He was son of Malcolm III (Máel Coluim mac Donnchada) and his first wife Ingibiorg Finnsdottir, widow of Thorfinn Sigurdsson.
Era o fillo de Malcolm III (Máel Coluim mac Donnchada) e a súa primeira muller Ingibiorg Finnsdottir, viúva de Thorfinn Sigurdsson.