Clan Chattan (Clan of the Cats) is not a single family but a powerful confederation of Highland clans united under a common allegiance — one of the most distinctive political structures in Scottish clan history. Led by the Mackintosh family (who hold the chiefship of the confederation), Clan Chattan includes the Macphersons, Davidsons, MacGillivrays, MacBeans, MacPhails, Farquharsons, Shaws, MacQueens, and several other families. The wildcat was their emblem, and the confederation's motto — 'Touch not the cat but a glove' — warns enemies to approach with care.
History and Origins
The origins of Clan Chattan are traced to a semi-legendary figure named Gillichattan Mor (Great Servant of Saint Cattan) who is said to have lived in the twelfth century in Badenoch — the high valley of the upper Spey in Inverness-shire. His descendants formed the core of what would become the Chattan confederation, though the precise genealogical details are debated. The confederation as a recognisable political entity emerges clearly in fourteenth-century sources.
The Battle of the Clans (1396)
The most dramatic episode in Clan Chattan's history was the Battle of the Clans (1396) on the North Inch of Perth — one of the most unusual events in Scottish history. According to chroniclers, two Highland clans (identified as Clan Chattan and Clan Cameron or Clan Kay) agreed to settle their dispute through a judicial combat of thirty champions a side, fought before King Robert III on the North Inch of Perth. The result was a near-annihilation of both sides, with only a handful of survivors from each confederation.
The Mackintosh Chiefship Dispute
The internal politics of Clan Chattan were complicated by a prolonged dispute over the chiefship between the Mackintoshes and the Macphersons — both claiming the right to lead the confederation. This dispute, which intensified in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, was never definitively resolved and contributed to the weakening of the confederation as a political unit. The Lord Lyon King of Arms eventually recognised the Mackintosh as chief of Clan Chattan, but the Macphersons maintain a separate and proud identity.
The Diaspora
The member clans of Clan Chattan emigrated across the Scottish diaspora, with particular concentrations in Nova Scotia (Cape Breton), Ontario, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. The Badenoch and Strathspey Gaelic-speaking communities were among those most affected by the Highland Clearances, and their descendants maintain strong Scottish-Gaelic heritage organisations in North America.
The Clan Chattan Association maintains an active international membership connecting descendants worldwide to the history of the confederation and its member clans.
How to Research Chattan Ancestry
Clan Chattan research should begin by identifying which member clan the family belongs to (Mackintosh, Macpherson, Davidson, MacGillivray, etc.) before tracing records in Badenoch and Strathspey (Inverness-shire). The Clan Chattan Association maintains genealogical resources. Old Parish Records (OPRs) for Inverness-shire are available through the National Records of Scotland. The Highland Archive Centre in Inverness holds significant regional records.
Notable Clan Members
- Battle of the Clans (1396) — Judicial combat on the North Inch of Perth between champions of Clan Chattan and a rival clan, held before King Robert III. One of the most extraordinary events in Scottish history.
- Angus Mòr Mackintosh (fl. 1291) — Captain of Clan Chattan, one of the earliest recorded chiefs of the confederation. Ancestor of the long Mackintosh chiefship line.
- Clan Chattan Association — International organisation connecting descendants of the Chattan confederation's member clans worldwide. Active in genealogical research and cultural preservation.
- Aeneas Mackintosh (1787–1868) — Captain of Clan Chattan, prominent figure in the 19th-century Highland revival of clan traditions.
Related Clans and Families
Often allied, neighbouring, or linked by marriage: