THE THREE SLIOCHDAN OF CLANN MHUIRICH

      Clann Mhuirich fell naturally into three main divisions or lineages called sliochdan in the Gaelic. Each of these descended from one of the three sons of Ewan Bàn and each retained its separate identity until the end of the 18th century. These lineages were the Sliochd Choinnich (Kenneth), the Sliochd Iain (John), and the Sliochd Ghill-ìosa (Gilles). Each sliochd was usually represented separately whenever the clan signed bonds of manrent or friendship with neighbouring clans or feudal barons and when the clan went to war its officer corps was drawn from among the leading men of each of the sliochdan.

      The Sliochd Choinnich was invariably represented by Macpherson of Clunie -- as Sir Aeneas Macpherson expressed it, "his Cheef was born their Collonel"; the Sliochd Iain generally by Macpherson of Pitmain, but at times by the Macphersons of Invertromie or Strathmashie; and the Sliochd Ghill-ìosa by Macpherson of Invereshie or his principal cadets of Phoness or Dalraddy. All of these designations refer to the principal farms occupied by these particular families in the clan.

      Sliochd Ghill-ìosa alone was exclusively located in Badenoch, and was smaller than the other two. The Sliochd Choinnich, while consisting eventually of many Badenoch families, was also responsible for the establishment of families in Strathdearn and Strathnairn, of which the Macphersons of Brin and the Macphersons of Essich were the most prominent. All of these families maintained contact with the main wing of the clan in Badenoch, and when the Brin family died out in the direct line in 1668 the estate of Brin was inherited by Macpherson of Clunie.

      The Sliochd Iain lived for the most part in Badenoch, but the senior branch was detached in the Parish of Rothiemurchus, while the "Kieulich" Macphersons or McCurrichs, descended from Gaol a' Bharain (the Baron of Kilravock's Favourite), an unnamed younger son of the Garvamore family, had become numerous throughout the old Lordship of Pettie between Nairn and Inverness by 1700. The senior line of Garvamore, in the meantime, moved to the Braes of Lochaber before 1600 to establish itself at Inverroy among the Keppoch Macdonalds. At the end of the 17th century all Macphersons in eastern Inverness-shire could trace their descent in one of the three sliochdan of the clan.