Darroch

'Be Watchful'

Cnocbreac, one of many places on Jura where Darrochs have lived.

This name is sometimes said to derive from the Gaelic 'MacDara', meaning 'son of oak'. The Darrochs who settled around Stirling appear to derive their name from the lands of Darroch near Falkirk, where there once have been an oak grove. The chief's coat of arms bears three oak trees in deference to this legend. John Darroch was baillie of Stirling in 1406. John Darach de Cruce is mentioned in 1445, and may be the same as John Darraugh who was Commissioner to Parliament for the burgh of Stirling in 1450. Mariote Darrauch was nurse of Lady Margaret, second daughter of James II, in 1462. Marion Darroch of Stirling protested in 1471 that she had not given consent to the alienation of an annual rent due to her. Jacobus Darroch was a notary public who appears as a witness to a charter relating to the lands of the Stirlings of Keir around 1477.

he Darrochs were, however, most numerous and commonly associated with the Isles of Islay and Jura, where they were a part of the Clan Donald under the Lord of the Isles. The Clan Domhnuill Riabhaich took their name from a corruption of the Gaelic 'dath riabhach', meaning 'brindled colour'. This is said to have been adopted to distinguish them from the many fair-haired inhabitants of Jura, whom were known as 'dath buidhe', whom are of course the Buie clan. In 1623 the Mhic Ille Riabhach appear on a bond acknowledging as their lord and over-protector, Sir Donald MacDonald, first Baronet of Sleat, while he promises due protection to them in return. The patronymic of the chief became settled as 'McIllriech'. From

McIllriech of Jura descended the family whom became the Barons of Gourock, the port on the Clyde. Duncan Darroch, whom was born on Jura sometime before the the middle 18th century, left to make his fortune, ultimately settling in Jamaica. He prospered, amassed a considerable estate and determined to return to his native soul a success. In 1784 he acquired the lands and barony of Gourock from the Stewarts of Castlemilk. He matriculated arms and in the Register of th Lord Lyon was designated as 'Chief of that ancient name of which is McIllriech'. The supporters assigned to him by the Lord Lyon are presumably an illusion to his sojourn in exotic lands. In 1791 he married Janet, daughter of Angus Maclartie, a prosperous Grennock merchant, by whom he had several children. His son Duncan commanded the Glengarry Fencibles, rising to the rank of Lt. General. In 1799 he received public acknowledgment of his work by the Marquess Cornwall, who congratulated him on bringing the regiment into an outstanding fighting form. The general married Elizabeth, grandaughter of Sir James Cotter of Rockforest, Baronet. His eldest son, another Duncan, succeeded as third Baron of Gourock and followed a military career. As Major Darroch of Gourock he married Susan Parker, the daughter of the Laird of Fairlie in Ayrshire, who amassed a fortune from the West Indies trade. From this point it became traditional for the heir to the chiefship to be named Duncan, and this has continued to the present day.

The fourth Baron acquired the estate of Torridon in Ross-shire in 1873. Educated in England, he became a lawyer and was called to the Bar. He was, however, still Deputy Lord Lt. of Renfrewshire until his death in 1910. Miss Margaret Darroch of Gourock married in July 1927 the chief of Clan MacKintosh, Rear-Admiral Lachlan Mackintosh of MacKintosh, the father of the present chief. She actively assisted the MacKintosh in clan matters and eventually published a definitive history of her new family which is still highly regarded by modern historians. Duncan Darroch, sixth Baron of Gourock, the father of the present chief, was a distinguished soldier who served in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in both World Wars, retiring with the rank of Lt. Colonel. He was a member of the Royal Company of Archers and Commandant of the Cadet Corps of Stirlingshire.

Not all Darrochs went to the mainland, however. In 1658 Dugald Darroch presented 50 Psalms translated into Gaelic to Church authorities, who declared them unacceptable in construction. He then collaborated with other Gaelic scholars in Campbeltown, and ultimately a corrected version, known as the Caogaed ('Fifty') was published in glasgow in 1659. Dugald continued to minister to his congregation in Campbeltown, conducting services in both Gaelic and English. William Darroch, the minister of Kilchrenan and Dalavich, was a son of the manse, born around 1675. He was ultimately deposed from the ministry, allegedly for neglect of proper family worship.

ome of the places on Jura where Darrochs have lived are Cnocbreac, Knockrome-Ardfarnal and Kinuachdrachd.