MACLAVERTY, Maclafferty, Maclardie, Maclardy, Maclarty, Macleverty, Macclacharty: (this last a Galwegian spelling). The authors of The Clan Donald tell us in grandiloquent language that "The progenitor of the family from whom they take their name was known as 'Fear Labhairt an Righ,' or the King's Speaker, who received this disanction from the circumstance of his being employed by the King of the Isles as special ambassador to hostile tribes at feud with that potentate The office" they add, "appears to have become hereditary in the family" (Clan Donald, III, p. 550). The proper Gaelic form of the name is, of course, MacFhlaithbheartaich (with omission of Fh due to aspiration), 'son of the dominion bearing' or 'ruler.' The name is the same as the common Irish Flaithbheartach, now Flaherty, a name which occurs frequently in the Annals of the Four Masters and elsewhere. As an adjective modern Irish flaithbheartach has the meaning of generous, hospitable (Dinneen). Flaithbertach princeps (superior) Duinchaillden died in 872 (AU.), and Flaithbheartach ua Flaithbheartaigh was slain in 1133, a not uncommon ending for Gaels in the Middle Ages. The authors of The Clan Donald also state, without offering any proof of their assertion, that the Maclavertys "are descended from the Family of the Isles (i.e. the Macdonalds), and had their original habitat in Kintyre. They broke out early from the main stem, and claim descent from the founder of the Monastery of Saddell." The earliest of the name however in Scottish record is John M'Claffirdy, who filled the subordinate position of tenant under the Douglases in the lands of Mikilbrekauch in the barony of Ruitde, 1376 (RHM., I, p. Ix). John Macgillecrist Maklafferdich was one of those included in the remission granted Sir John Campbell of Cawdor and others in 1524 for the burning of the lands of Colonsay and the murder of Lachlan Maclean of Dowart in Edinbergh (Cawdor, p. 147). Gilcrist Malaverty held the lands of Langulchulchoich in Bute, 1540 (RSS., II, 3704). Alexander McLartvch of Gartcharran is recorded in 1609 (Poltalloch Writs, p. 135), Archibald M'Clertie was one of M'Nachtane's soldiers shipped at Lochkerran in 1627 (Archaeologia Scotica, III, p. 254), Dowgall McLairtie held a six-shilling land in Islay, 1686 (Bk. Islay, p. 518), Donald Roy M'Clorty is in Lergihony, parish of Craignish, 1686 (Argyll), and Angus M'Clairtick of Gartcharran, parish of Craig nish, is in record, 1693 (Argyll Inv.). Alexander M'Laertike is in record in Dimnamuke, 1672 (HP., II, p. 207), John M'Laertich was a merchant in Kilchoan, 1713; and Mrs. MacClarty has been immortalized in Mrs. Hamilton's The Cottagers of Glenburnie, first published in 1808. The Maclartys gave name to Eilean Mhic Labhartaich or MacLarty's Island (opposite Gartcharran) and to Sgeir Dubh Mhic Labhartaich or MacLarty's Black Rock (MacDougall, Craignish tales, p. 39). McClairty 1684, McLartie 1655.