Glennen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The Glennen 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 Glennen family

The surname Glennen was first found in Ayrshire where their history vitally is enmeshed with that of the larger Logan Clan. The Glennen 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 Glennen family

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

Glennen Spelling Variations

Spelling variations occur frequently in Scottish names that date from the medieval era. They result from a general lack of grammatical rules and the tendency to spell names according to sound. Glennen has been spelled MacLennan, MacLenan, McLennan, McLennen and many more.

Early Notables of the Glennen family

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

Migration of the Glennen family to Ireland

Some of the Glennen 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.

Glennen migration to the United States +

In the 20th century, the ancestors of many of those Boernician-Scottish people still populate North America. They distributed themselves on either side of the border at the time of the War of Independence. United Empire Loyalists went north to Canada and those who wanted a new nation stayed south. Both groups went on to found great nations. Some of the first North American settlers with Glennen name or one of its variants:

Glennen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Andrew Glennen, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1860 1

Glennen migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Glennen Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Patrick Glennen, aged 40, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Breeze" from Dublin, Ireland
John Glennen, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Breeze" from Dublin, Ireland

Contemporary Notables of the name Glennen (post 1700) +

Robert Eugene Glennen Jr. PhD (1933-2015), American education administrator, 13th President of Emporia State University (1984-1997), 10th President of Western New Mexico University (1980-1984)

The Glennen 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.

Citations +

Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)