| ![Show Contents]() McClennen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Scotland Ireland The McClennen 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 McClennen familyThe surname McClennen was first found in Ayrshire where their history vitally is enmeshed with that of the larger Logan Clan. The McClennen 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 McClennen familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our McClennen 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 McClennen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McClennen Spelling VariationsMedieval translation of Gaelic names could not be referred to as an accurate process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and names in documents from that era are riddled with spelling variations. McClennen has been written as MacLennan, MacLenan, McLennan, McLennen and many more. Early Notables of the McClennen familyMore information is included under the topic Early McClennen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the McClennen family to Ireland
Some of the McClennen 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.
| McClennen migration to the United States | + |
The descendants of the Dalriadan families who made the great crossing of the Atlantic still dot communities along the east coast of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many of the settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Clan societies and highland games have allowed Canadian and American families of Scottish descent to recover much of their lost heritage. Investigation of the origins of family names on the North American continent has revealed that early immigrants bearing the name McClennen or a variant listed above include:
McClennen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- James McClennen, who arrived in America in 1802 1
| Contemporary Notables of the name McClennen (post 1700) | + |
- Sophia McClennen, American Professor of International Affairs and Comparative Literature, The Pennsylvania State University
- Scott McClennen, American producer, known for Temple Smash (2009) and Boys & Girls (2010)
- Jay McClennen, American makeup artist, known for X-Men (2000), X2 (2003) and eXistenZ (1999)
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.
- 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)
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McClennen migration to the United States 
