Scottish Surnames of Clan Menzies – Origins, Tartans and Clan History

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If your surname is Menzies, Mein, Dewar or MacMinn, you may carry a link to one of Scotland’s oldest Highland clans. The Scottish surnames of Clan Menzies stretch across Perthshire and beyond, connecting thousands of diaspora families to ancestral lands in the heart of the Highlands. This guide covers the clan’s origins, its associated surnames, its striking tartan, and where to visit today.

Who Are the Menzies? A Norman Name with Scottish Roots

The Menzies name came to Scotland in the 12th century. It arrived with the Norman influence that spread across Britain after 1066.

The name comes from the Norman French place name “Mesnières” — a village in Normandy. In Scotland, it was adapted over time into “Menzies”. The traditional Scottish pronunciation is “Mingis”, not “Men-zees”. Many Scots still use this older form today.

The first recorded Menzies in Scotland was Sir Robert de Meyners. He received lands in Perthshire and Fortingall from King Alexander II in the early 13th century. From there, the clan put down deep roots in Highland Perthshire. Their clan seat was at Weem, near Aberfeldy. Castle Menzies still stands there today and welcomes visitors.

Scottish Surnames of Clan Menzies – The Full List

Clan Menzies includes several surname variants. These surnames developed as the clan spread across Perthshire and into other parts of Scotland.

• Menzies — The main clan name. Pronounced “Mingis” in Scotland. Often anglicised in overseas communities.
• Mein / Maine / Means / Men — Anglicised forms of the Menzies name. Common in communities where Gaelic and Scots English mixed.
• MacMinn / MacMyn — Gaelic forms meaning “son of Menzies”. Found in older Perthshire parish records.
• Dewar — A traditional sept of Clan Menzies. The Dewars held the role of hereditary keepers of sacred relics in Perthshire.
• McNish — Another sept linked to the clan. Found in Perthshire records from the 17th and 18th centuries.
• Rattray — An associated Perthshire family with close ties to the Menzies clan lands around Aberfeldy.

If your family records show any of these names from Perthshire or Breadalbane, you may well have Menzies roots. Use old parish records and the ScotlandsPeople database to confirm the connection.

The Menzies Tartan

Clan Menzies has one of Scotland’s most striking tartans. It features bold red and white checks with green and black accents. Few tartans are as easy to spot on the dance floor of a Highland games.

There are two main versions:

• Ancient Menzies — Softer, muted tones. This reflects how original plant-based dyes would have looked.
• Modern Menzies — Brighter reds and whites. This version uses modern chemical dyes for a bolder look.

Both versions are worn today by clan members at Highland games in Scotland, Australia, Canada and the United States. The Clan Menzies Society holds the official records and promotes the tartan globally.

Castle Menzies – Heart of the Clan

Castle Menzies stands at Weem, near Aberfeldy in Perthshire. It is one of the finest examples of a Z-plan Scottish tower house. The current building dates from around 1571 to 1577.

The castle served as the seat of the Menzies chiefs for over 400 years. It was a real centre of power in Highland Perthshire.

Bonnie Prince Charlie stopped at Castle Menzies in February 1746, before the Battle of Culloden. He rested there on his march south. Just days later, the Duke of Cumberland used the same castle as his headquarters. The building sat at the heart of Scotland’s most dramatic conflict.

The Clan Menzies Society bought the castle in 1957 and has been restoring it ever since. Today it is open to the public from April to October. Entry is by donation. The society runs a small clan museum inside.

The Clan Menzies in the Jacobite Risings

Clan Menzies backed the Jacobite cause in both the 1715 and 1745 risings. They were loyal to the Stuart line and paid dearly for it.

Sir Robert Menzies of Menzies joined the 1715 rising. The clan then supported Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745. After the defeat at Culloden, life changed for every Highland clan.

The British government banned tartan. They restricted the bagpipes. They dismantled the clan system piece by piece. Many Jacobite clans lost their lands. The Menzies survived, but the old Highland world they had known was gone.

For more on this period, read our guide to the clans of Scotland. You can also explore how Clan Cameron — another Jacobite clan from the Highlands — faced the same challenges.

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The Highland Clearances and Menzies Emigration

The Highland Clearances hit Perthshire hard in the 18th and 19th centuries. Landlords forced families off the land to make way for sheep. Thousands lost their homes and their way of life.

Many Menzies families left Scotland during this period. They went to Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States. Canada received a large wave of Perthshire emigrants. Glengarry County in Ontario has strong ties to Highland clans.

Australia also drew many Menzies emigrants. The most famous was Sir Robert Gordon Menzies. He became Australia’s longest-serving Prime Minister. He held office from 1939 to 1941 and again from 1949 to 1966. He was a proud Scot who never forgot his roots.

If you want to trace your family’s emigration story, learning how to research Scottish ancestry is the best place to start. ScotlandsPeople holds the key parish records for Perthshire.

Famous Menzies Around the World

The Menzies name has travelled a long way from its Perthshire roots.

Sir Robert Gordon Menzies (1894–1978) was born in Jeparit, Victoria, Australia. He was the 12th Prime Minister of Australia. He held office longer than any other Australian leader and founded the Liberal Party of Australia. He often spoke with pride about his Scottish heritage.

John Menzies (1808–1879) was a Scottish businessman from Edinburgh. He founded John Menzies plc, which grew into a major British newsagent chain serving railway stations across the UK. The company remained a household name for well over a century.

Sir Frederick Menzies (1875–1949) was a British public health pioneer. He worked to improve child health in the early 20th century and left a lasting mark on welfare policy.

These names show how far the Menzies clan reached from its Perthshire base. Their impact went well beyond Scotland.

Genealogy Records for Clan Menzies Research

If you are tracing Menzies ancestry, Perthshire is your starting point. Here are the key sources to use:

• ScotlandsPeople (scotlandspeople.gov.uk) — Scotland’s main genealogy database. It holds births, marriages and deaths from 1855. It also covers Old Parish Records going back to the 1600s for Perthshire parishes like Weem, Fortingall and Aberfeldy.
• Perthshire Old Parish Records — Look for the parishes of Weem, Kenmore, Dull and Fortingall. These cover the heart of Menzies country.
• Valuation Rolls — Land records from 1855 onwards that show where Menzies families lived and worked in Perthshire.
• Passenger Lists — If your family emigrated to Canada or Australia, arrival records can confirm the journey. ScotlandsPeople includes some emigration data.
• The Clan Menzies Society — The society holds private records and can help connect you with others researching the same family lines. Visit them at Castle Menzies in Weem.

Visit Clan Menzies Country – Where to Go in Perthshire

A trip to Menzies country covers some of Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes. Perthshire is often called “The Fair County” for good reason.

• Castle Menzies, Weem, Aberfeldy PH15 2JD — Open April to October. The Clan Menzies Society runs a small museum inside. Entry is by donation.
• The Menzies Mausoleum, Weem — Located in the churchyard at Weem. Former clan chiefs are buried here. A quiet and moving place to visit.
• Fortingall — An ancient Menzies stronghold. The village is also home to the Fortingall Yew, believed to be up to 5,000 years old and one of Europe’s oldest living things.
• Glen Lyon — A long, dramatic valley through former Menzies territory. One of Scotland’s most beautiful glens and largely unknown to tourists.
• Aberfeldy — The gateway town to Menzies country. General Wade’s Bridge, built in 1733, crosses the River Tay here and is a fine piece of Georgian military engineering.

For help planning your visit, see our 7-day Scottish ancestry itinerary. It covers how to combine clan visits with heritage sites across Scotland.

If you are also researching neighbouring Perthshire clans, take a look at Clan Robertson, whose lands bordered those of the Menzies in Highland Perthshire.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you pronounce Menzies?

The traditional Scottish pronunciation is “Mingis”. The “z” in Scottish names like Menzies was once written as a letter called a “yogh”, which made a “y” or “ng” sound. So “Menzies” is correctly said as “Mingis” rather than “Men-zees”. Many Scottish families still use this older form.

What is the Clan Menzies motto?

The Clan Menzies motto is “Vil God I Zal”. This is an archaic Scottish form meaning “Will God I Shall”. It reflects the clan’s deep faith and determination. The motto appears on the clan badge and official regalia.

Where is Castle Menzies?

Castle Menzies is located at Weem, near Aberfeldy in Perthshire, Scotland. The postcode is PH15 2JD. The castle is open from April to October and is run by the Clan Menzies Society. Entry is by donation.

What sept names belong to Clan Menzies?

The main sept names of Clan Menzies include Dewar, MacMinn, MacMyn, Mein, Maine, Means, Men and McNish. The Rattray family also had close ties to the clan. If your surname appears on this list and your family came from Perthshire, you may have Menzies ancestry.

Did the Menzies clan support the Jacobites?

Yes. Clan Menzies backed both the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite risings. Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed at Castle Menzies in February 1746, just before the Battle of Culloden. The clan’s Jacobite sympathies were strong, and they paid the price after the Jacobite defeat at Culloden.

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