The MacCloys of Bute and Arran are offshoots from the family of
Fullarton in Ayrshire. A quote from McFarlane says: "Two sons left
the house of Fullerton, one by the name of Lewis, and the other James.
Lewis went to Arran and was called McLewis or McCloy. He acquired lands
in Arran holding of the crown and was made crowner of Arran."
Martin says the most ancient family in Arran is reckoned to be Mack
Lewis, whose surname in English is Fullerton.
The name appears in 1472 as Maclow, in 1511 as Maclowe and in 1526 as
McLoy. Donald Clowie or Marcloye was a witness in Cowell, 1587 and 1540,
and Gilbert MacLoy in Glendernall was slain along with the Lamonts in
the Massacre at Toward in 1646. Rev. Donald McCloy was Minister at
Kilmoden in 1609, and his grandson was concecrated Bishop of the
non-jurant church in Edinburgh in 1705 and elected Primus of the
Scottish Episcopal Church in 1720.
Sometimes the name is said MacLewis by English, some Gaelic writers
thought the name Fullarton meant "Fullers Town".
Fullarton, Fullerton, Foulerton
From the Barony of Fullerton in Dundonald Parish, Ayrshire. Alanus de
Fowlertoun who founded and endowed out of his lands a convent of
Carmelite or White Friars at Irwine died in 1280. His son, Adam de
Fowlerton, had a charter of the lands of Foullartoun and Gaylis in Kyle
Stewart from James the High Steward, 1283. The charter was renewed by
Robert 2 in 1371. A branch of the family settled in Arran and are said
to have had a charter of the lands of Kilmichael there, in 1307, with
the office of Corouner, given to them by Bruce. In 1329 there is a
record of payment of the receipts of Arran by Ade de Foulerton.
William James McCloy was the first of our (Tennessee) branch of the
McCloy family to come to America. He left the family home called
"Hollymount", the Nedd, Ballykelly, Co. Derry, North Ireland
on May 25, 1828, with the blessings of his family and friends.
In the 18th century, Arran seems to have been part of the extensive
lands of the Borldom of Monteith. In the year 1303, the lands of the
High Stewart included Bute, Arran, Cowal, Knapdole, and the two
Cumbraes, the former Montieth possessions. Probably they were restored
to Montieth after his support of Bruce. Under Robert 2 the lands were
part of the Royal Domain. A son of Robert 2 was hereditary sheriff of
Bute and Arran by 1385 or earlier. There are still stewarts in Arran,
though no longer Lords of the Isle. Some are said to be of Appin
descent, and they are known as the Stiubhartaich Bheag, or little
Stewarts, in contrast with the big Stewarts of the old Bute connection.
The men of Arran are sometimes included with the Bute men under the name
of Brandanes. There were comings and goings with the North of Ireland,
fosterage and friendly connections.
Arran is also famous as the place where Robert Bruce sought shelter in
hiding from the soldiers of Edward of England. Tradition has it that to
avoid his pursuers he moved about the island, sheltering at one time in
the famous King's cave at Drumadoon, and at another at the ancient
pre-historic fort in beautiful Glen Cloy, called For na'shean, or Mound
of the Fairies, from which a view is obtained of the whole glen. When
hunted by bloodhounds, he used to take exercise by wading up and down
the Glen Cloy burn at High Glen Cloy, where it runs under the fine woods
of Kilmichael, the home of the McCloys (or Fullertons, MacLouies,
Fullartons). So it happens that amongst the people of Arran and Bute are
still represented the old Barons who date from the days of Bruce and
Robert2, and in many cases from the time of Somerled. The old Gaelic
proverb says: "Clann Bhridean agus Clann Ennair, na clorrne a's
sine ann an Arrinn", and among the old names are also McCloy and
Fullerton, nearly all these families are represented in Arran, though
their names date back longer than those of half of the members of the
House of Lords.
Submitted by Sam McCloy (AKA Biggy)
Mccloy is the 14,550th most popular last name (surname) in the United
States
