Clan Darroch is a Scottish clan.
History
Origins of the name
The name Darroch is said to derive from
Macdara which is
Scottish Gaelic for
son of oak.
The Darrochs settled around
Stirling and the name appears to have been derived from the lands of Darroch, near
Falkirk, where there may have once been an oak grove.
In accordance with this legend the chief's arms bear three oak trees.
There is a tradition in the West Highlands that the surname borne there is derived from the Scottish Gaelic Dath riabhach, which is said to be a short form of Mac 'Ille riabhach; although etymologist George Fraser Black thought such a derivation doubtful.[ Burke's landed gentry of Great Britain, page=278.]
Darrochs of Stirling
In 1406 John Darroch was ballie of
Stirling.
Later, in 1445, John Darach de Cruce is mentioned and is maybe the same person who was Commissioner to Parliament for the burgh of Stirling by the name of John Darraugh.
In 1462 the nurse of Lady Margaret Stewart, daughter of James II of Scotland was Mariote Darrauch.
Marion Darroch of Stirling protested in 1471 that she had not given consent to the alienation of an annual rent owed to her.
In 1477 Jacobus Darroch appears as a witness to a charter to the lands of the
Clan Stirling of Keir.
Darrochs of the Inner Hebrides
The Darrochs were most numerous on the islands of
Islay and Jura.
Here they were part of the larger
Clan Donald.
These Darrochs were known as the
Clann Domhnuill Riabhaich which is a corruption of
dath riabhach, which is Gaelic for
brindled colour.
This was to distinguish them from the fair headed inhabitants of Jura, who were known as
dath buidhe – from which the name 'Bowie' is derived.
The Mic ille Riabhaich appear in 1623 on a bond acknowledging as their overlord, Baron Macdonald.
The Gaelic patronymic of the Darroch chief became McIllreich.
18th century
The Barons of Gourock were descended from the McIllreich of Jura.
Duncan Darroch who had been born on Jura, probably in the early 18th century, settled in
Jamaica.
There he amassed a considerable estate and prospered.
However he was determined to return to his native soil and in 1784 acquired the lands and barony of Gourock from the Stewarts of Castlemilk.
He was designated
Chief of that ancient name the patronymic of which is McIllreich by the Lord Lyon King of Arms.
See also
External links
