[2] According to Iain Moncreiffe the MacGregors were descended from an ancient Celtic royal family, through the Abbots of Glendochart.

[4] It is possible that the eponymous Gregor from whom the family derives may have been Griogair, son of Dungal, who was allegedly co-ruler of Alba.

[2] The barony of Loch Awe which included much of the MacGregor lands was granted to the chief of Clan Campbell by Robert the Bruce.

[2] The Campbells had already built Kilchurn Castle which controlled the gateway to the western Highlands and they harried the MacGregors who were forced to retire deeper into their lands until they were restricted to Glenstrae.

[2] In 1547 Eian's son, Alistair, fought against the English at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh but died shortly after.

[2] The chiefship was claimed by his son, Alistair, but he was unable to stem the Campbell's persecution of his kinsmen, who over time became known as the Children of the Mist, a name associated with the MacGregors due to the extent of their losses.

[6] Colquhoun assembled a force of 500 foot and 300 cavalry and advanced to Glen Fruin to repel the Highland raiders.

[6] At the end of the 18th century, in an act of good will, the chiefs of the two clans met and shook hands on the site of the former slaughter.

[6] In April 1603, James VI of Scotland issued an edict that proclaimed the name of MacGregor as "altogidder abolisheed".

[10][full citation needed] Despite the savage treatment of the MacGregors, they had nevertheless fought for the king during the Scottish Civil War.

[12] After the rising, when the MacGregors were returning home, no-one ventured to interfere with them when they strode across Atholl, with their flying colours they strode passed Finlarig Castle where according to one source the Clan Campbell militia "durst not move more than pussies", and the MacGregors defying in broad daylight the outposts which Lord Campbell of Glenorchy had established in the passes.

[2] Eight hundred and twenty six MacGregors subscribed to a petition declaring General John Murray of Lanrick to be the true chief.

[14] His Gaelic designation is An t-Ailpeanach,[15] a name which bears testimony to the clan's traditional descent from Siol Alpin.

The clan seal was inscribed: "Triogal Ma Dh'ream / Een dhn bait spair nocht", which was interpreted as 'I am of royal descent/Slay and spare not'.

(The first part is Scottish Gaelic; the second is rather dialectal Scots language, which today would be rendered "E'en do but spair nocht".)