There are two main branches of the clan: the MacLeods of Harris and Dunvegan, known in Gaelic as Sìol Tormoid ("seed of Tormod") and the Clan MacLeod of Lewis Assynt and Raasay, known in Gaelic as Sìol Torcaill ("seed of Torcall").

[3] The association is made up of ten national societies across the world including: Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States.

However, articles have been published in the Clan MacLeod magazine which suggest an alternative genealogy for Leòid, one in which he was not son of Olaf, but a 3rd cousin (some removed) from Magnus the last King of Mann.

These articles suggest that the relationship to the Kings of Mann was through a female line, that of Helga of the Beautiful Hair.

The dating of Christina's genealogy and the ability to line it up with known historical facts lend a great deal of authenticity to the claims of the authors.

[6] Torquil was actually a grandson of Tormod; Torquil's descendants held the lands of the Isle of Lewis until the early seventeenth century when the Mackenzies successfully overthrew the Lewismen,[6] partly with the aid of the Morrisons, and the MacLeods of Harris (Siol Tormod).

Younger branches of Siol Torquil held the mainland lands of Assynt and Cadboll longer, and the Isle of Raasay until 1846.

[6] Siol Tormod held Harris and Glenelg on the mainland, and also the lands of Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye.

[6] Leòid, according to tradition, died around 1280 and was buried on the holy island of Iona, where six successive chiefs of the clan found a last resting-place after him.

[7] Tormod, son of Leod, does not appear in contemporary records; though according to MacLeod tradition preserved in the 19th century Bannatyne manuscript, he was a noted soldier of his era and was present at the Battle of Bannockburn.

[8] Tormod's son and successor, Malcolm, is the first of the clan to appear in contemporary record when both he and his kinsman, Torquil, are recorded as "Malcolme, son to Tormode M'Cloyde",[9] and "Torkyll M'Cloyd",[9] in a royal charter dating to about 1343, during the reign of David II (r.

[10][11][12] Malcolm was succeeded by his eldest child, Iain Ciar, as fourth chief of the clan.

Iain Ciar appears in MacLeod tradition as the most tyrannical chief of the clan; his wife is also said to have been just as cruel as he.

[13] Tradition has it that the Lord of the Isles made another attack on Skye in 1395,[14] but Iain's grandson William MacLeod met the MacDonalds at Sligachan (Sligichen)[15] and drove them back to Loch Eynort (Ainort).

"[20] The Battle of Coire Na Creiche in 1601 on Skye saw the MacLeods defeated by Clan MacDonald of Sleat on the northern slopes of the Cuillin hills.

During the Civil War, after the Battle of Carbisdale in 1650 the defeated James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose surrendered himself to Neil MacLeod of Assynt at Ardvreck Castle.

[16] The MacLeods having supported the Jacobite rising of 1715, General Wade's report on the Highlands in 1724, estimated the clan strength at 1,000 men.

[24] The chief led 500 men of the MacLeod Independent Highland Companies in support of the Government at the Battle of Inverurie, on 23 December 1745, where they were defeated.

Possibly the best known is the Fairy Flag which has numerous traditions attributed its origins and supposed magical powers.

Scottish clans were largely collections of different families who held allegiance to a common chief.