We are told by Dr. George Black in his invaluable life’s work The Surnames of Scotland, that MacDuffee is one of the oldest and most interesting Gaelic surnames that we possess. "Its place and concept, "says Dr. Gilles "go far away beyond those of even our old names" (Place names of Argyllshire, p 82.). Dr. Black defines Macduffy from Mac Dhuibhshith, "son of Dubhsith", a name meaning "black or dark one of peace". But he reminds us that there was a family on the island of south Uist in the Hebrides known as Dubh-sidh of "Black Fairy" (sidh can equally mean elf) from a tradition that they had been in touch with the fairy folk. The MacDuffees were also a Hebridean clan residing on Colonsay and Oronsay since the 1300s.

The chiefs of the clan were the MacDuffies of Colonsay aand religious leaders for the priory of Oronsay, islands that eventually passed in ownership to the MacDonalds, the Campbells, and the McNeills of Colonsay and was held by Lord Strathcona. At times they were the Keeper of the Records in the Hebrides for the Lord of the Isles.

One of the oldest known grave slabs, dated about 1539, on Oronsay was carved for Murchardus MacDufie. A second grave slab dated 1554 was carved for Donalldus MacDuffie, Conventual Prior of Oronsay. Both of these slabs, among others, were originally located in the MacDuffie Aisle connected to the Priory. They have since been moved to the former "Prior’s House". The Oronsay Cross, just south of the Priory, was carved for Colinus, son of Cristinus MacDuffie, who was Chief in the last quarter of the 15th centtury

When a group of interested descendants decided to have an organizational meeting at Grandfather Mountain, NC in July 1962, it was held in the hope that a body could be formed essentially to foster the preservation of our Scottish heritage, provide for the exchange of information on the genealogy of the various branches of the family, a central agency for recording family matters and to provide a means for social exchange and friendship for the members. Under the leadership of Convener Allen MacDuffie, Esq. these culminated in the incorporation in the District of Columbia originally as the MacDuffee Clan of America, Inc. on December 11, 1962. We are currently the MacDuffee Clan Society of America, Inc incorporated as amended in the State of Indiana February 2018 as approved by the Secretary of the State for Indiana and are the oldest MacDuffee Society in North America It was felt that the place of incorporation would favor no particular state and that the spelling of the Clan Society name be a composite spelling that would appeal to the many variations. The name of MacDuffie to McDuffie, McDuffee, Duffee, Duffy, and in an abbreviated form McPhee, MacPhie, MacFie.

This data and the names as spelled were compiled and published by the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, 1994. They have also been reviewed by the Council of Presidents in 2023-25, an outside consultant, and the Court of the Lord Lyon.

MacDuffee Clan Society Tartan-Modern

MacDuffee Clan Society Emblem