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Clan MacLean (Tartans, Crest) and The Story Behind

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MacLean

Gaelic Name: MacGhille Eoin

Clan Crest: A tower embattled Argent

Clan Motto: Virtue Mine Honour

Clan Badge: Crowberry

Lands: Morven, Mull, Coll, Tiree

Clan Chief: Sir Lachlan MacLean of Duart and Morven

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MacLean Clan History

The name MacLean is pronounced "MacGille Eoin," which means "son of St. John's servant." The clan descended from "Gilleathan Na Tuaidh" of the royal house of Lorn. The Duart branch of the clan claims Lachlan Lubanach, son of Iain Dhu MacLean of Mull and a direct descendant of Gillean, as their progenitor.

The MacLeans of Duart married into the family of the 1st Lord of the Isles to gain power and prestige, but not all of their political unions benefited the clan, particularly Lachlan MacLean's marriage to the daughter of the Earl of Argyll in the sixteenth century. The marriage was not going well, so Lachlan took drastic measures, abandoning his wife on a rock and leaving her to drown. Passing fishermen rescued her, and her kin later avenged her by stabbing her husband to death.

The MacLeans and their Campbell in-laws shared an aversion to the MacDonald clan, one of the most powerful families in the Western Isles. In the sixteenth century, Lachlan Mor, chief of Duart, constantly pursued the MacDonalds of Islay, and after his death in 1598, his sons exacted revenge on his suspected murderers, the MacDonalds, by carrying out a three-day massacre of the people of Islay.

The massacre of the MacDonald clansmen was the turning point in the MacLean clan's fortunes, and by the seventeenth century, the Campbells had taken control of Duart Castle and most of the MacLean estates. However, the family reclaimed Duart Castle in 1911, and it is now restored as the family seat.

MacLean Places & People

People of Clan MacLean

Lachlan MacLean died in 1523.

He marooned his wife on tidal rock on the Sound of Mull and left her to die, becoming a famous clan chief and historical figure.

Sir Hector MacLean (d.1750).

In 1716, he was given a Jacobite peerage and exiled to France, where he became the first Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in Paris.

MacLean, Sorley

Sorley MacLean (born 1911 – died 1996)

Born on Raasay, he rose to prominence as a significant Gaelic poet who dominated the Scottish poetry scene for more than a quarter-century. He is probably best known for his 1943 collection "Dain do Eimhir."

Don McLean was born in 1945.

An American singer, instrumentalist, and composer best known for writing the pop classic "American Pie."

MacLean Tartans

Ancient MacLean of Duart

Duart Modern's MacLean

Ancient MacLean Hunting

Modern MacLean Hunting

MacLean Crest & Coats of Arms

Clan MacLean Crest

Crest Description: Argent, a tower embattled

Coats of Arms of MacLean

A word about Coats of Arms:

A coat of arms is granted to an individual under Scottish heraldic law (with the exception of civic or corporate arms). A 'family coat of arms' does not exist. With the exceptions noted above, the arms depicted below are personal arms. Only the person who has been granted these weapons has the right to use them.

Duart and Morvern MacLEAN

Quarterly, Argent, a rock, Gules; 2nd, Argent, a dexter hand, fesswise, couped, Gules, holding a cross fitchée, in pale, Azure; 3rd, Or, a lymphad with oars in saltire and sails furled, Sable, flagged, Gules; 4th, Argent; a salmon, naiant, Proper, in chief two eagles heads erased, respectant, Gules.

Old postcard with the MacLean Arms

Arthur John Macleane was the first Principal of Brighton College and the grandson (or great grandson?) of Lauchlin Macleane MP, one of the possible authors of Junius' Letters. The arms are a variation of Maclean of Duart (and do not appear in the Lyon Register). Rev. Macleane married Sarah Hutchings of Penang, and her arms appear to be a variant of Hutchings of Somerset (but with a Sable field instead of a Gules field).