MacDuffie, MacDuffee, MacDuffy, MacAfee, MacFee, MacFie, MacPhee, MacPhie and other accepted cognates
SETTLING THE CLAN NAME – ROUND 2
Background
The above families which comprise the Clan are actively seeking nominations for a Clan Commander. However, as stated in ROUND 1, before a suitable candidate may be nominated and presented to the Lord Lyon, the Clan must first agree on a name because we currently do not have a Clan name.
In 2024 the Council of Presidents* surveyed Clan members worldwide asking them to select their preference from three alternatives. This is referred to as ROUND 1. Of the 157 valid preferences submitted there was no evidence of an “overwhelming consensus” among the choices of names proposed i.e. MacDuffie, Macfie and Dubhsith, which the Lord Lyon requires.
Due to the ROUND 1 result the Council has asked the Lord Lyon to permit it to try again to settle the name and this request was accepted by the Court but with a limit of time.
Without this agreement in Round 2, the Lord Lyon will not accept any submissions from Clan members for at least five years and, as a result, they will not have formal status, a Clan name, and will not be able to move forward to nominate a suitable person as Clan Commander.
Council of Presidents’ proposal
In order to meet the Lord Lyon’s requirements for a consensus and to overcome the differences created by the modern non-Gaelic forms of our name, the Council agreed to a proposal that we adopt a Gaelic form of the Clan name.
The two versions considered were Dubhsith (pronounced Doo-hee) and MacDubhsith (pronounced Mac-vhoo-hee). These are spellings of our ancient Gaelic name that the Council considers best connects all of us to our shared Scottish heritage. After further research and discussion it decided unanimously that MacDubhsith, would be the most acceptable form of the Clan name and this would be recommended to all eligible Clan members worldwide.The Council urges all eligible Clan members to support this recommendation.
*The Council of Presidents consists of the following Societies and individuals:
MacDuffee Clan Society of America; Clan MacFie Society (UK); Macfie Clan Society in Canada; MacFie Clan Society of America; Thorburn-Macfie Family Society (Sweden); Clan McPhee New Zealand; Macfie Clan Society of Australia; Finlay McFee Treasurer (co-opted Trustee); Dr Bruce Durie (Consultant)
Who may participate in ROUND 2 to agree to a Clan name?
In order to participate in ROUND 2 you must have an eligible surname, either by birth or by adoption.
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- Eligible surnames include MacDuffie, MacFie, MacPhee, MacAfee, MacCuish, plus Mc/Mac and spelling variants of these. A full list of variants commonly accepted has been published on the Council website (www.clannameandcommandersearch.com) at The Choice of a Clan Name and Eligible Surnames. Please check this website for further information and updates; or contact the Council at the address below to be sent a list by email or mail.
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- All currently eligible participants who have been allocated an ID number and participated in ROUND 1. The Council asks that you complete Form 1 and return it either by email or by post.
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- If you do not have an ID number (or have lost it) please complete Form 2 and return it either by email or by post.
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- Married couples have one submission and participants must be over the age of 18 on the date of their submission.
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- Eligibility to participate is determined solely by your surname so you do not have to be a member of any society, family group or Scottish organization to take part in this process.
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- If you have any questions, please send these to: [email protected] or to the mailing address below.
Clan Societies
The choice of an overall name for the Clan will not affect any current Clan society name. Societies are free to keep their current name or choose whatever name they prefer.
Personal information required for participation
All information supplied to the Council will be kept confidential by the member designated to receive the forms, determine eligibility, assign ID numbers, and record the responses.
Deadline for submitting your preference
To indicate your support for this proposal please complete Form 1 and send it electronically or by post to one of the addresses below before 30 June 2025.
Electronic submissions are preferred but postal submissions are also acceptable if clearly post marked and received by 30 Jun 2025.
Email submissions
[email protected]
Postal submissions
If you are unable to fill in the form online or email it, please mail a paper copy to:
Vanessa Duffy
Clan Name Selection
11, Ewart Drive
Dumfries, DG2 7LT
United Kingdom
Notification of results
Clan name results will be communicated via our Council and Society websites and through the various Clan societies after all submissions are verified and then audited by the Council.
April 2025