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Archiver > BORDER > 1997-11 > 0879359841


From: Rebecca McGowan <>
Subject: Re: Rob roy
Date: Wed, 12 Nov 1997 12:37:21 -0600


linda Merle wrote:
>
> HI Fred,
>
> There is no requirement that one must put one's legal
> name on a gravestone. Esp. in a society which is rather flexible
> regarding surnames. Women in Scotland long kept their maiden surnames.
> You find their maiden surnames on their gravestones too. No legality
> issues. Also in the case of Rob -- no great fondness for his
> legal surname. I'll try to find out where it was I read this
> for ya...
>
> Linda Merle

You are correct about the flexability of surnames in Scotland. Many
adopted the names of the chiefs they followed or the names of clans in
the areas in which they lived. However, in the case of Rob Roy, there
probably wasn't much choice.

According to 'Clans, Septs, and Regiments of the Scottish Highlands, by
Frank Adam and Sir Thomas Innes':

Rob Roy was a son of MacGregor of Glen Gyle (Donald MacGregor) by a
sister of the notorious Captain Robert Campbell of Glen Lyon (Margaret
Campbell). He was baptized (according to an extract from the Register of
Baptisms of Buchanan Parish on 7 Mar 1671) From 1603 to 1775 (except for
a 32 year respite during the restoration of Charles II to the throne)
the name MacGregor was proscribed or forbidden. They were hunted for
generations with the express purpose of assuring their extinction. No
agreement entered into, no signature bearing that name was legal. To
kill a MacGregor was not punishable, and no minister was to baptize any
male child of a MacGregor. So, members of the clan, under pain of
death, adopted various names... Campbell, Dougall, Drummond, Graham,
Grant, Murray, Stewart, etc....

Apparently Rob Roy was given his mothers surname. His LEGAL name may
have been Campbell, but he was still a MacGregor.

Rebecca McGowan

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