Contents [hide]

Buchanan History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables World Ranking

Ireland United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

Buchanan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The ancient Pictish-Scottish family that first used the name Buchanan lived in the great lands of Buchanan in Stirlingshire where this illustrious Clan held extensive territories since early times. Although many of today's members of the Clan Buchanan can trace their heritage as far back as McAlpin, the first to establish the name of Buchan was Anselan O'Kyan, son of the King of Ulster about 1016.

It is generally believed that the Buchanans of Auchmar received lands bordering Loch Lomond by King Malcolm II for services rendered against the Danes. And records do confirm that Walter de Buchanan had a land grant in Auchmarr in 1373. A Maurice Buchanan also acted as treasurer to Princess Margaret of France at this time.

Early Origins of the Buchanan family

The surname Buchanan was first found in Lennox. In Gaelic, "both-chanain" means "the seat of the canon," suggesting an ecclesiastical origin. The Clan received its name from the great lands of Buchanan in Stirlingshire where they had held extensive territories since early times. The earliest mention of the name placed him in Stirling (now part of the modern region of Central) where in an early document, a Dominus Absolone de Buchkan was a witness to a charter in 1224.

"The name of this place was originally Inchcaileoch, which it received from an island in Loch Lomond. This name is of uncertain origin; but the family who used it in consequence of having, at a very early period, obtained a grant of the lands so called, sprang from Anselan, a native of Ireland, who is supposed to have located himself here in the 11th century." 1

Early History of the Buchanan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Buchanan research. Another 191 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1016, 1296, 1506, 1582, 1595, 1652, 1681, 1690, 1759 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Buchanan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Buchanan Spelling Variations

The arts of spelling and translation were yet in their infancies when surnames began, so there are an enormous number of spelling variations of the names in early Scottish records. This is a particular problem with Scottish names because of the numerous times a name might have been loosely translated to English from Gaelic and back. Buchanan has been spelled Buchanan, Bucanan, Bucanion, Bucanen, Bucanon, Buchannan, Buchannon, Buchannen, Buchanon, Buchanen, Bohannon and many more.

Early Notables of the Buchanan family

Notable amongst the Clan at this time was

George Buchanan (1506-1582), Scottish humanist, scholar, and educator; as well as John Buchanan of that Ilk (d. 1681), Clan Chief and last Laird of Buchanan and Buchanan of Arnprior
Andrew Buchanan (1690-1759), of Drumpellier, was Lord Provost of Glasgow, and was descended from a branch of the old family of Buchanan of Buchanan and Leny. He was the second of four sons of George B...
George Buchanan (1506-1582), was a Scottish scholar, and third son of Thomas Buchanan, who was son of Buchanan of Drumnakill, a poor laird. He was born at the farm of Mid Leowen, or the Moss, in the p...

Buchanan World Ranking

In the United States, the name Buchanan is the 443^rd most popular surname with an estimated 64,662 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Buchanan is ranked the 525^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,346 people with that name. 3 And in Australia, the name Buchanan is the 419^th popular surname with an estimated 8,918 people with that name. 4 New Zealand ranks Buchanan as 195^th with 2,877 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Buchanan as 576^th with 11,336 people. 6

Migration of the Buchanan family to Ireland

Some of the Buchanan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Buchanan migration to the United States +

This oppression forced many Scots to leave their homelands. Most of these chose North America as their destination. Although the journey left many sick and poor, these immigrants were welcomed the hardy with great opportunity. Many of these settlers stood up for their newfound freedom in the American War of Independence. More recently, Scots abroad have recovered much of their collective heritage through highland games and other patriotic functions and groups. An examination of passenger and immigration lists has located various settlers bearing the name Buchanan:

Buchanan Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Buchanan, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1651
David Buchanan, who arrived in Boston in 1652
Jane Buchanan, who settled in 1664 in New Jersey
Alexander Buchanan, listed as a Scot banned to America in 1678

Buchanan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mathew Buchanan, who arrived in Carolina in 1710 7
Agnes Buchanan, who arrived in Connecticut in 1755 7
Walter Buchanan, who arrived in America in 1763 7
Duncan Buchanan, aged 18, who landed in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1774 7
Henry Buchanan who settled in Salem Massachusetts in 1775
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Buchanan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

David Carrick Buchanan, who landed in Virginia in 1800 7
William Buchanan, who landed in America in 1805 7
Samuel Buchanan, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 7
Mr. Buchanan, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1821 7
A S Buchanan, aged 25, who landed in America in 1822 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Buchanan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Buchanan Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mrs. Mary Buchanan U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 490 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York traveling with her family 8
Esq. James Buchanan U.E. (b. 1772), aged 11 who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 561 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York 8
Mr. David Buchanan U.E. (b. 1769), aged 14 who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 562 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York 8
Miss Ann Buchanan U.E. (b. 1769), aged 14 who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 560 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York 8
Miss Ann Buchanan U.E. (b. 1772), aged 11 who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 591 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Buchanan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Donald Buchanan, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Favourite" in 1815
Robert Buchanan, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Favourite" in 1815
James Buchanan, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Favourite" in 1815
William Buchanan, who landed in Canada in 1830
Henry Buchanan, aged 35, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Britannia" from Sligo, Ireland
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Buchanan migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Buchanan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William Buchanan, (b. 1805), aged 27, Scottish carter who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years for robbery, transported aboard the "England"on 31st March 1832, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
Mr. John Buchanan, Scottish convict who was convicted in Stirling, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Barossa" on 8th December 1839, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 10
Agnes Buchanan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Delhi" in 1839 11
margaret Buchanan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Delhi" in 1839 11
Isaac Buchanan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Helen Thompson" in 1840 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Buchanan migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Buchanan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Buchanan, Australian settler travelling from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia aboard the ship "Brazil Packet" arriving in New Zealand in 1837 13
William T Buchanan, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bengal Merchant 14
William Trueman Buchanan, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 15
Mr. W.T. Buchanan, British settler travelling from London, UK aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" arriving in Port Nicholson, (Wellington Harbour), New Zealand on 20th February 1840 13
Thomas W Buchanan, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1843
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Buchanan (post 1700) +

John Clark Buchanan (1933-2020), American prelate, 6th Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of West Missouri
John Hall Buchanan Jr. (1928-2018), American politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Alabama (1965-1981)
Brigadier-General Kenneth Buchanan (1892-1967), American Assistant Commanding General 9th Division (1944) 16
President James Buchanan Jr. (1791-1868), American politician, 15th American President
Patrick Joseph Buchanan (b. 1938), American writer, politician, and senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan
James McGill Buchanan Jr. (1919-2013), American economist known for his work on public choice theory, for which he won the 1986 Nobel Prize in Economics
Angela Marie "Bay" Buchanan (b. 1948), American conservative political commentator who served as Treasurer of the United States under President Ronald Reagan
Lieutenant Commander Allen Buchanan (1876-1940), American Navy Officer and a Medal of Honor recipient for his role in the United States occupation of Veracruz
Robert L. Buchanan, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Navy, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
Cameron Roy Marchand Buchanan (1946-2023), Scottish Conservative politician, Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for the Lothian region from 2013 to 2016
... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Buchanan family +

Air New Zealand Flight 901

Mr. Geoffrey Buchanan (1911-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Orewa, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash 17

Arrow Air Flight 1285

Mr. Gregory A Buchanan (1967-1985), American Private from Bakersville, North Carolina, USA who died in the Arrow Air Flight 1285 crash 18

Halifax Explosion

Mr. Richard Buchanan (1878-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 19
Miss Buchanan, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 19
Mrs. Buchanan, née Leonard, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 19

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Allan Ridley Morton Buchanan (1908-1941), Australian Stoker Petty Officer from Malvern, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 20

Ibrox disaster

John Buchanan (1939-1971), Scottish football supporter, from Glasgow who was at the Ibrox disaster on 2nd January 1971 when a human crush among the crowd killed 66 and injured 200 people he died of his injuries 21

Lady of the Lake

Mr. George Buchanan (b. 1811), Irish shoemaker from Malin Head, Ireland who sailed aboard the "Lady of the Lake" from Greenock, Scotland on 8th April 1833 to Quebec, Canada when the ship hit ice and sunk of the coast of Newfoundland on the 11th May 1833 and he died in the sinking

RMS Lusitania

Miss Mary Buchanan, American 2nd Class passenger from Pottstown, Pennsylvania, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking and was recovered 22

The Buchanan Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Clarior hinc honos
Motto Translation: Brighter hence the honour.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of Scotland. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 26th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/england
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) DELHI 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Delhi.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HELEN THOMPSON 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840HelenThompson.gif
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Shadow Time Settlers (Retrieved 5th November 2010), retrieved from http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/settlers.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2011, November 3) Kenneth Buchanan. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Buchanan/Kenneth/USA.html
Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
American War Memorials - Flight 1285. (Retrieved 2016, August 24) . Retrieved from http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/monument_details.php?SiteID=317&MemID=550
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
Bradford City Football Club In memory (retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://www.bradfordcityafc.com/club/in-memoriam/
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/