First found in the Western Isles where they were seated from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Britain to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

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: James Elizabeth, Anne, Daniel, James, Lettice, McLean who were all on record in Charles Town S.C. in 1767; Duncan McLean, who settled in Boston in 1766.

Motto Translated: Virtue is my honour.

For more information on the last name MacLean, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.