Show ContentsMcLaggane History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The rich saga of the McLaggane family begins in ancient Scotland 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 McLaggane family

The surname McLaggane 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 McLaggane family

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

McLaggane Spelling Variations

In the many years before the invention of the printing press and the first dictionaries, names and other words were spelled according to sound, often differently with each person who wrote them. Spelling variations of McLaggane include Logan, Loggan, Loganaich, MacLennan and many more.

Early Notables of the McLaggane 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 McLaggane Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the McLaggane family to Ireland

Some of the McLaggane 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 McLaggane family

In many cases, the ancestors of many of these Boernician-Scottish people are just now learning of their Scottish heritage. Since the trip was so arduous, and many were fleeing from poverty itself, settlers brought little with them and often had nothing of their personal history to hand down to their children. Clan societies and highland games have helped to correct this problem in the 20th century. Early immigration records have shown some of the first McLagganes to arrive on North American shores: 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 McLaggane 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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