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MacLeod,
The Scottish Connection?
Leod
is Gaelic corruption of the Norse Odd
thus MacLeod, traditionally descending from Norwegian kings of Man,
could mean 'son of Odd'. The clan, widely accepted as Norse origin,
is strong where Norwegians settled in west Scotland, notably Skye and
Hebrides.
Visitors to the
Outer Hebrides should be familiar with the towers of Dunvegan at the
head of Loch Bracadale on the western side of The Isle of Skye. The
ancient seat of the MacLeods is the oldest inhabited mansion in Scotland,
built by the Norse rovers in the ninth and tenth century. It is, in
fact, still inhabited today. Here may be found the story of the MacLeod
chiefs who, for centuries, made Dunvegan Castle their stronghold and
home. According to tradition the MacLeods were descended from the Norwegian
kings of Man. Dunvegan and the lands of Skye came into their possession
by marriage with a daughter of MacRaild, the heiress of a Norwegian
chief. The history of the Clan MacLeod, bloodied by battles royal within
their own lineage as well as with the MacIntosh, the MacDonald and other
notable clans, is preserved elsewhere. Our interest here is the possibility
of a connection with the surname Hodgson.
Associated names
have a hazy history. Citing from Geoffrey Hodgson's The Hodgson Surname,
Its Norse Origins and Cumbrian Location, 1993, 'In Scotland, the
Hodgson surname is extremely rare. It is notable that the clan name
MacLeod is predominant in areas of Norwegian settlement in Western Scotland,
especially in Skye and the outer Hebrides. It is also widely accepted
that the clan is of Norse origin.' Geoffrey suggests 'that Leod
may have been a Gaelic corruption of the Norse Odd and thereby
the name MacLeod could mean son of Odd.' The Mac prefix
is from the Gaelic meaning son of.
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