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Show ContentsMacLean History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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On the Scottish west coast, the MacLean family was born among the ancient Dalriadan clans. Their name comes from a devotion to St. John. The surname is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Gille Eathain, a patronymic name meaning "son of the servant of Saint John." The Clan is descended from Eachan Reaganach, (brother of Lachlan the progenitor of the Macleans of Duart). These two brothers were both descended from Gilleathain na Tuaidh, known as 'Gillian of the Battleaxe', a famed warrior of the 5th century. Eachan, or Hector was given the lands of Lochbuie from John, the first Lord of the Isles, some time in the 14th century.

Early Origins of the MacLean family

The surname MacLean was first found in the Western Isles where the Clan held extensive lands on almost every island in the Western Hebrides.

Early History of the MacLean family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacLean research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1310, 1320, 1370, 1411, 1500, 1560, 1582, 1604, 1620, 1630, 1645, 1649, 1650, 1651, 1658, 1666, 1670, 1674, 1687, 1716, 1745 and 1890 are included under the topic Early MacLean History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacLean Spelling Variations

In various documents MacLean has been spelled Since medieval scribes still spelled according to sound, records from that era contain an enormous number of spelling variations. MacLean, MacLaine, MacLane, MacLeane, MacClean, MacClain, MacClaine, MacGhille Eoin (Gaelic) and many more.

Early Notables of the MacLean family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

  • Hector MacLean, Lord of Dowart (c.1560-c.1630), Scottish Lord of the Clan MacLean
  • Sir John Maclean, 1st Baronet, (1604-1666)
  • Sir Hector Maclean, 2nd Baronet of Morvern (c.1620-1651), the 18th Clan Chief of Clan Maclean from 1649 to 1651
  • Sir Allan Maclean, 3rd Baronet of Morvern (1645-1674), 19th Clan Chief of Clan Maclean from 1651 to 1674
  • Lauchlan Maclean, 2nd Laird of Brolas (1650-1687)
  • Sir John Maclean, 4th Baronet of Morvern (1670-1716), 20th Clan Chief of Clan Maclean from 1674 to 1716

MacLean World Ranking

In the United States, the name MacLean is the 4,174th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1 However, in Canada, the name MacLean is ranked the 210th most popular surname with an estimated 18,538 people with that name. 2 And in Australia, the name MacLean is the 763rd popular surname with an estimated 5,102 people with that name. 3 New Zealand ranks MacLean as 484th with 1,410 people. 4 The United Kingdom ranks MacLean as 683rd with 9,719 people. 5

Ireland Migration of the MacLean family to Ireland

Some of the MacLean family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States MacLean migration to the United States +

Significant portions of the populations of both the United States and Canada are still made up of the ancestors of Dalriadan families. Some of those in Canada originally settled the United States, but went north as United Empire Loyalists in the American War of Independence. The late 19th and early 20th centuries saw the ancestors of many Scots on both sides of the border begin to recover their collective national heritage through Clan societies and highland games. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

MacLean Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Andrew Maclean, who arrived in New Jersey in 1685 6
MacLean Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • John Maclean, who landed in Maryland in 1716 6
  • Allan MacLean, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1740 6
  • Neil MacLean, who landed in New York in 1770 6
  • John MacLean, who arrived in America in 1775 6
MacLean Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Bridget MacLean, who landed in New York, NY in 1815 6
  • Owen MacLean, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 6
  • Peter MacLean, who arrived in New York, NY in 1815 6
  • Thomas MacLean, who arrived in New York, NY in 1816 6
  • Henry Clinton Maclean, who arrived in New York in 1835 6

Canada MacLean migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

MacLean Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Archibald Maclean U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 7
  • Mr. Donald MacLean U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 7
MacLean Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Don Maclean, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
  • John Maclean, aged 10, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
  • Kath Maclean, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
  • Margaret Maclean, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
  • Mary Maclean, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia MacLean migration to Australia +

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

MacLean Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Hugh MacLean, (Mclaine), (b. 1789), aged 21, British Convict who was convicted in India, transported aboard the "Eagle" in 1810, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he was sent to Newcastle in 1811 8
  • John MacLean, English convict from Lancaster, who was transported aboard the "America" on April 4, 1829, settling in New South Wales, Australia 9
  • Mr. William Maclean, English convict who was convicted in Liverpool, Merseyside, England for life, transported aboard the "Florentia" on 11th August 1830, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1842 10
  • Donald MacLean, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Indus" in 1839 11
  • Miss Euphemia Maclean who was convicted in Inverary, Scotland for 7 years , transported aboard the "Aurora" on 22nd April 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand MacLean 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:

MacLean Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Robert MacLean, who landed in Tamaki, Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • Every MacLean, who landed in Tamaki, Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
  • D MacLean, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1841
  • Miss Maclean, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Josephine Willis" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 5th February 1855 13
  • Mr. Maclean, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Josephine Willis" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 5th February 1855 13
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name MacLean (post 1700) +

  • Katherine Anne MacLean (1925-2019), American science fiction author
  • Paul D. MacLean (1913-2007), American physician and neuroscientist
  • Bryan Andrew MacLean (1946-1998), American singer, guitarist and songwriter
  • Norman Fitzroy Maclean (1902-1990), American author, and professor of English at University of Chicago
  • John MacLean (1800-1886), American educator, president of Princeton University (1854-1868)
  • Norman Hector Mackinnon Maclean (1936-2017), Scottish Gaelic: Tormod MacGill-Eain, Scottish Gaelic comedian, novelist, poet, musician and broadcaster
  • Sorley MacLean (1911-1996), critically acclaimed Scottish poet
  • Dougie MacLean OBE (b. 1954), Scottish singer-songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist and record producer
  • Craig MacLean MBE (b. 1971), Scottish five-time gold, six-time silver and four-time bronze medalist track cyclist
  • John Maclean MA (1879-1923), Scottish schoolteacher and revolutionary socialist
  • ... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Hugh W P Maclean (b. 1911), Scottish Ordinary Coder serving for the Royal Navy from Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 14
HMS Royal Oak
  • Eardly G.S. Maclean, British Paymaster Lieutenant Commander with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 15

The MacLean 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: Virtue mine honour
Motto Translation: Virtue is my honour.
  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  3. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  4. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  5. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  6. 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)
  7. 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
  8. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eagle
  9. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 26) America voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1829 with 176 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/america/1829
  10. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th October 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/florentia
  11. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) INDUS 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Indus.htm
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/aurora
  13. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  14. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  15. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
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