After many years of searching for MacKenzies in Islay the earliest mentions I could find were a few names on land rent records from the early 1700s. The absence of parish records for Kilchoman before the 1820s is a definite hindrance. Much to my surprise a colleague found several much earlier listings in the Islay Cultural Database. There was no supporting information and I have been not been able to find much additional material. I am hoping that someone on this list might be able to fill in some blanks. Roderick Mackenzie, 3rd Chief of Islay. Died 1499. Executed in Edinburgh with son and three grandsons. Alexander Mackenzie, 5th Chief of Islay. Died 1538 The title Chief of Islay is unusual and I can find no other mention of it. It was suggested that it might link to Lord of the Isles but I can not make that connection either. Gillanders McKenzie and John MacKenzie were Crown tenants of Cladville in 1541 when the lands of Cladeil (with Eilean Kkenyth) were let to them. Nothing found for Gillanders McKenzie. Did find Cladville, NW of Portnahaven, Kilchoman Parish. Rodoric Mckenzie. In 1617 he is listed at Cogeanche in the Register of the Great Seal of Scotland. Nothing found for Rodoric Mckenzie + Islay. Did find the following for Cogeanche in the on-line catalog for the National Archives of Scotland: Papers of the MacKenzie Family, Earls of Cromartie. Assignation by Rovie McKenzie in Cogeanche to [ ] of the sum of 1309 merks in Bond by John Erskine, dated 12 December 1641, as therein mentioned. Can not identify Cogeanche. It has been suggested that this might refer to Roderick MacKenzie, Tutor of Kintail, and to a site on the mainland, therefore not connected to Islay at all- - - but it was in the islay Database. Gillichrist McKenzie. Rental of Kepolls to Gillichrist Mckenzie et al, 1686. Nothing found on Gillichrist. I think Ive located Kepolls south of Lake Finlaggan.. I would be very pleased to hear from anyone who might be able to add any insights on these listings.