MacGregor

The motto of the MacGregors is, “Eʹen do and spair nocht,” said to have been given them in the twelfth century by the king of Scotland. While the king was hunting he was attacked by a wild boar, when Sir Malcolm requested permission to encounter the creature. “Eʹen do,” said the king, “and spair nocht.” Whereupon the strong baronet tore up an oak sappling and despatched the enraged animal. For this defence the king gave Sir Malcolm permission to use the said motto, and, in place of a Scotch fir, to adopt for crest an oak-tree eradicate, proper.

⁂ Another motto of the MacGregors is—“Sriogal mo dhream.”

Rob Roy MacGregor or Robert Campbell, the outlaw. A Highland freebooter, the hero of Sir Walter Scott’s Rob Roy. His wife’s name is Helen, and their eldest son Hamish. In the Two Drovers MacGregor or MacCombich (Robin Oig) is a Highland drover.

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Entry taken from Dictionary of Phrase and Fable, edited by the Rev. E. Cobham Brewer, LL.D. and revised in 1895.