 This connects the clan with the lands of Atholl and Dundas, both of which were held by branches of the Picto-Scottish royal house.Albany Herald and chief of the clan Iain Moncreiffe (1919–1985) asserted that the coat of arms with the red royal lion on a silver shield were the colours of the house of Maldred, Regent of Cumbria and brother of Duncan I of Scotland.Thus indicating that they were cadets of Maldred's line.