MACIVOR, the name of a minor sept, a branch of the great Siol Diarmid, or race of Campbell, having the same badge, the myrtle. The founder of this branch was Ivor, son of Duncan, lord of Lochow, in the time of Malcolm IV. (1153-1165), and his descendants, to distinguish themselves from the other branches of the family of Argyle, assumed the name of their ancestor for their surname, and are called MacIvors, and sometimes Clan-Ivor. They are also called Clan Glassary, and Clan Ivor Glassary, from a district in Argyleshire of that name, which was principally possessed by them. But the chieftain or head of the tribe is in Celtic called MacIvor, without regard to the Christian name. Their original lands were Lergachonzie, Asknish, and others in Cowal, but there were also many families of the name in Caithness, Inverness-shire, and the Lewis. Those who settled in Lochaber took the name of MacGlasrich, from the district of Glassary, and became followers of Macdonald of Keppoch.

      In 1564, Archibald, fifth earl of Argyle, by and with the concurrence of the tribe of MacIvor and “Clan Glassary,” made a formal resignation, in presence of a notary public and several gentlemen, of the chieftainship there, in favour of his cousin Ivor MacIvor, of Lergachonzie and Asknish, and his heirs whomsoever, who, by the title-deeds of their estate, became bound to use the surname and arms of MacIvor, – the mottoes of the house of Argyle and that of MacIvor of Asknish being typical of their relative positions; the former, “ne obliviscaris;” and the latter, “nunquam obliviscar.” When Archibald, ninth earl of Argyle, was employed in quelling same civil commotions, in 1679, MacIvor, true to his motto, attended him with one hundred men of his own tribe; and when the earl returned from Holland in 1685, he again joined him, and was forfeited with him.

      After the Revolution, when the earl’s forfeiture was rescinded, Archibald, tenth earl and afterwards first duke of Argyle, gave back MacIvor’s estate to his son Duncan, and his heirs, on condition that they should bear the surname and arms of Campbell and of the family of MacIvor, (arma et cognomen de Campbell et Familiae de MacIver, genentibus, &c.).

      From the earls of Argyle, the MacIvors held several posts of trust and honour, such as the keeping of the castle of Inverary, &c. They were also hereditary coroners within a certain district.

      In the rebellion of 1745-6, the MacIvors went out with the Macdonalds of Keppoch, and at the battle of Culloden, they were drawn up as a separate body, with officers of their own, as they were anxious to be placed in a position where there was no chance of their being opposed to the Argyle militia, having the same badge and wearing their tartan.

      In 1853, the lord lyon king of arms, by interlocutor of his lordship’s depute, on the application of Duncan MacIvor Campbell, Esq. of Asknish, – (formerly Duncan Campbell Peterson, eldest son of the deceased James Paterson, of Clobber Hall, county Clare, Ireland, grandson of Agnes, eldest daughter of Angus Campbell of Asknish, ans nephew of Lieutenant-colonel Paterson, assistant-quartermaster-general of her majesty’s forces,) – recognised him as heir of line of the family of MacIvor of Asknish, and under a deed of entail, as heir of tailzie, now in possession of said estate, and, as such, “to use, bear, and constantly retain the arms and surname of Campbell and of the family of MacIvor and designation of Asknish.”