MacDonald of Ardnamurchan

His brother, Angus Og Macdonald, Lord of the Isles, was a great ally of King Robert the Bruce.

In 1497 Sir Alexander MacDonald of Lochalsh rebelled against the king and invaded the lands of Ross-shire, where he was defeated at the Battle of Drumchatt by the Clan Mackenzie.

In the following year (1596) a renewal of the feud with Maclean was brought about by an unfortunate incident which resulted in the death of John Og MacIain, it appears, had been betrothed to Lochiel's daughter.

While preparations were being made for the celebration of the marriage of the young chieftain, and as he was returning from a visit to Lochiel, accompanied by a small retinue, he was attacked and slain by his uncle, who was lying in wait for him at a place in Ardnamurchan called ever since Faoghail Dhomnuill Chonulluich (Donald Macdonald's Ford).

On hearing of Maclain's death, Alan Cameron of Lochiel vowed vengeance on the murderer, who immediately after committing the crime took refuge in Mull, and put himself under the protection of Lachlan Mor of Duart.

Lachlan Mor accordingly collected a force of 220 men, and sent his eldest son, Hector, and Donald Maclain, at their head to the mainland.

He fell, but for a moment regaining his strength he arose and expressed a desire, it is feared a treacherous one, to deliver his sword to Lochiel.

Many settled in Moidart under the Clan Macdonald of Clanranald whilst others migrated east to Badenoch, and others found new homes in the Scottish Lowlands.

Many MacIain derivatives like "McKain" and "McKean", can also be plentifully found all over Scotland in Birth and Marriage records from the 1600s to the present.

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in clan MacIain identity, especially in the diaspora residing in the United States.