The MacLeods are descended from Leod, son of Olaf the Black (died c. 1237), who was one of the last Norse kings of the Isle of Man and the Northern Isles. Leod inherited Harris and Lewis, and also acquired part of Skye through his marriage to the daughter of the island's Norse seneschal. He had four sons, two of whom founded the principal branches of the MacLeods. Tormod, the eldest, was the ancestor of the MacLeods of Skye. He was given the castle of Dunvegan, which is still the main seat of the clan, and the island of Harris. Leod's second son, Torquil, headed the MacLeods of Lewis (traditionally called 'MacLeods of the Lewes').The MacLeods of Raasay were a later offshoot from this line.
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