Klyn History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

The old Scottish-Dalriadan name Klyn is derived 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 Klyn family

The surname Klyn 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 Klyn family

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

Klyn Spelling Variations

Translation in medieval times was an undeveloped science and was often carried out without due care. For this reason, many early Scottish names appeared radically altered when written in English. The spelling variations of Klyn include MacLean, MacLaine, MacLane, MacLeane, MacClean, MacClain, MacClaine, MacGhille Eoin (Gaelic) and many more.

Early Notables of the Klyn 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 Klyn Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Klyn family to Ireland

Some of the Klyn 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.

Klyn migration to the United States +

These settlers arrived in North America at a time when the east was burgeoning with prosperous colonies and the expanses of the west were just being opened up. The American War of Independence was also imminent. Some Scots stayed to fight for a new country, while others who remained loyal went north as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of them went on to rediscover their heritage in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic Scottish events. The Klyn were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Klyn Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Johan Palser Klyn, who landed in New York in 1709 1
Hans Jerick Klyn, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1733 1
Andrews Hinen Klyn, aged 12, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 1
Susana Maria Klyn, aged 7, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1738 1
Uriagh Carle Klyn, aged 3, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Klyn Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Nicolaus Klyn, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1803 1
Adrianus Klyn, who landed in Iowa in 1856 1
Jana Klyn, who arrived in Iowa in 1856 1
Arie A Klyn, who landed in Iowa in 1856 1
Gerrit Klyn, who arrived in Iowa in 1856 1
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Klyn Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Richard John Henry Klyn, who arrived in Alabama in 1925 1

The Klyn 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.

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)