Some authorities aver that they are of Irish descent. In an old volume of the Ulster Journal of Archaeology there is given a long pedigree of the McLeods, deducing them from various Scottish chieftains and princes, back to one Fergus Mor MacEarcha. The generally accepted theory is that they descended from Leod, one of the three sons of Olave the Black, King of Man and the Isles, tho' it is said that there is no documentary evidence extant to prove this claim.
Leod, born early in the 13th century, married the daughter of MacRailt Armuinn, a Norwegian chieftain, and by her acquired large possessions in Skye, including the fortress of Dunvegan, which is still in the possession of the family.
They held mainland estates under the Crown as early as 1340, and island estates at the same time under the Lords of the Isles. When the final forfeiture of the Lords of the Isles took place at the end of the 15th century, the McLeods got charters of their island estates from the crown.
Their name is conspicuous in Scottish history. They occupied the post of honor at the battle of Harlaw, 1411; they were at the battle of the Bloody Bay, 1485; they took part in the negotiations to transfer the allegiance of the Highland chiefs from the Scottish to the English king and signed the commission under which these negotiations were carried on. They took part in the battle of Worcester, 1661, led by Sir Norman McLeod of Bernera, where they lost 700 men.
Treated by Charles II with the grossest ingratitude, they took no part in subsequent Stuart uprisings, tho' there is a letter extant from James II, dated Dublin, 1690, imploring McLeod to join Dundee.
It is said that the name (Maklure) occurs in Scotland as early as the 12th century. A very old record is one of 1485, where Ewin MakLure and Gilbert MakLure witnessed a contract between Thomas Kennedy of Blaresguhan and Margaret Kessox, of Little Dunrod, Kirkcudbright. These McClures are supposed to have been friends (or relatives)
