The Clans Who Fought at Culloden: Jacobite & Government Sides Explained

On 16 April 1746, Culloden brought together regiments recruited from Highland, Lowland and overseas communities in the last pitched battle on British soil. Some supported the Stuart cause; others served the government. Understanding which clans fought at Culloden means looking at particular branches, regiments and people, rather than assuming that a surname determined everyone’s allegiance.

Quick Answer: Which Clans Fought at Culloden?

The principal Jacobite clans at Culloden were Cameron, Fraser, MacDonald, Murray, Drummond, MacLean, and Stewart of Appin. On the government side, the principal Scottish clan force was the Argyll Militia, largely Campbell men. Many clans sent men to both sides, and some were divided within themselves. Culloden was not a simple Highland versus Lowland confrontation — it was a civil war within Scotland that cut through clan, family, and community.

The Jacobite Clans at Culloden

The names below are a starting point for identifying regiments and family associations. They are not a complete roll of individual soldiers, and a shared surname does not prove that an ancestor fought here.

Which Clans Fought for Bonnie Prince Charlie?

The clans who took the field for the Jacobite cause at Culloden had mostly been committed to the Stuart rising since its beginning at Glenfinnan in August 1745. Their regiments had fought at Prestonpans, marched to Derby and back, and stood at Falkirk Muir before the final confrontation on Drummossie Moor.

• Clan Cameron — among the most committed Jacobite clans at Culloden, the Camerons under Lochiel had been first to join the Forty-Five and suffered devastating losses on the day. Lochiel himself was wounded. See Clan Cameron history.
• Clan Fraser — the Fraser regiment was one of the strongest Jacobite units at Culloden, commanded on the field by Charles Fraser of Inverallochy. Simon Fraser, Lord Lovat — the Old Fox — was executed for treason afterward, the last person to be beheaded on Tower Hill. See Clan Fraser history.
• Clan MacDonald — multiple MacDonald regiments fought at Culloden, positioned on the left of the Jacobite line. Their charge faltered under withering fire before they could close with the enemy. The MacDonalds' grievance at being denied their traditional right-wing position has been debated ever since. See Clan Donald history.
• Clan Murray — Lord George Murray, the finest Jacobite commander of the Forty-Five, led the right wing at Culloden with characteristic aggression. The Atholl Brigade broke through the government front line before being overwhelmed. See Clan Murray history.
• Clan Drummond — the Drummond regiment fought on the Jacobite right. See Clan Drummond history.
• Clan MacLean — the MacLeans raised men for the Forty-Five and were present at Culloden, maintaining the Jacobite loyalty they had shown at every rising since Killiecrankie. See Clan MacLean history.
• Clan Stewart of Appin — the Appin regiment fought fiercely on the Jacobite right and took devastating casualties. The mystery of the Appin Murder — who killed Colin Campbell of Glenure in 1752 — grew directly from the bitterness of Culloden's aftermath. See Clan Stewart history.
• Clan Gordon — elements of Clan Gordon fought for the Jacobite cause at Culloden. See Clan Gordon history.

Which Clans Fought for the Government at Culloden?

The government side at Culloden included regular British army regiments — English, Scottish, and some with Irish Protestant connections — as well as the Argyll Militia drawn largely from Campbell country.

• Clan Campbell — the Argyll Militia, primarily Campbell men, served on the government side at Culloden and played a role in the battle and its immediate aftermath. The Argyll leadership’s government allegiance reflected political and religious commitments as well as regional rivalries; it should not be applied to every person named Campbell. See Clan Campbell history.
• Clan Hamilton — Hamilton connections were present in the regular army structure on the government side. See Clan Hamilton history.

Which Clans Were on Both Sides at Culloden?

One of the most important and frequently overlooked facts about Culloden is that many clan families were divided. Not every member of a Jacobite clan supported the rising, and not every Campbell opposed it. Brothers fought on opposite sides. Chiefs made decisions that not all their clansmen shared. Some clans hedged deliberately — sending one son to each camp to ensure the family's survival regardless of the outcome.

Families including the Murrays and Mackintoshes illustrate divided allegiances during the rising; this is different from proving that every branch fielded men in both armies at Culloden. The idea of Culloden as a clean Highland versus Lowland, Catholic versus Protestant confrontation is a simplification. It was a civil war, and civil wars are rarely clean.

What Happened to the Clans After Culloden?

The aftermath of Culloden was systematic and deliberate. Cumberland's orders gave no quarter on the field, and the weeks that followed brought the burning of townships, the killing of wounded men, and the transportation of prisoners. The legislation that followed was designed to prevent any future Highland rising:

• The Heritable Jurisdictions Act 1747 stripped clan chiefs of their private courts and legal authority over their people
• The Act of Proscription 1746 reinforced disarmament and introduced restrictions on male civilian Highland dress, with exemptions; bagpipes were not named in its prohibitions
• The Disarming Acts collected weapons from Highland communities
• Forfeiture stripped rebel chiefs of their estates, removing the economic base that tied clansmen to their land

For the legal changes, see why clan chiefs lost their power. The distinction between dress restrictions and a supposed bagpipe ban is explained in the University of Amsterdam’s account of bagpipe myths.

Over the following century, the Clearances accelerated what legislation had begun. Entire communities were removed from the glens to make way for sheep. The people went to the coast, to the Lowland towns, to North America, to Australia. They carried their clan names with them.

Why Do the Culloden Clans Still Matter Today?

Culloden holds a powerful place in Scottish family memory. For some families, documented connections lead to combatants, prisoners or communities affected by the aftermath. For others, it supplies historical context rather than a proven ancestral turning point. Migration had many causes, so the story of a particular family needs its own evidence.

Follow the full Battle of Culloden account for the events of the day, or use our guide to researching an ancestor’s connection to take a family-history question further. The regiments and battlefield memorials guide adds context for a visit.

For a wider view of the clan, tartan and family-name traditions connected to this history, you can browse our Scottish gifts collection.

A familiar name can make a gift feel personal. Browse the designs for your family spelling, then choose a mug, blanket or other item that suits the person you have in mind.