On 16 April 1746, the last pitched battle on British soil brought together more Scottish clan names in a single place than almost any other event in history. The Battle of Culloden was a clan battle in the deepest sense — families and surnames from across the Highlands, the Islands, and the Lowlands gathered on Drummossie Moor, some for the Stuart cause, some against it. Understanding which clans fought at Culloden, what drove them there, and what happened to them afterward is central to understanding Scottish clan heritage and the diaspora it produced.
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
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, led by the Master of Lovat. 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 Campbells' consistent opposition to the Jacobite cause across every rising reflected their Presbyterian faith, their political alliance with the Hanoverian government, and their long-standing rivalry with the MacDonalds. 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.
The MacKenzies, the MacKintoshes, the Gordons, and many other clans had men on both sides. 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 banned the wearing of tartan, the carrying of arms, and the playing of bagpipes in the Highlands
- 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
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?
For millions of people across the world who carry Scottish clan surnames, Culloden is not ancient history. It is the wound that sent their ancestors across the ocean. The Cameron, Fraser, MacDonald, Murray, Stewart, MacLean, and Drummond names found in Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand are there in significant part because of what happened on Drummossie Moor on 16 April 1746.
Understanding which clan your family belongs to — and whether they stood at Culloden — is part of understanding where you come from and why your ancestors ended up where they did. Read the full battle account here: The Battle of Culloden 1746
At Celtic Ancestry Gifts, the clan names of Culloden are woven into blankets, printed on mugs, stitched into apparel, and displayed on ornaments and garden flags. Search your clan name on our homepage and honour the families who stood on that moor.
