Our Name

The surname Macfie, derived from the Gaelic MacDhubsith, is a personal ancestor name and one of the oldest such names in existence. The origin of the name has been lost in antiquity. The Gaelic (Scottish pronunciation; gallic) spelling of our name was derived from two Gaelic words 'Dubh' (pronounced 'dtooh') meaning Black, and Sith (pronounced 'she') meaning peace. The Sith were the peaceful 'Little People' who were supposed to have inhabited Colonsay. The literal translation of our name is, therefore 'Black (one) of Peace' or 'The Dark Featured Clan'. In spoken Gaelic, the syllables in the word caused the name to sound like Macduhe or Macduffie.

The original Gaelic spelling of the name derived from the combination of these two words is the subject of some controversy. The Gaelic 'Mac' meaning Son was added as a prefix to designate sons of the original name. (‘O’ is added as a prefix to designate the grandson of a particular name).

Since there are differing opinions regarding the Gaelic spelling it is to be expected that there will be different opinions regarding the earliest anglicised versions. English record keepers wrote the Gaelic name as it sounded. As written records became more common the name was written in a variety of forms and frequently recorded as MacPhee and MacPhie. Macfie and its numerous variations are anglicised versions of what was once a Gaelic name. Skene contends that the most ancient inhabitants of Colonsay were the MacDuffies or MacPhees’. He also uses the spelling Macfie, and this was the spelling used in 1609 by Malcolm our last Chief and the spelling used to designate the Clan crest and tartan.

Following the murder of Malcolm by Colkitto Macdonald in 1623 the Macfies were dispossessed of their island and the Clan families migrated to other areas. It would appear that this is the beginning of the varied spellings of the name that exists today as most of our present spellings can be traced to particular areas in Scotland where dispersed families settled. Whatever the spelling, the pronunciation remains the same, therefore the spelling is of little consequence and we are all descendants from the original inhabitants of that little island Colonsay.

Clan Names

Membership of the Macfie Clan Society of Australia is open to anyone who has a clan surname, or variation of one as listed below, or who are descended from, by marriage to, or adopted by a person with an eligible surname.

NB The prefix Mc and Mac are interchangeable.

Our History

Our Name

Our Name

Clan Names

Clan Macfie Society of Australia