Show ContentsMacLaggend History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestral home of the MacLaggend family is in the Scottish-English border region where their ancestors lived among the clans of the Boernician tribe. They lived in Logan, near Auchinleck. These place names derive from the Gaelic word lagan, from lag meaning "a hollow." [1]

Early Origins of the MacLaggend family

The surname MacLaggend was first found in Ayrshire where they first appeared in the records in the village of Logan in 1204. A number of Logans swore an oath of allegiance to Edward I of England when he conquered Scotland in 1296: Thurbrend Logan (Lord of Crougar), Lord of Crougar in Cunningham; Phillip Logan of Montrose; Walter Logan of Lanarkshire; and Andrew Logan of Wigtown. [1]

In 1329, Sir Robert Logan and Sir Walter Logan were killed in Spain while accompanying Sir James Douglas to the Holy Land with the heart of Bruce (thus the Clan's Crest). They were attempting to fulfill Robert the Bruce's request to have his heart buried in the Holy Land.

Early History of the MacLaggend family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacLaggend research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1424, 1555, 1573, 1606, 1609, 1635, 1653, 1665, 1669, 1671, 1674, 1688, 1699, 1700, 1701, 1712, 1718, 1729, 1730, 1733, 1736, 1740, 1751, 1776, 1778, 1784, 1798, 1814, 1817, 1842, 1851, 1875 and 1890 are included under the topic Early MacLaggend History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacLaggend Spelling Variations

A lack of rules and the tendency of scribes to spell according to the sound of the word plagued medieval spelling. Not surprisingly, an enormous number of spelling variations appeared. MacLaggend has been written Logan, Loggan, Loganaich, MacLennan and many more.

Early Notables of the MacLaggend family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was James Logan (1674-1751), William Penn's agent in America and man of science, born at his father's house at Lurgan, co. Armagh, 20 Oct. 1674, was son of Patrick Logan, a grandson of Sir Robert Logan of Restalrig. He came to know Penn, who persuaded him to accompany him to Pennsylvania as his secretary. They sailed in September, and landed in Philadelphia in December 1699, and Logan lived in the same house in Second Street with Penn until the latter in 1701 finally returned to England. Logan was then made secretary to...
Another 209 words (15 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacLaggend Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the MacLaggend family to Ireland

Some of the MacLaggend family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 95 words (7 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 MacLaggend family

Many Scots crossed the Atlantic for North America hoping to escape poverty, as well as persecution. Much of their heritage was lost along the way and overtime. This century, however, Clan societies and highland games have allowed many ancestral Scots to recover their birthright. An examination of many early immigration records reveals that people bearing the name MacLaggend arrived in North America very early: David Logan who settled in Virginia in 1740; John Logan with his wife and two children settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1765; Andrew, Bernard, David, George, Hugh, James, John, Patrick, Robert, Samuel and William Logan, all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1860.



The MacLaggend 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: Hoc majorum virtus
Motto Translation: This is the valour of my ancestors.


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)


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