Books

We are collecting together a set of books relevant to the Clan, mainly relating to its history and genealogy. Where a book is currently in print, we generally just give the details. Where it is not, we aim either to have a copy on line or to provide a link to where one is. Some of the Branch sites also have references to books, including ones specific to their country; we aim where possible to include these in the list below. The New Zealand site also has its own list of New Zealand publications, two of which are available for download. There is also a companion list of articles.

Suggestions for additions to this list are always welcome!

  • History of the Mathesons, with genealogies of the various branches;
    Alexander Mackenzie, FSA;
    Inverness 1882, copy in Internet Archive and reprinted by Hanse (www.hansebooks.com), ISBN/EAN 978-3-33772-659-1.
    This and later editions are generally viewed as the primary reference for the history of the Clan.
  • History of the Mathesons, with Genealogies of the Various Families, 2nd Edition;
    Alexander Mackenzie, FSA (Scot) & Alexander MacBain, MA;
    revised and reprinted 1900, William MacKay, Inverness;
    PDF digitised by the Internet Archive in 2012 with funding from the National Library of Scotland.
  • Traditional Sites of Matheson History in Lochalsh;
    Torquil Matheson of Matheson;
    Published July 1981 and PDF scan by the Clan Matheson Society with accompanying map.
    Produced as a companion to the History of the Mathesons.
  • The Mathesons of Lochalsh - Survival in Scotland's "Wild West";
    Alister Farquhar Matheson;
    Troubador May 2022 (reprinted 2025); ISBN 978-1800464933.
    See also the author's Site and his several contributions on the articles page.
  • Alexander Matheson, The Railway King of the Highlands;
    Anne-Mary Paterson & Neil T Sinclair;
    The Highland Railway Society (www.hrsoc.org.uk), 2025; ISBN 978-0-9927311-3-7.
    Whilst centred on Alexander Matheson's life there is broader coverage of Matheson history, e.g. through his involvement in the Jardine Matheson Company and hence with his uncle James; and the history of the beneficial development of the railways in the highlands. See PDF advert for the initial publication.
  • Stories of the first Mathesons;
    Serena Matheson of Matheson;
    Published 1998 and PDF scan by the Clan Matheson Society.
    The author notes that "The Seannachies told the old stories to successive generations of the Clan. ... I have strung together some of the tales about Coinneach and his descendants so that the Matheson children of today might be able to enjoy them".
  • Loch Alsh to Laen and Lygon Street, Alexander and Margaret Matheson;
    Margaret E Fleming;
    Published 2017; ISBN 978-0646977515 (paperback).
    Margaret and Alexander Matheson and their four children arrived in Geelong, Australia in November 1852.
  • Scottish Genealogy;
    Bruce Durie;
    The History Press, 4th Edn 2017; ISBN 978 0 7509 8422 5.
    Not specifically Matheson-oriented but a good starting point for anyone taking a serious interest in Scottish genealogy.
  • Scotland's North West Frontier, a Forgotten British Borderland;
    Alister Farquhar Matheson.
    Whilst not specifically about the Mathesons, the Matheson entries in the index run to nearly a page in two columns.
    See also the author's Site and his several contributions on the articles page.
  • May we be Britons: a History of the Mackenzies;
    Andrew and Kevin Mackenzie;
    Published Andrew McKenzie 2012; ISBN 978-0957695009.
    The Mathesons and the Mackenzies were long term allies and this book contains useful material relating to that, including genealogical tables covering the shared origins of the two clans.