Welcome to the official website of the Clan MacRae Society of North America. We invite you to explore our website, discover the history and heritage of Clan MacRae, and learn more about your own MacRae ancestry and lineage.

We hope you will consider joining the Society and becoming part of our efforts to advance genealogical research, preserve our shared heritage, and connect MacRaes with one another.

Our Highland Heritage

Clan MacRae has a long and illustrious history rooted in the Highlands of Scotland. The MacRaes served Clan Mackenzie faithfully and became known as Mackenzie’s “shirt of mail” because of their loyalty, courage, and fighting ability.

Following the Battle of Culloden in 1746, however, the traditional Highland way of life began to change dramatically. Highland chiefs increasingly found that raising sheep and leasing land was more profitable than maintaining large numbers of warriors and tenants. As a result, many Highland families were forced from the land their ancestors had called home for generations.

By the late 1700s, the steady trickle of MacRaes leaving the Highlands had become a flood. These were our ancestors—people who surely did not want to leave their beloved homeland, but who often had little choice. They left behind family, friends, and a way of life they knew, setting out for distant lands without knowing whether they would ever see their homeland again.

In time, MacRaes established themselves throughout the world, including America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. They truly became the “scattered children of Kintail.”

Discover Your MacRae Story

The Clan MacRae Society is dedicated to helping MacRaes understand not only the history of our clan, but also their own personal family history.

As you explore this website, you will find information about the people, places, and significant events that shaped Clan MacRae. When you join the Society, you will also receive our Sgurr Uaran newsletter three times a year, featuring educational articles and information related to Clan MacRae.

Our active members also host Clan MacRae tents at festivals throughout America. These gatherings give MacRaes an opportunity to meet others, learn about their heritage, and begin or continue their journey of discovering their ancestry.

Visit News and Events to see our calendar and find out where you can meet us throughout the year. Come by and introduce yourself—we would love to help you in your search. There is often an immediate connection when MacRaes meet, because we share a common love for our ancestral homeland and a desire to understand where we came from.

Genealogy and DNA Research

We are fortunate to have an excellent Clan Genealogist and an exceptional Clan DNA expert who are available to assist our active members at no charge.

Be sure to visit the Resources section to learn more about the Clan MacRae DNA Project, and consider participating in DNA testing. Through this ongoing research, we are discovering more every day about how MacRae families are related to one another.

Whether you are just beginning your family history journey or have been researching your ancestors for years, the Society has much to offer.

Join Us

We would love to have you join the Clan MacRae Society. Membership can accelerate your journey by giving you access to resources, expertise, research, and connections with fellow MacRaes.

Never before have so many people had such an opportunity—or such a desire—to discover their family history. We welcome you on your personal journey and want to help you find answers to your questions.

Our leadership is proud of our Highland history and heritage, and we want to help you better understand your own identity as a MacRae.

The Gaelic word “clan” means “children.” In that spirit, we hope to bring the “scattered children of Kintail” back together so that we can better understand who we are as MacRaes.

Together, we can walk proudly in the “footsteps of our ancestors”—as a family connected by history, heritage, and a shared love of our Highland homeland.

We sincerely hope you enjoy exploring our website, learning about your MacRae heritage, and discovering your family story. We look forward to welcoming you into the fold!

Sgurr Uaran!