Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie

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Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie is a Scottish Clan that inhabited lands on the southern end of the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides of the western Scottish Highlands. "Maclaine" is an alternate spelling for "MacLean." Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie and Clan MacLean of Duart are two separate clans. However, since the two clans share a strong family connection, the Maclaines of Lochbuie are widely considered a "branch clan" of the much larger Clan MacLean.[1] The 26th (and current) clan chief is Lorne Gillean Ian Maclaine of Lochbuie.[2] The clan is recognized by both the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs and the Lord Lyon.

History

Clan MacLaine of Lochbuie is translated in Gaelic as "Mac'ill-Eathain Locchabuide," but their history can be traced back farther than the Gaels to Tuscany in Italy. A Tuscan follower of William the Conqueror had a grandson named Maurice Fitzgerald, who moved to Ireland with the famous Earl of Surrey, known as "Strongbow." The Fitzgeralds of Ireland sent offshoots to Scotland in the thirteenth century. Two Fitzgerald cousins are said to have started both Clan MacLean and Clan Mackenzie, with the name MacLean being coined by Gillean-na-Taughe (Gillean of the Battle-Axe), a fierce warrior who lived in the thirteenth century. Gillean was said to have signed the Ragman Roll in 1296 as "Gilliemore Macilean" or "Gillean the Great, Son of Gillean."[3] He and his three sons were also said to have fought against the Vikings at the Battle of Largs in 1263. Gillean's great-grandson, Iain Dubh, or Black John, had two sons, Eachin Reaganach (Hector the Stern), and Lachainn Lubanach (Lachlan the Wily).[4] When the Gaelic Highlanders broke away from the Lowland monarchy in the 14th century, the Clan MacLean allied with the Highlanders - receiving lands from John, Lord of the Isles, in exchange for their support. Lachlan married John's daughter, and he and his brother moved to the Isle of Mull in the Inner Hebrides, where the two dominant branches of the family were formed: the Maclaines of Lochbuie and the MacLeans of Duart (The Maclaines of Lochbuie used the "MacLean" spelling until the 17th century). Lachlan was the head of the Nuart branch, with Hector being the head of the Lochbuie branch.[5] Many of the clansmen at Lochbuie retained other spellings of Maclaine or MacLean, such as Maclayne, McClain, and McLain. Various smaller families intermarried or banded together with the Maclaines, and they were all accepted into the clan.[6]

Once the MacLeans allied with the Highlanders, they expanded beyond Lochbuie and Duart to Ardgower, Morvern, and Coll. Clan MacDonald, arguably the most powerful highland clan, became envious of the growing power of the MacLeans; and subsequently, the MacLeans - including the Maclaines of Lochbuie - fueded with the MacDonalds for many years.[7]

Historically Roman Catholic and proud to see a Scottish monarch on the throne, the Maclaines of Lochbuie, along with the MacLeans, fought on the side of the Royalists in the English Civil War against Oliver Cromwell and his Parliamentarians. However, the Maclaines of Lochbuie and other clans were persuaded by Duncan Forbes not to rise with Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745. Thus the Maclaines and MacLeans were spared the ramifications that resulted throughout northern Scotland as a result of Charles' defeat at the Battle of Culloden.[8]

During the American Revolution, many Highland regiments were raised in Scotland, and rarely one of them was formed that did not consist of a MacLean or a Maclaine.[9] The period of colonization before the Revolution saw many Maclaines and MacLeans settle in the sandhills of eastern North Carolina, and these settlers were almost all British sympathizers during the war.

Lands

Hector Maclaine received his lands in the Hebrides from John, 1st Lord of the Isles around 1350. Hector chose to build his castle, Moy Castle, at the head of Lochbuie. Moy Castle was a beautiful Scottish towerhouse, and it remained the home of Maclaine chiefs until 1752, when Lochbuie House was built not far from the castle. Lochbuie House is a Georgian style house that sits just behind Moy Castle, overlooking Lochbuie. Moy Castle and Lochbuie House are still standing today, with Lochbuie House now owned by the Corbett family. Moy Castle is not accessible due to its old age, but remains a beautiful example of ancient medieval architecture. Over the years, the Lochbuie branch has held lands in Mull, Scarba, Jura, Morvern, Locheil, and Tiree. Lands were also granted in Duror and Glencoe but were never taken.[10]

Septs

Since most Scottish emigrants could not read or write, carried thick highland "brogues," and had trouble being understood, names might have been changed or misspelled by United States Customs officials. This makes it hard to pinpoint the clan that one's Scottish ancestors came from. Listed below are surnames that are associated with Clan MacLean, but more specifically, the Maclaines of Lochbuie (note that there are over 200 alternate spellings for these names):

Maclaine, McClain, McLain, MacLayne, MacLean, Lane, Laine, Lain, Layne, Lean, McFadyen, MacFadden, McPhadon, McPhadzean, Fadden, MacCormack, McCormick, Cormack, Cormick, MacGillivray, MacIlvora, MacBay, MacVay, MacAvoy, Avoy, MacEvoy, Evoy, MacFetridge, Patton, Patten, Paton, Peden, Douie, Huie, Beaton, Black, Clanachan[11]

Insignia and Clan Recognition

Clan Badge

A branch of laurel and a branch of cypress in saltire, surmounted of a battleaxe in pale, all proper. The motto reads: "Vincere Vel Mori," Latin for "Conquer or Die."

Clan Plant

Blaeberry or "bramble"

Tartan

  • Maclaine Dress
  • Maclaine Hunting
  • Mull District

Pìobaireachd

The clan's Pìobaireachd is "Cumha Mhic Ghilleathain" (Maclaine of Lochbuie's Lament).

Clan Chiefs

Chief Name Birth Death
1 Hector 1330 1407
2 Murdoch - -
3 John - -
4 Hector - 1478
5 John 1470 1538
6 Murdoch 1496 1568
7 John - -
8 Hector 1555 1614
9 Hector 1575 1628
10 Murdoch - 1662
11 Lachlan 1614 1685
12 Hector 1697 1706
13 Murdoch - 1727
14 John - -
15 Lachlan - 1743
16 Hector - 1745
17 John 1700 1778
18 Archibald 1749 1784
19 Murdoch 1730 1804
20 Murdoch 1791 1818
21 Murdoch 1814 1850
22 Donald 1816 1863
23 Murdoch 1845 1909
24 Kenneth 1880 1935
25 Gillean 1921 1970
26 Lorne 1945 -

External links

  1. ^ McNie, Alan. Your Clan Heritage: Clan MacLean. 1989. Cascade Publishers. Jedburgh, Scotland, UK.
  2. ^ http://maclaineoflochbuie.com/directory.html
  3. ^ McNie, pages 9-11
  4. ^ http://maclaineoflochbuie.com/history.html
  5. ^ McNie, page 12
  6. ^ http://maclaineoflochbuie.com/history.html
  7. ^ McNie, pages 14-15
  8. ^ McNie, page 19
  9. ^ McNie, page 23
  10. ^ http://maclaineoflochbuie.com/castle.html
  11. ^ http://maclaineoflochbuie.com/septs.html
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