Alwyn MacArchill

Alwyn MacArchill appears in numerous contemporary sources during the reigns of David I and Malcolm IV.

Jackson noted that there is a charter in the reign of David I which mentions a man named Arkil who had lands between Haddington and Athelstaneford.

Barrow noted how Daniel wrote that Ailread stood at the king's table as chief steward, and served the dishes and divided the food for those present; Barrow stated that this would have been precisely the duties of Alfwin the rannair (the Gaelic rannair, means "sharer", "divider", i.e. 'the distributor of the food and provisions').

Barrow noted that Sir Maurice Powicke thought that Ailread's enemy was Walter, son of Alan.

[4] It has been thought that the Earls of Lennox were descendants in the male line, of Alwyn MacArchill, and his father Archill.

This man's father was thought to have been Archillus, son of Aykfrith;[1] and to have been a Northumbrian magnate, who was an exile of William the Conqueror.

[15] William Buchanan of Auchmar also stated that Alwyn MacArchill was the ancestor of the earls, yet gave him a different ancestry.

Buchanan stated that "Aluin MacArkill" was "a great favourite at court" during the reigns of David I and Malcolm IV.

An old David I , and young Malcolm IV , illustrated in a mid-12th-century charter.
Arms of the mediaeval Earls of Lennox .