Features: Scottish Clan Early Genealogy - Clan MacLennan

Motto: Dum spiro spero (While I breathe, I hope)
Historic Seat: Kintail
District: Ross-shire
Associated Surnames: Lobban
Associated Tartans:

Early MacLennan Genealogy and History:
(Excerpt from "The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans", James Grant, 1906)

The traditional origin of the clan of the MacLennans is as follows. There was a noted chief of the Logans of Druimdeurfait, in Ross-shire, called Gilliegorm, who having fallen in a sanguinary battle with the Frasers, his widow carried off, and a son, to whom she soon after gave birth, was either naturally deformed or was intentionally injured, as is alleged, that he might have no wish or ability to promote a feud for the slaughter of his father, for the Highlanders had a strong aversion to follow a deformed leader. He was therefore placed with the monks of Beaulieu, as best able to impart to him the religious instruction suited for the profession he was destined to follow.

On coming to age he took holy orders, and travelled to the west coast, the Isle of Skye, etc., and built the churches of Kilmór in Sleit, and Kilchrinan in Glenleg. Although he lived in the time of Pope Innocent III, in the thirteenth century, he did not observe the decree, strictly enjoining the celibacy of the clergy, but married and had several children. One of his sons he called Gille Fhinain, in honour of the renowned Saint Finan, and the son of that man was, of course, called MacGillinain. His successors were the Siol'inain, the race of Gille Fhinain, otherwise Clan or MacGhille'Inain, now corrupted to MacLennan.

The MacLennans were generally enrolled among the Frasers and Mackenzies in the different rebellions, and as they were thus lost in the ranks of those predominant clans, their numbers do not appear, nor, for the same reason, do they agree as to who is the present chief, but it is certain that they were at one time of considerable note among the tribes of Ross-shire. The district of Kintail has still scarcely an inhabitants but those of MacRae and MacLennan, the boundary between them being a river, which runs into Loch Duich; but slight as the line of demarcation is, the two clans keep up a marked distinction.

The MacLennans were entrusted with the standard of Lord Seaforth at the Battle of Aultdearn,¹ in 1645, and they proved the estimation in which they held this honour, by the great number who were cut down in the defence they made of the renowned "caber feidh," as the banner of the clan was called.

(End excerpt)

Next page: Clan MacLeod

Footnotes:

¹ The Battle of Auldearn (1645) The Battle of Auldearn took place on 9 May 1645 in Nairnshire. It was fought between Covenanter forces led by Sir John Hurry and Royalist forces led by James Graham, Marquis of Montrose. Read more about the Battle of Auldearn at Wikipedia.