MACFEE, Macfie, Macfhee, Macphie: Gaelic MacDhubhshith, one of the oldest and most interesting Gaelic personal names we possess. "Its plan and concept," says Dr. Gillies, "go far away beyond those of even our old names ' (Place-names of Argyllshire, p. 82). Johannes Macdufthi appears as charter witness in Dumfriesshire in the reign of Alexander II (Metros, p. 182), and a Thomas Macdoffy rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, II, p. 169), The AFM. record Dubside (mod. Gaelic Dubhsidhe) as ferleiginn or reader of Iona in 1164, and Skene suggests (CS., III, p. 363) that the clan may have derived its name from him. The island of Colonsay appears to have been the home of the clan, but later a number of the name were located in Lochaber, and were followers of Cameron of Locheil. Archibald McKofee was a tenant in Islay in 1506 and Malcolm Makcofee tenant in Colonsay in same year (ER., XII, p. 709). Morphe mcphe de Colwinsay was cited for treason in 1531 (APS., II, p. 333a), and Dusey (= Dubhsith) McFee was tenant of Bar in Islay, 1541 (ER., XVII, p. 616). Ewin McAphi alias Vic Condachie was one of those ordered to appear either before the Privy Council or before the sheriff and give bond in 1681 (RPC., 3. ser. VII, p. 82), and a notorious freebooter named Macphee about 1845—50 gave name to Eilean Mhic Phee in Loch Quoich, where he established himself with his family, recognizing no law and no landowner. There is an account of him, with portrait, in Ellice's Place-names in Glengarry and Glenquoich. John M'Affie appears in Meikle Kildy, parish of Dron, 1747 (Dunblane). The name means 'Black (one) of peace,' from dubh and sith (OIr. dub + sith), and parallel names are Cusithe, 'hound of peace,' and Fearsithe, 'man of peace.' A family in North Uist is (or was) known as 'Dubh-sidh,' 'Black fairy,' from a tradition that the family have been familiar with the fairies in their fairy flights and secret migrations (CG., 2 ed., II, p. 354). M'affeith c. 1512, McAffie 1595, M'aphie 1723, M'duffe 1532, Mc duffie 1626, McDuphie 1703, Makfeithe 1605, McFeye 1585, Mc iphie 1609. Machaffie is another current form of the name. McAchopich 1569.