Although of ancient origin there are few authentic records of this clan. Skene quoting the MS. Of 1450 shows that the Clan Ewen together with the Clan Neill and the Clan Lachlan formed the Siol Gillevray of the Gallgael. The genealogy in the MS. Proves the clan MacEwen existed lang before 1450 and that they were known as the MacEwans of Otter.

The Rev. Alexander McFarlane, minister of the parish of Kilfinan, writing in 1794, states that “ On a rocky point of the coast of Lochfyne about a mile below the church of Kilfinan is to be seen the vestige of a building called Caisteal mhic Eoghuin or MacEwen’s Castle. This MacEwen was the chief of a Clan and proprietor of Otter.”

Eoghain na h-Oitrich ( Ewen of Otter), who gives his name to the clan, lived at the beginning of the thirteenth century. Gillespic 5th of Otter, flourished about a century later. Swene MacEwan, 9th and last of Otter, granted, in 1432, lands of Otter to Duncan Campbell, and resigned the barony of Otter to James I., but it was returned to him with remainder to Celestine, son and heir of Duncan Campbell of Lochow. In 1513 James V. confirmed the barony of Otter to Colin, Earl of Argyll, and thereafter Otter remained in the possession of the Campbells.

Without lands the MacEwans became a “ broken” clan and found their way to many districts. A large number settled in the Lennox country, others went farther afield to Lochaber, Perth, Skye and the Lowlands, including Galloway, but to-day they still form a not inconsiderable clan.

Crest: The trunk of an oak tree with a branch sprouting forth on either side