Clan Fionnlaidh

The history of the Clan Fionnlaigh of Scotland is said to be one of the most ancient Clans of Scotland. Its origins may even predate that of Scotland. Most of the history that is known, is that of a powerful clan that resided near Inverness in the Highlands of Scotland as early as the ninth century. Some say that the Clan Fionnlaigh was more of a Tribe than a Clan and the name could have come from the Picks of Scotland who labeled the Scots, Fair-Warriors, which could be a Gaelic meaning of Fionnlaigh. It was the power behind the House of Moray and competed for the Scottish throne. The Earls of Moray wielded much power and ruled most of the north of Scotland. The name has numerous differences in spelling, but the Gaelic version is commonly spelled "Fionnlaigh".

The power of the Clan or (Tribe) was enhanced with the marriage of Fionnlaigh (Finley), the son of the McRuiadri, the Earl of Moray, and Donada, the daughter of King Malcolm-11 in 1004. In 1010, Finley would become Earl of Moray on the death of his father. This would cause strife for the Clan, because some of clan chiefs under the Fionnlaigh umbrella did not agree on having good relations with the Scottish throne who had been their adversaries for many years. In 1020, Fionnlaigh would be murdered by his nephew, Gilacomgan who took the Earldom and became Chief of the Clan Fionnlaigh. This would begin a feud inside the earldom with the son of Fionnlaigh, "Macbeth", returning to Scotland and killing Gilacomgan and becoming the Earl of Moray and Chief of the Clan Fionnlaigh (Finley). This would begin the history of the most famous Finley of all.

Macbeth was born in the year of 1005 near Inverness, the son of Finley, the Earl of Moray, and Donada, the daughter of King Malcolm-11. He would receive the education that was afforded a son of an Earl during these times. He probably had military and religious training in Ireland. He would become a renowned general for his grandfather King Malcolm-11 after taking over the Earldom of Moray. He is noted by some writers of the day that he was the "tall, fair haired, ruddy and valiant general" of the north of Scotland.

In 1034, King Malcolm-11 would die and be replaced by his grandson Duncan-1. Duncan was supported by Macbeth during the early years of his reign. In latter years Macbeth as Duncan's general, would begin a dispute with Duncan over the King warring with states to the south. In 1040, Duncan would invade north into the district of Moray and a battle would ensure between the armies of Duncan and Macbeth near Inverness, with Duncan being defeated and killed. Macbeth would travel to Scone, the capital, and be crowned king, and supported by most of the Clan Chiefs.

Macbeth would be a controlled and successful king, not the one bothered by nightmares and a nagging wife as portrayed by Shakespeare. He would pass laws for the good of the citizens and was the first to give support to Widows of fallen Warriors. He made the mental retarded wards of the State that is followed to this day. In 1050, King Macbeth would travel to Rome and have audience with the Pope.

In 1054 Malcolm-111, son of Duncan-1 would invade Scotland with an army provided by the English. A bloody battle would take place near Scone with no one being the victorious. In 1057, Malcolm would again invade north and would do battle with Macbeth being defeated and slain. The Clan Chiefs of Scotland refused to recognize Malcolm and elected Lulach, the stepson of Macbeth, as King. In the spring of 1058, the armies of Lulach and Malcolm would meet near Scone and Lulach would be defeated and slain. Malcolm-111 would be elected King.

The leaders of the Clan Finley would be hunted down and slain with the survivors fleeing into the wilderness of Aberdeenshire. The clan would be outlawed during the reign of Malcolm-111. The Clan would rise as a powerful Clan in the district of Mar during the latter part of the twelfth century. According to Admiral Stout's research, the Ancient Genealogies, in 1236 in the Braes of Mar in Aberdeenshire, Scotland, there was a Chief named Ferchard (Farquhar), the son of Farquhar Shaw of Rothiemurchus, who was at the head of a powerful clan known in the Highlands as Clan Fionnlaigh. They were one of the original 16 clans of the "Hail Kin Clan Chattan", a confederation of Clans in the Highlands. The descendants of this Chief would be known as the Clan Farquharson'. In 1545, the Farquharson's would again become known as the Finley's after Chief Finla Mor' of the Clan Farquharson would become a hero at the Battle of Pinkie. The Clan Farquharson would support the Stuarts in the uprisings of 1715 and 1745.

In the latter part of the seventeenth Century and during the eighteenth century, many a Finley would travel to America and make it their new home. The Finley's, along with other Scotsmen would be pioneers in blazing the trails of the wilderness of the new world.

Edited 10-04-2009 Back to Finley Country Back to Top