McClean History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:

Scotland

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

(226)

The sea-swept Hebrides islands and the west coast of Scotland, made up the ancient Dalriadan kingdom, the ancestral home of the McClean family. Their name comes from a devotion to St. John. The surname is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Gille Eathain, a patronymic name meaning "son of the servant of Saint John." The Clan is descended from Eachan Reaganach, (brother of Lachlan the progenitor of the Macleans of Duart). These two brothers were both descended from Gilleathain na Tuaidh, known as 'Gillian of the Battleaxe', a famed warrior of the 5th century. Eachan, or Hector was given the lands of Lochbuie from John, the first Lord of the Isles, some time in the 14th century.

Early Origins of the McClean family

The surname McClean was first found in the Western Isles where the Clan held extensive lands on almost every island in the Western Hebrides.

Early History of the McClean family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McClean research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1310, 1320, 1370, 1411, 1500, 1560, 1582, 1604, 1620, 1630, 1645, 1649, 1650, 1651, 1658, 1666, 1670, 1674, 1687, 1716, 1745 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McClean History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McClean Spelling Variations

Many spelling variations of McClean have been recorded over the years, including These are the result of the medieval practice of spelling according to sound and repeated translation between Gaelic and English. MacLean, MacLaine, MacLane, MacLeane, MacClean, MacClain, MacClaine, MacGhille Eoin (Gaelic) and many more.

Early Notables of the McClean family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Hector MacLean, Lord of Dowart (c.1560-c.1630), Scottish Lord of the Clan MacLean; Francis Cleyn (Clein, Franz Klein) (c. 1582-1658), a painter and tapestry designer; Sir John Maclean, 1st Baronet, (1604-1666); Sir Hector Maclean, 2nd Baronet of Morvern (c.1620-1651), the 18th Clan Chief of Clan Maclean from 1649 to 1651...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McClean Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McClean Ranking

In the United States, the name McClean is the 7,473^rd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 1

Migration of the McClean family to Ireland

Some of the McClean family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 67 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McClean migration to the United States +

Many who arrived from Scotland settled along the east coast of North America in communities that would go on to become the backbones of the young nations of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many settlers who remained loyal to England went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Their descendants later began to recover the lost Scottish heritage through events such as the highland games that dot North America in the summer months. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the McClean family emigrate to North America:

McClean Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alexander McClean, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1802 2
David McClean, aged 24, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 2
George McClean, aged 28, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 2
James McClean, aged 60, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 2
Archd McClean, who arrived in America in 1805 2
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McClean migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McClean Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John McClean, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Mr. Archibald McClean U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 3
Mr. Charles McClean U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 3
Mr. Donald McClean U.E. who settled in St. Andrews, Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 3
Mr. Peter McClean U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 3

McClean Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Malcolm McClean, aged 38, a shepherd, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Dorothy" in 1815
Elizabeth McClean, aged 35, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Dorothy" in 1815
John McClean, aged 11, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Dorothy" in 1815
Alexander McClean/McBean, aged 8, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Dorothy" in 1815
Donald McClean/McBean, aged 6, who arrived in Quebec aboard the ship "Dorothy" in 1815
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McClean migration to Australia +

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

McClean Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Edward McClean, (b. 1797), aged 33, English groom who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Clyde" on 20th August 1830, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 4
James McClean, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Nicol" in 1840 5
John McClean, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Nicol" in 1840 5
William McClean, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "William Nicol" in 1840 5

McClean 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:

McClean Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Miss Ann Mcclean, (b. 1835), aged 27, British domestic servant travelling from London aboard the ship "Mersey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 25th September 1862 6

Contemporary Notables of the name McClean (post 1700) +

Dame Angela Ruth McClean D.B.E., FRS. (b. 1961), British Professor of Mathematical Biology at University of Oxford, was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 8th June 2018, for services to Mathematical Biology and to Scientific Advice for Government 7
Mr. Colin Thomas McClean C.B.E., British Brigadier was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 17th June 2017
Christian McClean, English former professional footballer
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Francis Kennedy McClean AFC (1876-1955), English civil engineer and pioneer aviator
John Robinson McClean CB FRS (1813-1873), British civil engineer and Liberal Party politician
Stacey McClean (b. 1989), English pop singer
Warren McClean, Australian drummer for the group I'm Talking 1986 to 1987
Sheila McClean, Irish contemporary impressionist painter
McClean Stock, American Republican politician, Postmaster at York, Pennsylvania, 1921-25 (acting, 1921-22) 8

Historic Events for the McClean family +

The McClean 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: Virtue mine honour
Motto Translation: Virtue is my honour.