Cleland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Scotland

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In ancient Scotland, Cleland was a Strathclyde-Briton name for someone who lived in Clelland, near Motherwell, Lanarkshire.

Early Origins of the Cleland family

The surname Cleland 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 Cleland family

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

Cleland Spelling Variations

In Medieval times, spelling and translation were not nearly so highly developed as today. They were generally carried out according to the sound and intuition of the bearer. For that reason spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. Cleland has been spelled Clelland, Cleland, Cleeland and others.

Early Notables of the Cleland 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 Lord Rivers, and after the peace became a commissioner of customs in Scotland, and af...

Cleland Ranking

In the United States, the name Cleland is the 9,725^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in New Zealand, the name Cleland is ranked the 935^th most popular surname with an estimated 797 people with that name. 2

Migration of the Cleland family to Ireland

Some of the Cleland 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.

Cleland migration to the United States +

Unrest, poverty, and persecution caused thousands to look for opportunity and freedom in the North American colonies. The crossing was long, overcrowded, and unsanitary, though, and came only at great expense. Many Strathclyde families settled on the east coast of North America in communities that would form the backbone of what would become the great nations of the United States and Canada. The American War of Independence caused those who remained loyal to England to move north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. In the 20th century, Strathclyde and other Scottish families across North America began to recover their collective heritage through highland games and Clan societies. Among them:

Cleland Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Elizabeth Cleland, aged 17, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1775 3
Robert Cleland, who landed in America in 1795-1798 3
Arthur Cleland, who landed in America in 1795-1798 3
David Cleland, who arrived in America in 1795-1798 3
James Cleland, who arrived in America in 1795-1798 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cleland Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

George, and James Cleland, who, who arrived in Baltimore in 1804
George Cleland, aged 21, who landed in Baltimore, Maryland in 1804 3
Moses Cleland, who arrived in Savanna(h), Georgia in 1805 3
John and Samuel Cleland, who arrived in New York State in 1811
Thornton Cleland, aged 21, who landed in New York in 1812 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cleland migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Cleland Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

James Cleland, Scottish convict from Scotland, who was transported aboard the "Adelaide" on August 08, 1849, settling in Van Diemen's Land and Port Phillip, Australia 4

Cleland migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Cleland Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

J W Cleland, who landed in Bay of Islands, New Zealand in 1840
Mr. Samuel Cleland, (b. 1840), aged 20, Irish farm labourer from County Down travelling from Bristol aboard the ship "William Miles" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st August 1860 5
Ann J. Cleland, aged 26, a servant, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oxford" in 1874
Allan Cleland, aged 9, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oxford" in 1874

Contemporary Notables of the name Cleland (post 1700) +

Joseph Maxwell "Max" Cleland (1942-2021), American politician, United States Senator from Georgia (1997-2003), Secretary of the American Battle Monuments Commission (2009-2017)
Major-General Joseph Pringle Cleland (1902-1975), American Commanding General XVII Airborne Corps (1953-1955) 6
Cook Cleland (1916-2007), American air race pilot, winner of the 1947 and 1949 Thompson Trophy Air Races
Robert Hardy Cleland (b. 1947), American District Judge
Thomas Maitland Cleland (1880-1964), American book designer, painter, illustrator, and type designer
Tammy Cleland (b. 1975), American synchronized swimmer
William Wallace Cleland (b. 1930), American biochemistry professor
James Cleland (1770-1840), Scottish statistician, a native of Glasgow who began life as a cabinet-maker, but having moved to London, obtained in 1814 the post of Superintendent of Public Works 7
James William Cleland (1874-1914), Scottish politician
Alexander "Alex" Cleland (b. 1970), Scottish former professional footballer
... (Another 5 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Cleland 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.