The annals of Scottish history reveal that Buchanon was first used as a name by ancestors of the Pictish tribe of ancient Scotland. The Buchanon family lived in the great lands of Buchanan in Stirlingshire where this illustrious Clan held extensive territories since early times. Although many of today's members of the Clan Buchanan can trace their heritage as far back as McAlpin, the first to establish the name of Buchan was Anselan O'Kyan, son of the King of Ulster about 1016.
It is generally believed that the Buchanans of Auchmar received lands bordering Loch Lomond by King Malcolm II for services rendered against the Danes. And records do confirm that Walter de Buchanan had a land grant in Auchmarr in 1373. A Maurice Buchanan also acted as treasurer to Princess Margaret of France at this time.
The surname Buchanon was first found in Lennox. In Gaelic, "both-chanain" means "the seat of the canon," suggesting an ecclesiastical origin. The Clan received its name from the great lands of Buchanan in Stirlingshire where they had held extensive territories since early times. The earliest mention of the name placed him in Stirling (now part of the modern region of Central) where in an early document, a Dominus Absolone de Buchkan was a witness to a charter in 1224.
"The name of this place was originally Inchcaileoch, which it received from an island in Loch Lomond. This name is of uncertain origin; but the family who used it in consequence of having, at a very early period, obtained a grant of the lands so called, sprang from Anselan, a native of Ireland, who is supposed to have located himself here in the 11th century." [1]
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Buchanon research. Another 191 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1016, 1296, 1506, 1506, 1582, 1681, 1690, 1759, 1506, 1582, 1506, 1595, 1652 and are included under the topic Early Buchanon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Before the first dictionaries appeared in the last few hundred years, scribes spelled according to sound. spelling variations are common among Scottish names. Buchanon has been spelled Buchanan, Bucanan, Bucanion, Bucanen, Bucanon, Buchannan, Buchannon, Buchannen, Buchanon, Buchanen, Bohannon and many more.
Notable amongst the Clan at this time was George Buchanan (1506-1582), Scottish humanist, scholar, and educator; as well as John Buchanan of that Ilk (d. 1681), Clan Chief and last Laird of Buchanan and Buchanan of Arnprior.
Andrew Buchanan (1690-1759), of Drumpellier, was Lord Provost of Glasgow, and was descended from a branch of the old family of Buchanan of Buchanan and Leny. He was the second of four sons of George Buchanan, maltster, Glasgow, one of the covenanters who fought at Bothwell Bridge. [2]
George Buchanan (1506-1582), was a Scottish scholar, and third son...
Another 92 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Buchanon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In the United States, the name Buchanon is the 13,336th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [3]
Some of the Buchanon family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In those unstable times, many had no choice but to leave their beloved homelands. Sickness and poverty hounded travelers to North America, but those who made it were welcomed with land and opportunity. These settlers gave the young nations of Canada and the United States a strong backbone as they stood up for their beliefs as United Empire Loyalists and in the American War of Independence. In this century, the ancestors of these brave Scots have begun to recover their illustrious heritage through Clan societies and other heritage organizations. Early passenger and immigration lists reveal many Scottish settlers bearing the name Buchanon:
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: