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Steven
MacTavish of Dunardry
27th
Chief of Clan MacTavish
Steven Edward Stewart MacTavish of Dunardry
and Mrs. MacTavish (Leslie)
by Patricia Adams
Clan MacTavish Genealogist
From an unbroken line dating back to the early
12th century, Steven Edward Dugald MacTavish of Dunardry
succeeded his father as the 27th Chief of Clan MacTavish in
2005.
Clan MacTavish (Clan Tavish) begin with the
birth of Taus Coir to the daughter of Suibhne Ruadh (Sween the Red of
Castle Sween) and Colin Mael Maith (Clan MacDuine) circa 1105. The line
that Taus was born into was an illustrious one. The Suibhne’s descended
from the Kings of Ireland and Scotland; and Colin Mael Maith was of Clan
MacDuine, which would later become Clan Campbell. From Taus Coir, descend
the three families of MacTavish of Dun-ArdRigh (meaning fort or castle of
the High King) in Knapdale, of Scannish in Cowall, and of Rudal or
Rua-huilh in Glasserie. A Pont 1634 map marks the castellated building of
Dunardry. Anyone traveling by the Crinan Canal when passing through
Dunardry lock is within a short distance of the site on which this castle
stood.
Clan MacTavish experienced a dormancy of 200
years when Lachlan MacTavish was the last Chief to register at that time.
That dormancy ended in 1997 when Edward Stewart Dugald MacTavish of
Dunardry matriculated. His son is our Chief today.
The Clan has an official web site (authorized
by the Chief) which now brings you a Member Forum, Online Genealogy,
MacTavish’s Kitchen, History, Children’s Activities, Games Calendar, Photo
Gallery, Clan Opportunities and much more. The Chief invites all to take
a look at the new web site and join us there –
http://www.clanmactavish.org.
Steven Edward Dugald MacTavish was born in
Montreal Quebec, Canada on February 19, 1951. His parents were Edward
Stewart Dugald MacTavish of Dunardry and Shirley
Eileen Ferris. He moved to Ontario in
1976, where the family resides today. The Chief and his wife, Leslie,
share their lives with his daughters, Tracy and Deborah, and Leslie’s son,
Craig. They have four beautiful grandchildren, MacKenzie, Jessica, Gavin
and Nathan. The Chief says his wife and he are soul mates.
His background is varied and he has worked
numerous jobs (warehousing, phone equipment, driving instruction – being
in transportation for 23 years at one company, driving 18 wheelers for 11
years and in management as dock foreman and dispatch for 12 years).
Today, he is a successful businessman with his own company in the pet food
industry.
In high school in Ontario, Chief MacTavish
loved sports and theatre arts. He was on two championship football teams,
as well as on the track team and 1/10 of a second off the Canadian Junior
relay record at the time. In his adult years, he coached minor hockey (7
years) and soccer (6 years).
His family says he has a well developed sense
of humor that ranges from play on words to slap stick. He likes to relax
at home, watching the wee creatures that roam around in their yard. The
Chief says, “We have a 4000 gallon fish pond that brings us great pleasure
(except when it needs to be cleaned).”
Being a Chief who is active with his Clan, his
hobbies now include typing e-mails, answering phone calls and planning for
the future – all with a Scottish flavour. He tells us, “I enjoy animals,
music, soccer games and Mother Nature.”
As for the members of Clan MacTavish, we are
proud and honoured to have a “working Chief.” He is a man of commitment
and integrity, with that good sense of humor. Clan members look forward
to many years of growth and celebration of our heritage.
The Clan will be present with Chief MacTavish
at the Arglington, Texas games the weekend of June 2-3 and at the Western
Mass Games the weekend of June 24th. We sincerely hope to meet
many people interested in our Scottish heritage.
Official Clan MacTavish Web Site authorized by
the Chief
http://www.clanmactavish.org
E-Mail the Chief at:
chief@dunardry.com
Names connected to Clan MacTavish (from
“Surnames of Scotland” and personal invitation from the Chief): Cash,
MacCash, MacCavish, MacComb, MacLehose, MacTavish, MacThom, MacThomas,
Stephen(son), Steven(son), Tais, Taws, Tawseon, Thom, Thomas, Thomason,
Thompson, Thomson, Tod(d) and all variant spellings. |
