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The Clan Chattan
In the past, the Chief of Clan Mackintosh occupied a dual role as head of his own immediate Clan and as leader of the a broader organisation: "the confederacy of Clan Chattan".

Clan Chattan comes from the gaelic clann gillachattan: 'gillachattan' meaning 'the great servant of St Cattan'. The obvious play on words results in 'the clan of the cats' and the highland cat figures in many of the Coats of Arms of the chiefs of the confederate clans.

Angus, sixth chief of Mackintosh in 1291 married Eva, the only daughter of Gilpatric or Dougal Dall, Chief of Clan Chattan in Lochaber. At the death of his father-in-law, Angus succeeded to the lands and chiefship of Clan Chattan, with the approval of the entire clan. He became the seventh Chief of Clan Chattan.

The titles remained co-joined until the death of Alfred, 29th Chief of Clan Chattan and 28th Chief of Mackintosh in 1938. His successor in the Chiefship of Clan Mackintosh was passed by tanistry (direction) to the younger son of his first cousin: Lachlan Mackintosh of Mackintosh. This was the grandfather of the present chief John Mackintosh of Mackintosh, 31st Chief of Mackintosh, and father of the late chief Lachlan who died in December 1995.

Alfred's successor in the Chattan chiefship was determined by the Lord Lyon, to be his grand-daughter, Arbell of Dalcross and thence to the elder son of his cousin: Duncan Alexander Mackintosh. Today, Duncan's grandson Malcolm Mackintosh is the 33rd Chief of Clan Chattan.

Clan Chattan members
The Mackintoshs as the principal clan are followed by the
Macphersons, Macbeans, Shaws, Macgillivrays, Farquharsons,
Davidsons, Phails, MacThomas,
MacQueens of Strathdearn,       Macleans of Dochgarroch
and the MacIntyres in Badenoch.

Most of these clans have individual septs which swell the ranks into a huge organisation of names. The clans were joined by marriage or gathered under the protection of the Mackintosh chiefs, who guided them successfully through the turbulent centuries of Scottish history.

The Clan Chattan Association is a very active worldwide organisation catering for Clan Mackintosh and all other clans in the confederacy of the old Clan Chattan. The chiefs of the confederate members hold positions as Vice-Presidents in the Association under John Mackintosh of Mackintosh as President, and three Overseas Members of Council have been appointed to act as local focal points in their own countries: Australia, Canada and the U.S.A.

Clan Chattan families have migrated to all corners of the globe and place names in many countries bear testament to their pioneering spirit. However, beneath the surface there is still a strong attachment to their Scottish heritage and Clan gatherings all over the world remain popular to this day.

The Annual Gathering of the Clan Chattan occurs at the Highland Field Sports Day at Moy Hall, Inverness on the first Friday and Saturday in August each year.
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