Cleelant History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The first people to use the name Cleelant were a family of Strathclyde-Britons who lived in the Scottish/English Borderlands. The name comes from when someone lived in Clelland, near Motherwell, Lanarkshire.

Early Origins of the Cleelant family

The surname Cleelant was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Cleelant family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cleelant research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1661, 1674, 1689, 1709, 1723, 1741, 1789 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Cleelant History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cleelant Spelling Variations

Surnames that evolved in Scotland in the Middle Ages often appear under many spelling variations. These are due to the practice of spelling according to sound in the era before dictionaries had standardized the English language. Cleelant has appeared as Clelland, Cleland, Cleeland and others.

Early Notables of the Cleelant family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Thomas Cleland, gamekeeper to the Marquess of Douglas; and his son, William Cleland (ca.1661-1689), a Scottish poet and soldier. William Cleland (1674?-1741), was a "friend of Pope, of Scotch birth. He studied at Utrecht, served in Spain under...
Another 44 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cleelant Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cleelant family to Ireland

Some of the Cleelant family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 59 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Cleelant family

The North American colonies beckoned, with their ample land and opportunity as their freedom from the persecution suffered by so many Clan families back home. Many Scots even fought against England in the American War of Independence to gain this freedom. Recently, clan societies have allowed the ancestors of these brave Scottish settlers to rediscover their familial roots. Among them: George, and James Cleland, who arrived in Baltimore in 1804; Charles Cleland settled in Boston in 1820; John and Samuel arrived in New York State in 1811..

The Cleelant 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: Non sibi
Motto Translation: Not for himself.