MacLennan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Scotland

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The MacLennan surname is an Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Gille Fhinneain, a patronymic name created from a Gaelic personal name "Fionnán," from the Gaelic "fionn," meaning "white."

Early Origins of the MacLennan family

The surname MacLennan was first found in Ayrshire where their history vitally is enmeshed with that of the larger Logan Clan. The MacLennan spelling of this name was first found in Druimdeurfait, in Ross-shire, where they were a branch of the Highland Logans, who lived along Loch Lochy. According to family lore, they descend from Gilliegorm, Chief of the northern Logans, who was killed battling the Clan Fraser. His pregnant wife taken captive by Lord Lovat. Her son, born humped back, was called Crotair MacGilliegorm, the "crooked-back son of Gilliegorm." Fearing future revenge on the Frasers by the boy, he was sent to a monastery at Beauly, where he became a monk. He was said to be an ardent follower of the Irish Saint Fhinan, and one of his children took the name Mac Gillie Fhinan, which eventually became MacLennan.

Early History of the MacLennan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our MacLennan research. Another 247 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1204, 1296, 1329, 1555, 1606, 1609, 1746 and 1890 are included under the topic Early MacLennan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacLennan Spelling Variations

Medieval translation of Gaelic names could not be referred to as an accurate process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and names in documents from that era are riddled with spelling variations. MacLennan has been written as MacLennan, MacLenan, McLennan, McLennen and many more.

Early Notables of the MacLennan family

More information is included under the topic Early MacLennan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacLennan Ranking

In the United States, the name MacLennan is the 15,428^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1

Migration of the MacLennan family to Ireland

Some of the MacLennan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacLennan migration to the United States +

Dalriadan families proliferated in North America. Their descendants still populate many communities in the eastern parts of both the United States and Canada. Some settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists, in the wake of the American War of Independence. Families on both sides of the border have recovered much of their heritage in the 20th century through Clan societies and highland games. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name MacLennan or a variant listed above:

MacLennan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

James Maclennan, who arrived in Mississippi in 1837 2

MacLennan migration to Australia +

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

MacLennan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Maclennan, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Competitor"18th March 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 3
Mr. Kenneth Maclennan, (McLennon, McLennen, MacLennon), (b. 1816), aged 16, Scottish farm labourer who was convicted in Inverness, Scotland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Camden" on 21st September 1832, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1903 4
Mary Maclennan, aged 22, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Royal Albert"

MacLennan 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:

MacLennan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. John Maclennan, (b. 1835), aged 28, Scottish farm labourer, from Orkney travelling from London aboard the ship "Metropolis" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 16th June 1863 5
Mr. Donald Maclennan, (b. 1839), aged 24, Scottish farm labourer, from Orkney travelling from London aboard the ship "Metropolis" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 16th June 1863 5

MacLennan migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 6

MacLennan Settlers in West Indies in the 18th Century

Angus, Donald, Duncan, Farquhar, John, Roderick, and Rory Maclennan, all, who settled in Barbados in 1745

Contemporary Notables of the name MacLennan (post 1700) +

Scott Keith MacLennan (b. 1987), Scottish cricketer from Glasgow
Ruari MacLennan (b. 1988), Scottish football midfielder
Dr Hugh Dan MacLennan, Scottish broadcaster, author and sporting academic
John Ferguson MacLennan (1827-1881), Scottish ethnologist
Robert Adam Ross "Bob" Maclennan PC (1936-2020), Baron Maclennan of Rogart, a British Liberal Democrat politician, Leader of Social and Liberal Democrats (1987-1988)
Michael Lewis MacLennan (b. 1968), Canadian four-time Writers Guild of Canada Award nominated playwright, screenwriter, and producer of television shows
John Hugh MacLennan CC, CQ (1907-1990), Canadian author and professor of English at McGill University, winner of five Governor General's Awards and a Royal Bank Award
Angus MacLennan (1844-1908), Canadian politician, Member of the Canadian Parliament for Inverness (1896-1908)
Harry MacLennan (1870-1950), birth name of Sir Harry Lauder, the Scottish entertainer
John Cunningham Maclennan (1867-1935), Canadian physicist
... (Another 1 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the MacLennan family +

The MacLennan 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.