Clann Mac Dhai – 
Clan Davidson  

The Association of Clan Dhai 

The Association of Clan Dhai was the continuation of the old Clan Dhai as presented in the Clann Chattan page and the present Clan Davidson Association is ruled by Lord Lyon to be the same Clan Dhai but with the name Clan Davidson.

Chief Duncan Davidson of Tulloch

The Association of Clan Dhai was founded in London 1909; the inaugural meeting was convened by Mr. Duncan Davidson of Tulloch, and held on 26th March of that year at the Hotel Metropole, London; there were about sixty members of the Clan present, and Duncan Davidson of Tulloch was unanimously elected as Chief.  

The act was questioned in a letter to the Northern Chronicle, in which the writer pointed out that, while for a long period of years writers on Highland history had all pointed to Tulloch as the chief, this must be taken as an error seeing that The Mackintosh was the only chief of Clan Chattan. In proof of this statement it was pointed out that in 1703 twenty persons named Dean alias Davidson had at Inverness signed a band of manrent declaring that they and their ancestors had been followers, dependents, and kinsmen to the lairds of Mackintosh, and were still in duty bound to own and maintain the claim, and to follow, assist, and defend the honorable person of Lachlan Mackintosh of that ilk as their true and lawful chieftain.

A long correspondence followed pro and con, but it was pointed out by later writers that the acknowledgment of Mackintosh by twenty Davidsons as supreme head of the Clan Chattan confederacy did not prevent the Davidson sept from possessing and following a chief of their own. As a matter of fact, history shows them to have had a chief at the battle of Invernahaven, and by all the laws of Highland genealogy the clansmen were fully entitled to meet and confirm the claim of their present leader and head.  

It should be added that Davidson of Tulloch is hereditary keeper of the royal castle of Dingwall.  

On 11th November, 1917, the Chief, Duncan Davidson of Tulloch died, and at the next annual meeting it was decided that the question of the Chieftainship of Clan Dhai should be left in abeyance for the present.

Clan Davidson Association

The Lord Lyon, King of Arms, has ruled that the above mentioned Clan Davidson Association is a continuation of the Association of the Clan Dhai with a changed name. As such the Clan Davidson Association is entitled to use the Arms of the earlier Association.

The Association is a non-political, non-sectarian, non-profitmaking organisation.

Whatever their ancient origin all now join in a modern association for mutual benefit. At a public meeting held at Ingliston House, Edinburgh, on the 7th of May 1991, a number of like-minded Davidsons decided to revive the Association as the CLAN DAVIDSON ASSOCIATION. ( visit the website of  Clan Davidson Association )

The objectives of the Association is to foster friendship and social contacts among those with the name Davidson and associated names, wherever they live, and encourage membership of the Clan Davidson Association. To research the origins and genealogy of the name Davidson in orde to establish an acceptable history of the Clan and Names, based on the most authentic records. To foster interests in the places, sites and buildings linked with the name Davidson.

Clan Davidson Associated Names

(Clann MacDhaibhid): Davison, Dawson, Deason, Dyson, Davie, Dey, Day, Daw, Deas, Dees, Kay, Keay, Key, Dean (Inverness-shire & Moray), MacDaid, MacDade, MacKeddie.

Davidson, Davison, "son of David", q.v. The second form is from the dimunitive Davie. Earliest record of the name Johannes filius Davidis was burgess of Perth in 1219. Adam fiz Dauid in Forfarshire and Johan le fiz David of Berwickshire rendered homage in 1296, the seal of the former bears a long-legged bird and S' Ade filii Davit. William filius Davidi was provost of Aberdeen in 1340. In common Gaelic speech this name appears as Deibhiosdan. (The Surnames of Scotland, by G.F Black, New York 1946). It should be pointed out that members of Clan Davidson are linked to the clan by the names associated with the clan and can not claim to all be from the same family as descendants of the old David Dubh line.

Clan Badge and Motto



The Clan Motto is "Sapienter si sincere", "Wisely if sincerely".

The plant badge is the same as that of Clan Chattan clansmen the Red Whortleberry, in Gaelic it is known as Lus nam braoileg and in Latin Vaccinum vitis-idaea, and in some places as Cowberry.

The Clan Chattan Davidson Tartan

Above is called the "modern" version. (ITI number: 001332)

Above is called the "ancient" version of above tartan.

Above is what is called a "weathered" tartan of above tartan.

The Davidson of Tulloch Tartan

Above is the "modern" tartan. (ITI number: 006291)

Above is the "ancient" version of the Davidson of Tulloch tartan)

Thread count and explanation of colours 

Thread count is a table of proportions of the stripes in the warp of a piece of tartan.

The explanations of the colours used by Clan Chattan follows the explanations given by Mr. James D. Scarlett in his book on Clan Chattan tartan colours. 

Clan Chattan Davidson

 R    =    Scarlet (Red)   
B    =    Blue
(Dark usually purple defined as"very dark blue with a hint of warmth", not like the modern purple)
G    =    Green
(Lighter than blue or purple and generally tended towards blue rather than yellow, though wide variations occurred because green was made by overdyeing yellow with blue)
K    =    Black
W   =    White
Y    =    Yellow
A    =    Light blue (this part was earlier a zink grey colour)

See also Clan Tartans.

Clan Salute

Failte Thighearna Thulaich

Clan March

Tulloch Castle ( pipe march Tulloch Castle )

Clan Davidson Day

May 24th

Chief Duncan Hector Davidson, Duncan of Davidston 

For nearly 80 years the Clan had been without a Chief but owing to efforts of Clan Davidson members in UK and Australia and several years of negotiations with Lord Lyon, Duncan Hector Davidson of New Zealand became the new Chief of Clan Davidson in 1996. Duncan, born 14th June 1916 - d. 1998, north of Auckland, New Zealand was senior descendant of the last Chief's grandfather Duncan IVth of Tulloch, Lord Lieutenant of Ross-shire. The descent is through Duncan 6th son, Hector Francis Davidson (b. 1857, d. 1907), the intervening lines having failed.

Although a retired man of some years he graciously acceded to the desires of the various Clan organizations and allowed his name and claim to the chiefship to be brought before the Lyon Court for consideration. After much paperwork, the claim was granted by Lord Lyon in June 1996 and the long awaited chiefship was restored.

Strengthened by support from the international Clan Davidson societies, principally in the persons of Major "Dave" Davidson in England, Dr. Frank Davidson in Australia, Mrs. Flora E. Davidson in Scotland and Dr. A.E. Tonson in New Zealand, the move to reestablish the Chiefship eventually succeeded. Duncan of Davidston's main concern now was to ensure that the line of succession should be clearly defined and to this end he recognized as his successor his closest cousin Alister Guthrie Davidson.

Chief Alister Guthrie Davidson of Davidston

Duncan of Davidston's main concern now was to ensure that the line of succession should be clearly defined and to this end he recognized as his successor his closest cousin Alister Guthrie Davidson, our present Chief. Alister Guthrie of Davidston (known familiarly from birth as "Jock").

Chief "Jock" was born in 1926 in a small town called Dargaville on the North Island of New Zealand.

Chief Alister Guthrie Davidson of Davidston:

"The Davidson Clan is very much alive. I believe that our children will derive a great deal of pleasure, particularly later in life, if they are made aware of their family background early in their lives. I am sure society members are aware of this from their own experiences and by encouraging the young to participate in Clan activities we will ensure the future growth and continuing interest in Clan affairs".

Below from "Burke's Peerage":

"DAVIDSON OF DAVIDSTON

ALISTER GUTHRIE DAVIDSON OF DAVIDSTON, Chief of the Name and Arms of Clan Davidson, recognised by Ld Lyon King of Arms and matric arms at LO 11 March 1998 [Alister Davidson of Davidston, 21 Winscombe St, Takapuna, Auckland, New Zealand]; b 27 May 1924; m 24 Jan 1953 •Kathleen Mary, dau of Fritz Stanley Goulding, barrister, and has:

Lineage: Donald, 3rd s of Robert Comyn and gs of the Comyn murdered Feb 1305/6 at Dumfries by ROBERT I (1306-29); m Slane, dau of the 6th Mackintosh Chief (qv); their s David, his family and follower...
Record Type(s): 1999 Peerage"

Note: Its is not possible to trace any living Davidson family back to the above David Cumyn or any other David Dubh. Where the Davidsons of today in various parts of Scotland originated no one knows. Most Davidsons today can trace their ancestry back to around 1750 but not much further with any certainty and David Dubh probably lived somewhere between 1330-1400.

SCOTLAND

(© 2003 K. Williamsson )