Glengarry

Glengarry is a Scottish toponym and cultural term with several related meanings. It derives from a Scottish Gaelic form meaning “valley of Garry,” a reference to the River Garry in the Highlands. It is also associated with the historic Clan MacDonell of Glengarry, a branch of Clan Donald, whose seat was at Glengarry Castle.

The Glengarry bonnet is a distinctive element of traditional Highland dress. It is a boat-shaped, pressed cap usually made of tartan wool, with a small pom-pom (toorie) on the crown and two lappets—long ribbons—that hang down at the back and can be tied under the chin. It is commonly worn with a kilt.

Geographically and culturally, the name survives in Scottish place names and in Canada. Glengarry is linked to Glengarry Castle and the Highland region; in Canada, North Glengarry and South Glengarry townships form part of the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry in Ontario, an area with strong Scottish-Canadian heritage. The name has also appeared in other geographic and familial contexts as a surname or as a title for estates.

In literature and film, Glengarry figures in the title Glengarry Glen Ross, a play by David Mamet first staged in 1984 and later adapted for film. The term thus spans historical, cultural, and geographic uses.