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Motto: Fortiter - "Boldly".

Badge: A hand holding a dagger.

Tartan: The older of the two, is complex and can be recognised as belonging to the group of MacDonald tartans. The second tartan omits the white and light green lines and has links with the MacDougall patterns. Septs include Allison, MacAlaster, MacAllister, Sanders and Saunders.

Branches: The MacAlisters are one of the chief branches of the clan Donald. The founder was Alasdair Mor, younger son of Donald, originator of the clan Donald, and grandson of Somerled of Argyll. He is mentioned in the Irish records as having been killed in 1299 in a fight with his cousin, Alasdair MacDougall of the senior line of Somerled.

Septs of the Clan: Alastair, Alexander, Alison, Alistair,Allison, Alister, MacAlasdair, MacAlaster, MacAlester,MacAlister, MacAllister, MacAllister, McAlister, McAlester, McAllister, McCallister, McCollister, McLister, Sanders, Saunders

The MacAlisters descend from Alasdair Mor a younger son of Donald of Islay, founder of Clan Donald and great-grandson of King Somerled. The descendants of Alasdair Mor settled mainly in South Knapdale (Kintyre) and in 1481 Charles MacAlister was invested with the Stewartry of Kintyre by James III. The principal family was the MacAlisters of Loup who were supporters of the royal house of Stewart. Alexander, 8th of Loup fought at Killiecrankie with Bonnie Dundee. He was succeeded by his brother Charles, who married a daughter of Lamont of that Ilk. Charles, 12th of Loup, married Janet Somerville, an heiress of Kennox in Ayrshire. The MacAlisters of Loup and Kennox have since sold their seat at Kennox. The present chief was recognised in 1991 by the Lord Lyon as being the rightful chief of the clan. He is the 17th chief of Clan MacAlister. Other important cadet branches include the MacAlisters of Tarbet who became the Hereditary Constables of the Royal Castle of Tarbert on behalf of the Earls of Argyll. One other branch established itself at Glenbarr in Argyll, and another took the name of Alexander and settled in Menstrie in Clackmananshire as vassals of the Earl of Argyll, many of this branch later settled in Ireland in the 17th century and became Earls of Caledon.

Some additional information...

A clan at one time of considerable importance, claiming connection with the great clan Donald, is the Macalisters, or MacAlesters, formerly inhabiting the south of Kanpdale, and the north of Kintyre in Aryleshire. They are traced to Alister or Alexander, a son of Angus Mor, of the clan Donald. Exposed to the encroachments of the Campbells, their principle possessions became, ere long, absorbed by different branches of that powerful clan. The chief of this sept of the Macdonalds is Somerville MacAlester of Loup in Kintyre, and Kennox in Ayrshire. In 1805 Charles Somerville Macalester Esq. of Loup, assumed the name and arms of Somerville in addition to his own, in right of his wife, Janet Somerville, inheritrix of the entailed estate of Kennox, whom he had married in 1792.From their descent from Alexander, eldest son of Angus Mor, Lord of the Isles and Kintyre in 1284, the grandson if Somerled, thane of Argyle, the MacAlesters claim to be the representatives, after MacDonell of Glengarry, of the ancient Lords of the Isles, as heirs male of Donald, grandson of Somerled.After the forfeiture of the Lords of the Isles in 1493, the MacAlesters became so numerous as to form a separate and independent clan. At that period their chief was names John or Ian Dubh, whose residence was at Ard Phadriuc or Ardpatrick in South Knapdale. One of the family, Charles MacAlester, is mentioned as steward of Kintyre in 1481.Alexander MacAlester was one of those Highland chieftains who were held responsible, by the act "called the Black Band", passed in 1587, for the peaceable behaviour of their clansmen and the "broken men" who lived on their lands. He died when his son, Godfrey or Gorrie MacAlester, was yet under age.In 1618 the laird of Loup was named one of the twenty barons and gentlemen of the shire of Argyle who were made responsible for the good rule of the earldom during Argyll's absence. He married Margaret, daughter of Colin Campbell of Kilberry, and though as a vassal of the Marquis of Argyll, he took no part in the wars of the Marquis of Montrose, many of his clan fought on the side of the latter.The principle cadet of the family of Loup was MacAlester of Tarbert. There is also MacAlister of Glenbarr, county of Argyle.