Clan Profile
- Clan chief: The current chief of the clan is William St John Somerville McAlester of Loup and Kennox, Chief of the Name and Arms of MacAlister. The chief was recognised as such by the Lord Lyon King of Arms, in 1991. The Gaelic designation of the chiefs of Clan MacAlister is Mac Iain Duibh in reference to Eoin Dubh, from whom the MacAlisters of Loup claim to descend.
- Chiefly arms: The current chief's coat of arms is blazoned: Or, an eagle displayed gules armed sable surmounted on the breast of a galley of the first within a bordure of the third charged with three cross crosslets fitchée argent. The supporters: (on a compartment entwined with an escrol bearing the second motto) dexter, a bear pierced in the back with an arrow all proper; sinister, an eagle proper. The motto: fortiter; and on the compartment: per mare per terras. The mottoes translate from Latin as "boldly" and "by sea and land". The crest: a dexter arm in armour erect, the hand holding a dagger in pale all proper.
- Clan member's crest badge: The crest badge suitable for members of the clan contains the chief's heraldic crest and motto. Motto: fortiter. Crest: a dexter arm in armour erect, the hand holding a dagger in pale all proper.
- Clan badge: According to Robert Bain, the plant badge of the clan is heath.
- Tartan: There are several tartans attributed to the surname MacAlister. Contemporary accounts of Flora Macdonald suggest that the MacAlisters wore the Macdonald tartan at that time. The tartan pictured right dates from the 19th century and was approved as a clan tartan by the chief in 1845. Another approved tartan is the 'MacAlister dress' tartan. It is a modern tartan that was approved by the clan chief in 2005. It is also the official tartan of the MacAlister Clan Society of North America.
- Branches of the clan: The principal cadet of the MacAlisters of Loup were the MacAlisters of Tarbet. Several members from this branch were for a time, constables of Tarbert Castle on Loch Fyne. Another branch of the clan are the MacAlisters of Glenbarr, who trace their descent from Eoin Dubh.
Read more about this topic: Clan Mac Alister
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