Finding a Leader for Clan McDubsith
Page last updated on 12.07.2026
Search for Clan Chief
Since at least the 16th Century an individual who seeks recognition as chief of a clan or family must be entitled to bear the undifferenced arms of the clan or family.
These are the principal arms of the clan or family that descend from one chief to the next undifferenced through the generations.
A claimant must satisfy the Lord Lyon, on the balance of probabilities, by evidence that they descend through each generation from the grantee or ancient user of the arms. Evidence commonly consists of documents such as birth, marriage and death certificates, entries from Parish Registers and the like. The claimant must also use as their sole surname the name of the clan or family whether historically or by formal change of name.
When the Lord Lyon determines that a claimant has legally succeeded and is
entitled to bear the undifferenced arms of a clan or family, the individual is referred
to as the “Chief of the Name and Arms”
For more information download PDF - Court of the Lord Lyon Guidance Note, 16th December, 2021
Where an hereditary chief cannot be identified and a clan or family is without a chief there is a process, known as a Family Convention, by which a commander may be appointed by the Lord Lyon to lead the clan or family. The Lord Lyon appoints a commander at the request of the clan or family.
The primary duty of a Commander of a clan is to find a Chief either through a Lyon Court-recognised existing hereditary line or the identification of a candidate for a new Court-approved hereditary line. The commander appointment allows time and
space for the clan or family to raise its profile, build itself up, publicise itself and to identify a potential candidate to be hereditary chief.
This can be a long and detailed process and may not happen under the leadership of one commander.
Family Convention
The Clan must petition the Lord Lyon to hold a Family Convention (previously known as a Derbhfine). This indicates to the Lord Lyon that the Clan is actively searching for a suitably qualified Commander candidate to present to the Lyon Court for confirmation.
A Family Convention is a gathering of a clan or family in order to select a suitable candidate to be their commander. The Clan gathers together either in person or virtually as a united clan from Scotland and the Scottish diaspora to:
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Confirm a Commander to represent our Clan globally
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Further the Clan’s goal of finding a living heir to the title of Chief of Name and Arms of the MacDubsith, to be recognised by the Lord Lyon King of Arms as Chief of the family and Clan
Supervising Officer
The process of calling for self-nominations from suitable Clan members is overseen by an appointed Officer of the Lyon Court. In the Clan’s recent attempt in 2025-2026, the Supervising Officer was Carrick Pursuivant, Professor Gillian Black. Along with her duties at the Lyon Court she is Professor of Scots Private Law at the University of Edinburgh and a Commissioner at the Scottish Law Commission.
Processes must adhere to the strict guidelines laid down by the Lord Lyon. These include transparency, objectivity and fairness.
Since its re-establishment in 1981, Clan MacDubhsith (previously referred to as Clan MacFie) has been actively searching for its hereditary chief. However, as yet no person has submitted their claim to the Lord Lyon.
Instead, the Clan formally petitioned the Lord Lyon to appoint a suitable person as its Commander. In 1981, Dr Earle MacPhee of Vancouver, Canada was appointed by the Lord Lyon as the Clan’s first Commander. Sadly, Dr Earle, as he was affectionately known, died in 1982.
There have been two subsequent Commanders since Dr
Earle’s appointment;
Mr Alexander (Sandy) McPhie of Australia commissioned in
1989 and
Mr Iain McFie of Kingussie, Scotland in 2009.
Following the retirement of Iain McFie on 15th February, 2023, the MacDubhsith Clan Council of Presidents has worked towards finding a suitable person to be its Clan leader, either a Commander or a claimant as Chief. However, in 2023 the Lord Lyon decreed that, before the Clan could present a nominee for the Commander position, Clan members it must properly settle on a Clan name. There were no official records at the Court regarding a formal process that had been undertaken to determine the name.
In 2025 the Clan supported MacDubsith, an early Gaelic version of the name, to be the official Clan name.
For more information download PDF - Worldwide Clan Announcement, 29th August, 2025
Our last Clan Chief,
Malcolm MacPhee of Colonsay
The Lord Lyon King of Arms
together with Carrick Pursuivant,
Professor Gillian Black
Dr Earle Douglas MacPhee, the first Clan Commander of the modern era
Sandy McPhie of Australia
Iain McFie esq. of Coulintyre
Ceann-Cath 2010 - 2021
The Search
Why does the Clan need a Commander?
A Commander provides leadership, stability, a focal point for the worldwide Clan and conduit to the Lord Lyon and the Lyon Court in Edinburgh. He or she must be self-funded or have access to sufficient resources to support travel, represent Clan MacDubhsith at gatherings and important meetings in different parts of the world,
and to successfully execute their administrative duties.
The following documents provide a description of the Role and the Duties expected of a Clan Commander.
The Clan launched a worldwide search to find a suitable candidate for the vacant post of Commander in August 2025.
In order to be deemed a suitable candidate their qualifications and experience needed to align with the duties and responsibilities of the Commander broadcast by the Council. Those who meet the requirements are asked to go before a Family Convention convened in Scotland to present their credentials and argue their case.
The aim of the Family Convention is for the Worldwide Clan to select the most suitable person as the recommended candidate whose name and paperwork would then be submitted to the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh. The final decision on whether or not the candidate is deemed suitable to be Commander is made by the Lord Lyon.
Unfortunately, in the first search conducted 2025/2026, no self-nominee was considered to have sufficient experience or knowledge to be put forward as a candidate.