[4] The founder of the clan, according to legend, was a Thorkil (Torcadal) who was a member of the Scots army under Kenneth MacAlpin.

The legendary story states that Alpin, father of Kenneth MacAlpin, was killed in battle, and his head was carried off by enemy Picts.

The Barons McCorquodale are recorded at this time, as holding sway over lands in Argyll, west of Loch Awe.

They were centred at Phantelane (Anglicised from the Scottish Gaelic: Fionnt Eilean),[6] or the "white island".

[3] At one point in time, the entire shore of Loch Awe from Avich to Ard-an-aiseig was owned by the chiefs of the clan.

In 1556, the seal of Duncan McCorquodale of Phantelane bore the legend, "S.duncan.mak.corkatill", which surrounded a shield with, a stag trippant couped halfway paleways.

[3] By 1612, Duncan was dead and his younger sons, Iain and Lachlan, were declared by the Privy Council as "notorious thieves and the supporters of Clan Gregour".

[3] By the end of the 18th century there were McCorquodales living on Loch Aweside, who claimed to be descended from the legendary founder of the clan.

These two heraldic elements are derived from the coat of arms of "Duncan Macorquodaill of that Ilk", registered in 1672.

[3] These arms are recorded in the Lyon Register as argent, a stag gules attired Or issuing from a fess wreathed of the second and third.