MacLennans
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Early history
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McLennan family (1 of 2) |
Excerpted from a family history written by John M.
Kenn.
The Clan
MacLennan, or McLennan, had its origin far back in ancient times.
According to the "History of the MacLennans" as compiled by
Ronald George MacLennan (34th chief of the clan) and written in 1978.
Records point to descendants of a prince from Spain who settled in Ireland
and later became king. About 500 A.D. several sons of a king left Ireland
and came to Scotland. There the lineage is more difficult to trace.
According to one history the name Logan, or Lobban, came from this Irish
background. The Logans in return settled in two areas, one in the lowlands
and the other along Loch Lochy in the highlands. It is from the highland
branch that our family emerges. One history holds that they lived in the
Druimdeurfait section of Ross shire.
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| Artist's rendering of a Logan clansman. |
The Logans fought constantly with various other clans and in the early
1400s, at the Battle of Kessock between the Logans and the Frasers, the
Logan family went down to defeat. It was held that Chief Gilliegorm fought
Lord Lovat, who was related to Gilliegorm's wife. Gilliegorm was killed
and his pregnant wife taken captive by Lord Lovat. In due time a child was
born. Deformed with a humped back, the child was named Crotair
MacGilliegorm, or crooked-back son of Gilliegorm. Fear on the part of the
Frasers that he might raise an army to avenge his father's death caused
them to send him to a monastery at Beauly. In due time, Crotair became a
priest himself.
Like many monks of that day he did not remain celebate. He marrried and
had seven children according to one story. Living at the time near the
Isle of Skye in the Kintail region, he helped establish churches at Kilmor
and Glenelg. An ardent follower of the Irish Saint Fhinan, who was also a
revered saint in Scotland, one child took the name Gillie Fhinan, or son
of the servant of Fhinan. This son's children were known as Siol'inan or
Gillie Fhinan, thus translateted to Mac Gillie Innain, and ultimately
spelled MacLennan. The miracle attributed to St. Fhinnian is that he
diverted an entire river to save a village and thus today is the Monastary
at Drumderfit named in his honor.
A second version follows much the same format but states that MacLennan
came from the word Ennan, or Adam's man. Thus MacLennan simply means son
of Adam's man, or Little Adam. Maybe it means we are all something else
due to Crotair.
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Early
history of the |
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McLennan family (2 of 2) |
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| Artist's rendering of a MacLennan
clansman. |
Residing near Loch Duich near the Isle of Skye, the MacLennans
became involved in 1645 at the battle of Auldearn defending the Duke
of Argyle against the British campaign of Montrose. At the battle in
May 1645, the MacLennans defended the standard of Lord Seaforth to
nearly the last man. Eighteen of the widows then married their
servants and with that the MacRaes became an important part of the
clan. Chief Rory Ban MacLennan was offered an honorable surrender
for his valiant fighting, he refused and was put to death with his
men. The MacRaes also lived along the shore of Loch Duich. At the
battle of Sherriffmuir (also called Dunblain) November 13, 1715, the
MacLennans again gave good account of themselves backing the attempt
to put "Bonnie Prince Charlie" on the British throne. On
April 16, 1746, at the battle of Culloden, the MacLennans and their
highland partners lost over 1,000 as Charlie fled for France and the
Jacobite revolt was over.
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| Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Duich |
Do the MacLennans fall heir to a castle? According to the Clan
MacLennan web page they do. Castle
Eilean Donan located on Loch Duich, or some 8 miles inland from
the Kyle of Lochlash and the Isle of Skye. The castle was part of
the MacRae properties and with it came the MacLennans. It was
totally destroyed in 1719 by the British. In 1932, the castle was
rebuilt by Lt. Colonel John McRae and is now a tourist attraction.
Thus we have two divisions of the MacLennans, the castle portion who
lived in the Loch Duich area and the farmer portion who lived on the
Black Isle.
The portion of the clan in which we are most interested can be
traced to the 1700s and appears to be centered around the Black Isle
in Ross shire in Moray Firth. It is quite possible that this branch
of the clan fled here following the Battle of Culloden. Not being
landed, the clan of the north worked at crofts and farms. Another
history states that the MacLennans have always been on the Black
Isle, but what does "always" really mean?
It has been claimed by many a writer that a good MacLennan with
his tartan robe and a bottle of brandy can weather any enemy, man,
weather and beasties. Their stamina has an advantage over more
effeminate troops in time of war:
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 | The clan motto -- "Dum spiro spero" (While I
breath I hope).
| The clan war cry -- "Druim nan deur" (The
rage of tears)
| The clan -- Castle Eilean Donan
| The clan colors -- Oreen and gold
| The clan crest -- A demi piper
| The clan plant -- Whin, also known as a Gorse or Furze
| The clan tartans -- Modern, Ancient and Weathered
| The clan pipes -- Muir of Ord (march); Loch Maree
(march); Major John MacLennan (march); MacLennans return to
Kintail (march); Cairns of Drumderfit (retreat); Loch Duich
(air)
| The Galic name -- CLANN OLCILLFHINNEIN
| SIOL ADAMNAN -- the race of Adamnan
| SIOL FINAN -- the race of Finian
| SIOL LIANNAN -- the race of the sweetheart |
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This page maintained by Deb Logan. Please email to oleoghain@aol.com
Last updated: Wednesday, August 30, 2000
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