Show ContentsMcLaine History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

On the Scottish west coast, the McLaine family was born among the ancient Dalriadan clans. 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 McLaine family

The surname McLaine 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 McLaine family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McLaine 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 McLaine History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McLaine Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: MacLean, MacLaine, MacLane, MacLeane, MacClean, MacClain, MacClaine, MacGhille Eoin (Gaelic) and many more.

Early Notables of the McLaine family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Hector MacLean, Lord of Dowart (c.1560-c.1630), Scottish Lord of the Clan MacLean; Francis Cleyn (Clein, Franz Klein) (c. 1582-1658), a painter and tapestry designer; 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...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McLaine Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the McLaine family to Ireland

Some of the McLaine 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 McLaine migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McLaine Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Peter McLaine, who settled in New York in 1701
  • Hector McLaine, who settled in New York in 1776
  • John McLaine, who settled in New York in 1784
McLaine Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Patrick McLaine, aged 25, who landed in New York in 1812 [1]

Australia McLaine migration to Australia +

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

McLaine Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Crow McLaine, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Nichol" in 1842 [2]


The McLaine 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. 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)
  2. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) WILLIAM NICHOL 1842. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1842WilliamNichol.gif


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