The Clan MacAulay

Branches: The MacAulays are descendants of the Siol Alpin and are believed to be of Irish origin. There are two completely separate clans of MacAulays. The first clan is said to take its name from Aulay, younger son of Alwin, Earl of Lennox, with lands at Ardencapie on the Gareloch in lowland Dunbartonshire. The second clan, the MacAulays of Lewis in the outer Hebrides, claims descent from a Norseman called Olaf. Septs of either clan include Aulay, Macalley, and Maccauley.

Alexander de Ardincaple who lived during the reign of James V was the first to adopt the name MacAulay. In 1591 the chief of these MacAulays entered into a bond of manrent with Macgregor of Glenstrae which acknowledged the clan as a cadet branch of the Macgregors. Several generations later in 1694 the then chief again signed a bond of manrent, this time with Sir Duncan Campbell of Achinbreac where they again state they are Macgregors. In 1613 John Dow McAlwa and his son Awla McAlwa were fined for the reset of members of the Clan Gregor. The line ended with the 12th Chief Aulay MacAulay who in 1767 sold the lands of Ardencaple to the Duke of Argyll.  After this many of the clan settled in areas as far apart as Argyll, Sutherland and Caithness.

The Hebridean MacAulays trace their descent from Aula or Olave "the black", last King of Man and the Isles who lived during the early 12th century. The MacAulays held Luig on the Isle of Lewis where they were followers of Siol Torquil, the Macleods of Lewis and were bitter enemies of the Morrisons.

The first MacAulay of Lewis on record is Donald Cam, mentioned in 1610, who is said to have been captured along with Torquil Dubh in 1597, but escaped. Donald Cam's son, Angus of Brenish, was killed at Auldern Battle, l645. His son, Dugald, succeeded him as Fear Bhrenis, and his son was Rev. Aulay Macaulay, minister of Harris, married to Rev. Kenneth Morrison's daughter, of Stornoway. His son was the Rev. John Macaulay, Minister of Inveraray, whose son, Zachary, was father of the famous Thomas, Lord Macaulay, poet, essayist, and historian. An M.P. from 1830-56, he was raised to the peerage in 1857, but died unmarried.

The Lewis MacAulays had namesakes, no doubt kinsmen, on the mainland, vassals to the MacKenzies. Lochbroom is said to have been their original possession, a district which the heiress of Duncan MacAulay is said to have given with her hand to the chief of the MacKenzies in the 14th century. The MacAulays of the mainland are coupled with the Maclesys and Macivors in the 15th century as giving trouble to the Earl of Ross and his tenants.

Although little has been written of this clan the Lewis MacAulays appear to have faired better than their southern namesakes. Among their numbers were Lord MacAulay (1800-59) the famous essayist and historian, several notable clergymen and a general in the East India Company.

MACAULAY, MACAULEY MACALLY, MACALLEY, MACAULAY, MACAULLY, MACCALLY, MACCAULAY, MACCAULY.

(1) G. MacAmhalghaidh, " son of Amalghaidh", an old Irish personal name, pronounced almost as Macaulay or Macowley. From this comes the name of the Dumbartonshire Macaulays. (2) G. MacAmhlaidh or MacAmhlaidh, " son of Amlaib", the old Gaelic form of N. Olafr. From this comes the Hebridean name MacAulay. Duncan filius Auleth witnessed a charter by Malcolm, earl of Levenax, c. 1285 (Levenax, p. 87). As Duncan Macameleth he witnessed a grant to his cousin Murechauch filius Kork by Thomas de Cremennane c. 1290 (ibid., p. 80). In 1326 there is entry of a payment of cheese to two men of Iwar McAulay in Lennox (ER., i, p. S7). Awla McAwla of Ardincapill appears in 1536 (RSS., ii, 2152), and we have McCalla of Ardincapill in 1592. Another Awla McAwla was clerk of the watch of Queen Mary's guard, 1566 (MCM., i, p. 35). Duncan M'Auihlay was minister of Fortirgall, 1581 (BBT., p. 226), John Makalley was indweller in Inverness, 1602 (Rec. Inv., ii, p. 3), and John Dow McAwla and Awla McAwla, his son, in Gairlochhead were fined for reset of clan Gregor, 1613 (RPC., xiv, p. 63). John M'Kauley, merchant burgess of Edinburgh, was heir of Thomas M'Cauley there, 1623 (Inquis., 1100), and Thomas Makcaulay, writer to the signet in Edinburgh, 1638, appears in 1647 as M'Callow and in 1648 as M'Calley (ibid., 829, 988, 1000). John Dow M'Aule appears in Glenfalloch in 1638 (BBT., p. 401), John Mackalla was armourer and sword-sliper in Edinburgh, 1684 (BOEC., ix, p. 133), George Makallay was retoured heir of Patrick M'Kalla, apothecary in Cupar, 1688 (Retours, Fife, 1298). Hume of of Crossrig (Diary, p. 127) mentions a controverted election in Haddington, 1703, between Provost McCalla and Edgar the late provost. M'Ala 1582, M'Alay 1546, M'Aula 1717, McAul1a 1740, McAullay 1721, Macawlay 1591, M'Cala 1582, McCalius (in Latin doc.) 1622, M'Ca1la and Makcalla 1606, McCallay 1528, McCalley l598, McCallie and Mackaula 1663, McCally 1707, McCaula 1589, McCaulaw l54l, McCaulay 1603, McKaula 1686, Makkalay 1454, M'Kallay l604.

From 1525 Ardencaple Castle was the stronghold of the MacAulay Clan until the death of the last chief in 1786 when the estate and Castle passed out of MacAulay ownership. It was refurbished by its last owner Henrietta MacAulay Stromberg who died in 1931. The liferent of the Castle went to Adelaide Parker Voorheis until 1935. The Castle was then sold to a consortium of developers who developed the Tower Lawn into a housing estate in 1936-37. This was interrupted by war when the Navy requisitioned the Castle. The Navy finally demolished the Castle in 1957, leaving standing one battle Tower. This Tower was used as a navigational mark for submarines returning to Faslane until the early 1990's. When the nature and size of submarines changed at that time, replacement navigation towers were necessary in the Firth off Helensburg. The Tower is still a navigational mark for general shipping on the Clyde.