of John MacNaughton of Dunderave, keeper of the forest of Benbuie for 19 years.
This shows the MacNaughtons operating within the Campbell-dominated Argyll world of forest rights, office, landholding and regional authority.
Chapter VI: Clan Politics, Campbells and Argyll Power
Clan MacNaughton’s history is deeply tied to the politics of Argyll.
The clan’s lands and strongholds sat close to the expanding influence of Clan Campbell, one of the most powerful families in Scotland.
The MacNaughtons were not isolated.
They lived in a world shaped by:
Campbell power
Argyll earls
Loch Awe strategy
Loch Fyne routes
royal appointments
forest offices
marriage alliances
land pressure
The MacNaughton story is therefore not simply a tale of one clan holding a castle.
It is a story of a smaller but ancient clan navigating the growing power of one of Scotland’s greatest noble houses.
Chapter VII: Ireland, Antrim and the Diaspora
Like many west Highland families, MacNaughtons also spread into Ireland, especially Antrim.
The spelling Macnaghten became especially prominent in Irish and wider British records.
This Irish and diaspora route means MacNaughton descendants may have family lines through:
Argyll
Perthshire
Antrim
Ulster Scots settlements
England
Canada
The United States
Australia
New Zealand
The name may appear in records as:
MacNaughton
McNaughton
Macnaghten
McNaghten
MacNaughtan
Naughton
For genealogy, spelling flexibility is essential.
Chapter VIII: Crest, Motto and Badge
Clan Crest
The MacNaughton crest is:
A castle tower.
The castle tower suggests:
defence
watchfulness
guardianship
fortified loyalty
the clan’s connection with castle-keeping
It fits perfectly with the clan’s historic role at Fraoch Eilean and its later seat at Dunderave Castle.
Clan Motto
The motto is:
“I Hoip In God”
or:
“I Hope in God.”
ScotsConnection gives the motto as I Hope In God.
It means:
faith under pressure
trust in divine help
hope beyond worldly power
spiritual endurance
For Clan MacNaughton, this motto is especially fitting: a clan whose history involved royal service, castle duty, Argyll politics, loss, migration and survival.
Slogan / War Cry
The slogan is often given as:
“Fraoch Eilean”
meaning:
The Heathery Isle.
This recalls the clan’s early role as hereditary keepers of the island castle guarding the Pass of Brander.
Plant Badge
The plant badge is often listed as:
Trailing azalea
Some modern clan summaries give trailing azalea as the MacNaughton plant badge. This should be treated cautiously where sources vary, but it is the most commonly repeated plant-badge attribution in modern clan-profile material.
For MacNaughton symbolism, the strongest core emblems are:
the castle tower
Dunderave Castle
Fraoch Eilean
the motto “I Hope in God”
the MacNaughton tartans
Chapter IX: Clan MacNaughton Tartans
MacNaughton Tartan
The MacNaughton tartan is recorded by the Scottish Register of Tartans under reference 2674.
This is one of the main tartans associated with the name.
MacNaughton 1831 Tartan
The MacNaughton — 1831 tartan is also recorded by the Scottish Register of Tartans under reference 2676. The Register gives the tartan date as 1 January 1831 and lists it as a Clan/Family tartan.
MacNaughton Ancient, Modern and Weathered Options
Modern tartan options may include:
MacNaughton
MacNaughton 1831
MacNaughton Ancient
MacNaughton Modern
MacNaughton Weathered
MacNaughton Dress, where available
The usual distinction is dye tone:
Ancient colours are softer and lighter.
Modern colours are deeper and stronger.
Weathered colours are muted and aged.
Dress tartans are usually brighter or more formal.
The Meaning of MacNaughton Tartan Today
For modern MacNaughton descendants, tartan represents:
Loch Awe
Dunderave Castle
Fraoch Eilean
Argyll ancestry
the castle-tower crest
the motto “I Hope in God”
family pride and diaspora identity
The MacNaughton tartans give this ancient Highland clan a strong and visible Scottish identity.
Chapter X: Heritage, Identity and Clan Traditions
Clan MacNaughton represents a Highland identity built on ancient name roots, royal guardianship, castle service, Argyll endurance and faith.
Its story includes:
Mac Neachdainn — son of Nechtan
Pictish-Moray descent tradition
Loch Awe
Glen Shira
Loch Fyne
Fraoch Eilean
the Pass of Brander
Dunderave Castle
Campbell-era Argyll politics
Antrim and diaspora branches
the castle-tower crest
the motto “I Hoip In God”
MacNaughton tartans
Associated names and spellings include:
MacNaughton
Macnaghten
MacNachtan
MacNaughtan
MacNauchtan
McNaughton
McNaughtan
McNaghten
Naughton
The name’s strength lies in its oldness and its faith.
It sounds like a name from before the later clan world was fully formed.
Chapter XI: Clan MacNaughton Today
Today, Clan MacNaughton remains a recognised Highland clan tradition with a global diaspora.
Modern MacNaughton identity can be found through:
Clan MacNaughton / Macnaghten associations
family history research
MacNaughton tartan wearing
study of Loch Awe and Loch Fyne records
visits to Dunderave Castle and Argyll
research into Antrim and Ulster records
Scottish heritage events
Highland games
diaspora family networks
For MacNaughton descendants, the best first step is to trace the family’s spelling and region:
MacNaughton?
McNaughton?
Macnaghten?
McNaghten?
MacNaughtan?
Loch Awe?
Loch Fyne?
Glen Shira?
Dunderave?
Argyll?
Antrim?
Canada?
Australia?
New Zealand?
The United States?
That will determine the strongest family-history path.
Chapter XII: Legacy of Clan MacNaughton
The story of Clan MacNaughton begins with an ancient name:
Mac Neachdainn — Son of Nechtan.
From Moray tradition came the old origin memory.
From Loch Awe came early settlement.
From Fraoch Eilean came royal guardianship.
From Dunderave Castle came the great seat.
From Loch Fyne came the Argyll landscape.
From the crest came the tower.
From the motto came faith.
Its voice is:
I Hoip In God — I Hope in God.
That phrase captures the MacNaughton spirit: watchful, faithful, ancient, and steady through change.
From Loch Awe to Dunderave, from Argyll to Antrim and descendants across the world, Clan MacNaughton continues to carry its heritage forward.
Its legacy is written in tartan, castle towers, heather islands, Loch Fyne waters, old records, family stories and the pride of those who still honour the name.
Tartan Time Machine Closing Paragraph
At Tartan Time Machine, we bring Scotland’s past into the present by exploring the clans, surnames, castles, kirkyards, tartans, legends and forgotten stories that shaped the nation.
Clan MacNaughton is one chapter in that greater story — a story of Loch Awe, Fraoch Eilean, Dunderave Castle, Loch Fyne, castle-tower crests, tartans and the faithful motto: I Hope in God.
Discover more Scottish history, clan stories, castle features and heritage content at:
www.tartantimemachine.com