Where did the name MacLean come from? What is their coat of arms? When did the MacLean family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?

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Coat of Arms > MacLean Coat of Arms

MacLean Coat of Arms and Name History

MacLean

Origin Displayed: Scottish-Alt

Origins Available: Scottish-Alt, Scottish

Spelling variations of this family name include: MacLean, MacLain, MacLaine, MacLane, MacLeane, MacClean, MacClain, MacClaine, MacGhille Eoin, Macklin, MacCleane, McKleane, McCleant, McCleind, McCleand, McClaink, McClaing, Cleind, MacClean, McCleen, McCleane, McClean, McClaine, McClain, Macklaim, Leand, Leind, MacClaine, Leane and many more.

First found in Isle of Mull, an island of the Inner Hebrides, off the west coast of Scotland.

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: Peter McLaine, who came to New York in 1701; John MacLain, who came to New England in 1721; Malcolm MacLain, who arrived in Maryland in 1747; Archibald MacLaine, who came to North Carolina in 1750.

Motto Translated: To conquer or die.

Some noteworthy people of the name MacLean

John MacLean (1800-1886), American educator, president of Princeton University (1854-1868)
Norman Fitzroy Maclean (1902-1990), American author, and professor of English at University of Chicago
Sir Donald Maclean (1864-1932), British Politician, member of the UK Parliament
Sir Fitzroy Hew Maclean (1911-1996), 1st Baronet of Dunconnel, British diplomat, politician, and spy
Donald Duart MacLean (1913-1983), British diplomat and spy, who passed secrets to the Soviets and escaped there in 1951
Lt. Colonel John Bayne Maclean (1862-1950), Canadian publisher, who founded Maclean's Magazine
David John MacLean (b. 1953), Scottish politician, member of the UK Parliament for Penrith and The Border
Alistair Maclean (1922-1987), Scottish author