Gillicattan Chattan

The clan gets its name from Gillechattan Mor, meaning the great servant of St Catan, whose abbey was at Kilchattan on the isle of Bute in the Firth of Clyde. Gillichattan Mor was the great servant of Saint Cathan. Gillichattan is believed to have been the co-arb or bailie of the abbey lands of Ardchattan. It is possible that Cathan is representative of 'Cathain'. The name 'Gilli' or 'Gille' can mean 'followers' and can also mean 'family of'.

In the time of Malcolm II of Scotland the Clan Chattan possessed the lands of Glenloy and Loch Arkaig.[1] It was here that Tor Castle became the clan chief's seat.[1] Not much is certain about the history of the clan until towards the end of the 13th century.[1] Eva, daughter of Gilpatric or Dougal Dall, 6th chief of Clan Chattan in Lochaber married Angus Mackintosh, 6th chief of the Clan Mackintosh in 1291.[1] Thus Angus Mackintosh became 7th chief of Clan Chattan.[4] They lived together at Tor Castle before withdrawing to Rothiemurchus due to the enmity of Aonghus Óg of Islay, chief of Clan Donald.[1] As a result, the lands at Arkaig were occupied by the Clan Cameron who claimed that they had been abandoned.[1] This was the beginning of a long and bitter feud that was fought between the Clan Chattan and Clan Cameron until 1666.[1]

The Chattan came from the Catti, a tribe of Gauls driven out by the Romans. Senachies mention a Gilli Chattan Noir, Chief of the Catti Tribe, who lived at the same time as King Alpine.

Notes: It is possible that Chattan descends from O'Cathain in which case descent goes back to the Kings of Ulster & back to Muiredach & Erca.

Gillicattan 'Mor', 1st Captain of Clan Chattan died circa 1090.1

    He held the position of 1st Captain of the Clan Chattan from.1 The ‘duthus' of Gillichattan's race was the estate of Glenloy and Loch Arkaig where Torcastle was teh Chief's seat.1 ‘He was Servant of St. Chattan' and had the galley coat-of-arms. The meaning of the ‘Servant of St. Chattan' is that Gillichattan was the baillie or temporal leader of the Abbey lands of Ardchattan.1 He was living between 1058 and 1090.