Show ContentsMacKlin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

MacKlin Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of MacKlin

What does the name MacKlin mean?

The MacKlin family comes from the ancient Scottish Dalriadan clans of the mountainous west coast of Scotland. The name MacKlin 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.

MacKlin Coat of Arms Creation

The Macleans claim descent from one Gill-Eathain na Tuaighe, so called from his carrying as his ordinary weapon a battle-axe ; and they have for their crest a battle-axe surrounded by a laurel or cypress branch. This they are said to have adopted from the following incident in their founder's career :

Gill-Eathain was engaged, with others, in a stag hunt at Beinn Talaidh in Mull, and wandered away from the rest of the party in pursuit of his quarry. The mountain suddenly became enveloped in mist and he lost his way. For three days he wandered about unable to recover his track. On the fourth day, utterly exhausted, he crept under a laurel bush, where, after fixing the handle of the battle-axe in the earth, he lay down and slept. On the evening of that day his friends saw the head of the battle-axe above the bush, and found Gill-Eathain alseep on the ground with his arm round the handle.

This clan has two slogans, " Bets no beatha " (Death or life), and "Another for Hector." The second slogan had its origin in an incident, at the battle of Inverkeithing in 1651, which demonstrates the devotion of the clansmen to their chief. In July of that year Cromwell's forces, under General Lambert, opposed the Scots army, under Holborn of Menstrie. Holborn with his cavalry fled soon after the battle began. Sir Hector Roy Maclean of Duart was there with 800 men. They were encircled by the English and were being cut to pieces. Sir Hector's clansmen saw that the English objective was to get their chief. They therefore flocked round him, and at every attempt on their chief's life a clansman threw himself upon the enemy and fell, one after the other exclaiming " Another for Hector " until eight Macleans lay dead ere Sir Hector himself fell. 1

Early Origins of the MacKlin family

The surname MacKlin 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 MacKlin family

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

MacKlin 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 MacKlin include MacLean, MacLaine, MacLane, MacLeane, MacClean, MacClain, MacClaine, MacGhille Eoin (Gaelic) and many more.

Early Notables of the MacKlin family

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; Sir Allan Maclean, 3rd Baronet of Morvern (1645-1674)...
Another 56 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early MacKlin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

MacKlin Ranking

the United States, the name MacKlin is the 3,751st most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 2

Migration of the MacKlin family to Ireland

Some of the MacKlin 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.

MacKlin migration to the United States +

The hardy Scots who made the crossing settled all along the east coast of North America and in the great west that was just then opening up. At the time of the American War of Independence, many United Empire Loyalists moved north from the American colonies to Canada. Scottish national heritage became better known in North America in the 20th century through highland games and other patriotic events. An examination of immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name MacKlin arrived in North America very early:

MacKlin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Robert Macklin, who arrived in Maryland in 1658 3
  • Margaret Macklin, who arrived in Maryland in 1661 3
  • Richard Macklin, who landed in Maryland in 1679 3
MacKlin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Mary Macklin, who landed in Virginia in 1705 3
MacKlin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Macklin, who arrived in America in 1805 3
  • Thomas Macklin, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 3
  • John Macklin, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1844 3

MacKlin migration to Canada +

MacKlin Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • James Macklin, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749
MacKlin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Margaret Macklin, aged 32, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Caronge" in 1838
  • Rose Ann Macklin, aged 7, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Caronge" in 1838

MacKlin migration to Australia +

MacKlin Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Macklin, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lloyds" in 1838 4
  • Hannah Macklin, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lloyds" in 1838 4
  • William Macklin, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lysander" in 1840 5
  • Hannah Macklin, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lysander" in 1840 5
  • Eliza Macklin, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lysander" in 1840 5
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

MacKlin 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:

MacKlin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Alfred Macklin, (b. 1849), aged 25, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Varuna" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 27th May 1874 6

Contemporary Notables of the name MacKlin (post 1700) +

  • John Farrell "Big John" Macklin (1884-1949), American football player and coach, basketball player and coach, and college athletics administrator
  • Gordon S. Macklin (1928-2007), American founder and longtime president of the NASDAQ stock market
  • Warner N. III Macklin, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 2000 7
  • Pecolia Macklin, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from New York, 1988 8
  • Marilyn Macklin, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Florida, 2000 8
  • Lori Macklin, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Washington, 2008 8
  • Joseph J. Macklin, American politician, Member of North Carolina House of Commons from Franklin County, 1833-34, 1836-37 8
  • Mr. David Robert Macklin M.B.E., British Major for The Rifles was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire on 17th June 2017
  • Paul Harold Macklin PC, MP (b. 1944), Canadian politician, member of the Canadian House of Commons
  • ... (Another 11 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Fraterville mine
  • Mr. J. Clay Macklin (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 8
  • Mr. Levi Macklin (d. 1902), American coal miner at Fraterville mine in Tennessee, on the 19th May 1902 when an explosion collapsed the mine; he died 9

The MacKlin 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.
  1. Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. 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)
  4. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LLOYDS from London 1838. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1838Lloyds.htm
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LYSANDER 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Lysander.htm
  6. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  7. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  8. News paper article Fraterville Mine Disaster retrieved on 6th August 2021. Retrieved from http://www.tn.gov/tsla/exhibits/disasters/fraterville.htm

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