The clan itself takes its name from a Niall who lived in the 13th or early 14th century, and who belonged to the same dynastic family of Cowal and Knapdale as the ancestors of the Lamonts, MacEwens of Otter, Maclachlans, and the MacSweens.
A 173-acre estate in the area belongs to former chief executive of Network Rail, Iain Coucher.
Knapdale |
In 1262, he lost his lordship and lands to Walter Stewart, Earl of Menteith after Alexander III of Scotland granted Skipnish, Killislate amongst other lands in Knapdale and the parish of Kilcalmonell in Kintyre.
The domain of the Cenél nGabraín appears to have been centred in Kintyre and Knapdale and may have included Arran, Jura and Gigha.
These chiefs were easily drawn off, because John of Islay, Earl of Ross, in 1476, gave up the earldom of Ross and the lands of Kintyre and Knapdale, and had made improvident grants of lands to the MacLeans, MacLeods, MacNeills, and some smaller tribes.
Sir William is the son of Sir James Lithgow, 1st Baronet, and Lady Gwendolyn Lithgow, whose family homes were Gleddoch House, at Langbank on the Clyde, a few miles from their shipyards at Port Glasgow, and Ormsary, their country estate in Knapdale.