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Gilchrist means "servant of Christ." The name spelled in Gaelic is "MacIllechriosd." Gillascop MacGilchrist had a charter of the five penny lands of Fyncharne and others in 1243 from King Alexander II. This charter is probably the oldest one in existence dealing with the lands in Argyllshire. Alun MacGillecrist was one of the witnesses to a charter by Moregrund, Earl of Mar. Duncan MacGilchrist of Levenaghes (Lennox) rendered homage in 1296 at Berwick-on-Tweed. At that date, Johan Enynsone MacGilchrist, one of the King's tenants in Perthshire, also rendered homage. Donenaidus Makgilkriste, dominus de Tarbard, granted to the Monks of Paisley the right of cutting wood within all his territory for the building and repair of their monastery. This charter is updated but probably is of the end of the thirteenth century. From this Donald, according to Crawford, are descended the M'Gilchrists of North Bar; Merquirhir McIlcrist was tenant in Cornekmoir, Tiree in 1541. Gillechreiste McIlChreist and Donald Beg McIlchreist in Glenlyon were fined for reset of fugitive members of Clan Gregor in 1613.
An Ancient History
In the fourth century, the Roman Empire was in decline. The Irish kings took to the seas and made war on the remnants of once mighty Rome. The most famous of these kings was a half real, half legendary person known as Niall of the Nine Hostages (derived from the ancient tradition of capturing important persons and holding them for ransom). The powerful Ui’neill’s (O’Neill) who ruled Northern Ireland for nearly 800 years claim decent from Niall of the Nine Hostages. Lochlainn, (from which MacLachlan is derived) was a favorite forename in the Ui’neill family. About 563 A.D., a relative of the Ui’neill’s, Saint Columba, left Ireland and founded the first Christian church in Scotland on the island of Iona (this is the burial site of the kings of Scotland). Subsequent waves of immigrants followed and formed the Scottish kingdom of Dalriada which covered the area that is now Argyll (home of the MacLachlan clan) and Kintyre and some of the neighboring islands. Antrothan, a cousin of Aodh Ui’neill, (king of Ulster from 1030 -1033), was one of those immigrants. He married the daughter of the King of Dalriada and received lands. From that union arose a son named Aedh whose son was Gilchrist. (This was about the same time that McBeth ruled part of Scotland). In those days surnames were uncommon, and generally used only by people with wealth and power. When surnames began to be used, they were used to identify the person in relation to their leaders, saints or God. Gilli in Norse and Gilla in Irish were commonly used since in the Old Gaelic language it meant “man of” or “follower”. In the ancient Old Gaelic form, our name was either Giolla Chriost or Gilla (Gille) Criosd. It wasn’t until around the year 1000 that it began to appear as a single name, Gillacrist, and was used by Vikings and Celts alike.
Founders of Many Clans
Gilchrist, son of Aedh, mentioned above, was the father of Gilpatrick whose son was Lochlan Mor, credited with founding the MacLachlan Clan. In 1170 Gilbert, the son of Gille Criosd, First Earl of Angus, was granted the barony of Ogilvie, north of the Firth of Tay, near Glamis. From this arose the Ogilvie Clan. The MacFarlanes are descended from Gilchrist, brother of Maldowen, third of the ancient Earls of Lennox during the 13th century. A great-grandson of this Gilchrist was named Bartholomew (in Gaelic spelled “Parlan”). It is from him that the MacFarlane's take their name. The founder of the Kintail branch of the MacRae Clan was Fionnla Dubh MacGillechriosd who died in 1416.
Other Records
The name “Gilchrist” in a variety of forms occurs as both a first name and as a last name in numerous early legal documents. The earliest of these is in 1132 when Gillecrist mac Finguni and Gillecrist mac Cormoic witnessed several grants made in behalf of the Abbeys of Paisley and Lennox. In 1230 Gilchrist MacLachlan witnessed a charter granted by Lomond, ancestor of the Lamond Clan. Gillecrist de lacu (of the loch) was one of the assessors of the lands of Dunduff in 1231. Gillascop MacGilchrist had a charter of the five penny lands of Fyncharne and others in 1243 from King Alexander II. This is probably the oldest existing charter dealing with lands in Argyllshire. In 1267 King Alexander III appointed Gilchrist MacNaughton and his heirs as keepers of the Castle of Fraoch Eilean in Loch Awe.
The St. Martin’s Cross in Columba’s mission on the island of Iona, bears an inscription in Irish characters which translates to “a prayer for Gillacrist who made this cross”. The date of the inscription is unknown. It is believed to date from the seventh century but could have been made anytime up until the final Viking sacking of Iona on Christmas Day in 946 A.D. Gillechreiste McIlchreist and Donald Beg McIhchreist were fined in Glenlyon for harboring members of Clan Gregor in 1613. Rob Roy MacGregor (1671-1734) was a member of this since John Knox lead the Scottish Parliament to declare the Presbyterian Church the national church of Scotland in 1560. King James I authorized a Gilchrist coat of arms in Ulster, Ireland in 1657.

The Viking Connections
In 1238, two Norse chieftains, Gospatrick and Gilchrist, son of M’Erchar, were directed by The King of Norway to go to the Isle of Man. Harald Gilchrist (some translations use the Norwegian spelling Gillikrist since “Christ” is spelled “Krist”) lead the Norwegians in a civil war in 1134-35 and the throne remained in the hands of his descendents for two hundred years. Gille Criosd, Earl of Angus whose son founded the Ogilvie Clan (above) was probably Norse.
Miscellaneous
Two clans – the MacLachlans and the Ogilvies, claim the Gilchrists. The Gilchrists who were vassals of the ancient Earls of Lennox almost certainly fought alongside the great Scottish hero, William Wallace (Braveheart), at his victory over the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297. They were likely with Robert the Bruce at the 1314 Battle of Bannockburn when the Scots won their independence from England. The Gilchrists were probably at the Battle of Cullodin Moor in 1746 since both the MacLachlans and Ogilvies participated. Throughout history the Gilchrists have held many titles and held vast lands. Unfortunately, as a result of wrong political choices or having no male heirs, these land and titles passing to other families and clans. “Mac” is used to denote “son of” as in “MacLachlan” or “MacGilchrist”. The Gilchrists that exist today did not drop the “Mac” from their name. They continued to exist as the “Gilchrists” even after the MacGilchrists came into existence. A family profession? More Gilchrists have entered the educational profession as teachers, professors and educators that any other field.
The Gilchrist Coat-of-Arms in Kilmartin Cemetery
Found in the ancient cemetery of Kilmartin Parish, located between Lochgilphead and Oban in western Scotland, is the only known display of a "Gilchrist Coat-of-Arms." Two panels imbedded into a stone wall located on the left as one enters the gate commemorate the death of William MacLachlan and his wife, Grisella MacGilchrist. William MacLachlan became minister of the parish in 1669 and because of his continued allegiance to Episcopalianism he was ultimately denied his pastorate whereupon he and his family moved to Ireland.




The MacLachlan Monument
The upper panel has displayed in two parts the MacLachlan coat-of-arms on the left and the MacGilchrist coat-of-arms on the right. The MacGilchrist arms are clearly seen as being "a lion rampant within an engrailed border", giving evidence that Grisella was very likely a daughter of Donald MacGilchrist of Northbarr (near Glasgow). Framing the shield which includes the two coats-of-arms are what appears to be clusters of fruit. On the lower panel in what is described as "thin incised letters" is the following inscription:
QUICQUID MORTALE HABENT MR GULIELMUS
M(AC)LAUCHLANE CELLAE MARTINENSIS RECTOR
AC GRISELLA McGILCHRIST EIUS UXOR EORUM/QUE
LIBERI UTPOTE MORTIS EXUVIAE IN HOC DIVERSORIO
LATERE OPTAT
1686
"Mr. William MacLachlan, rector of Kilmartin,
desires that his mortal remains, and those of
his wife Grisella MacGilchrist and their
children, should lie in this resting place
as spoils of Death, 1686."

The Gilchrist Coat-of-Arms
The existence of the Gilchrist coat-of-arms, "a lion rampant within an engrailed border" as seen on the right of the MacLachlan coat-of-arms on the Kilmartin Cemetery memorial, raises a most interesting question. If the MacGilchrists/Gilchrists were in fact the descendants of the ancient Earls of Lennox, why would they have made use of the Dalriadic Lion (rampant lion) which was the symbol used by the descendants of Anrothan? In providing a possible understanding to the question Mr. Alastair Campbell of Airds, Unicorn Pursuivant to the Court of the Lord Lyon, has offered the following explanation: "There is a reference to the arms of Gilchrist being Gules, a Lion Rampant Argent, in Pont’s Mss. The normal practice is for Heralds to search and see whether arms for a particular name exist and to produce arms which have a relation to the former ones. That appears to be what has happened in this case and does not have any real significance as to the actual ancestry of the family of North Barr. The matter would have been different had they been ancient users of arms."
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