Clan Anderson or MacAndrew
Clansmen’s Crest – An oak tree.
Motto – Stand sure.
Gaelic Name – Mac Ghille Aindrais.
The Andersons or MacAndrews have always been regarded as a sept of Clan Chattan, with ties going back to that Confederation of Clans as early as 1400.
This clan name is now fairly common throughout Scotland. The clan name meaning translates to ‘son of Andrew’. In the Highlands it is more common as Macandrew and the Lowlands, Anderson is more common.
One famous member of the clan was John MacAndrew of Dalnahatnich. He was a renowned bowman and brought fear and terror to all who fought against him and his Clan. Many tales are told of his exploits against would be cattle raiders looking to steal the Clans cattle for themselves.
In 1670 a group of Lochaber men raided Badenoch and managed to drove away a large number of cattle. They were pursued by some of the Clansmen including John MacAndrew. The cattle raiders were soon caught by the chasing Clansmen, and in the fight which followed John MacAndrew was said to have killed the vast majority of the cattle raiders with his expert bowmanship.
Only one Lochaber cattle raider was said to have lived to tell the tale and tell the tale he duly did. The exploits were told to the Lochaber men and they swore vengence against John MacAndrew. Many attempts of John Macandrews life were made and as a consequence he led an unsettled life for many years but was always ready to defend and as the Clan Motto says, John MacAndrew Stood Sure.
Do you have connections to Clan Anderson and MacAndrew?
Maybe John Macandrew’s bow skills run in the family!
