History About Tartan
The MacLeods are descended from Leod,
son of Olaf the Black (died c. 1237), who was one of the
last Norse kings of the Isle of Man and the Northern
Isles. Leod inherited Harris and Lewis, and also acquired part
of Skye through his marriage to the daughter of the island's
Norse seneschal. He had four sons, two of whom founded the
principal branches of the MacLeods. Tormod, the eldest, was
the ancestor of the MacLeods of Skye. He was given the castle
of Dunvegan, which is still the main seat of the clan, and the island of
Harris. Leod's second son, Torquil, headed the MacLeods of Lewis
(traditionally called 'MacLeods of the Lewes').The MacLeods of Raasay
were a later offshoot from this line.