Frank McLean

The History and Origins of the MacLean Name

What I Know about My Name
My last name is McLean. I have always been interested to learn about my
name, as well as my familys origins. I know that the McLeans are originally from
Scotland. Some of my family members have
done research, but to my knowledge, it was
not very extensive. The name McLean used
to be MacLean. I am not sure why the first
a was dropped, but I do know that eight
generations ago, we were most definitely
still MacLeans.
We have a few old wool blankets at
my grandmothers house that supposedly
have the tartans (plaids) of the MacLean
clan. How we acquired them, and came to
the conclusion that they are the correct
plaids, I have no idea. We also have a family
Scottish Tartans
crest that I have seen around here and there.
My topic isnt very specific because there is not a whole that I actually know about
Clan MacLean of Scotland, but I would love to learn more.
Why I Care
I have always found my last name to be very unique. Often, I wonder about
its origins and meanings. My family is very interested in history. As I said, my
grandmother has old blankets with the supposed MacLean tartan. They have always
sparked my curiosity. I know that each different plaid means something but I have
never found out what those meanings are. Scotland is such a beautiful country with
an amazing story. I have always wanted to go and visit Scotland and knowing a little
bit more about my ancestry would definitely make that trip a lot more entertaining.
Questions and Curiosities
Where, in Scotland, are the MacLeans from?
How old is Clan MacLean?
How big was Clan MacLean?
Did others consider them to be an aggressive or passive clan?
Does MacLean mean something or have any significance?

Frank McLean
Who are historical figures in the MacLean clan?
What are major historical events throughout the existence of Clan MacLean?
Are there any landmarks or places that are/were significant to Clan MacLean?
Why did the MacLeans leave Scotland/What made them leave?
When did they leave?
Where did they go?
Are there still large quantities of MacLeans or McLeans in Scotland today?
What does the official Clan Maclean tartan look like?
What is the significance behind tartans? What is the significance of the Maclean
tartan?
Why was the first a in MacLean dropped?
What does the family crest represent?
What does the coat of arms represent?
Are there any famous MacLeans or MacLean descendants?
Working Knowledge
From browsing a couple of sites online, including Wikipedia and Maclean
Clan Worldwide, I learned that Clan Maclean was one of the oldest Scottish clans.
Their ancestry can be traced all the back to the fifth century.
MacLean can be translated as MacGilleEathian, which means
son of the servant of St. john. The name MacLean didnt start
being used until around the tenth century.
Clan MacLean was originally a Gaelic tribe and was
considered to be a very powerful clan that was also rather
large. They owned large amounts of land in Argyll and the
Inner Hebrides. They were almost constantly in battle with
their rival clans, the Mackinnons, the Camerons, the
MacDonalds, and the
Campbells. They were
known to fight in several big battles in the
fifteenth, sixteenth, and seventeenth centuries.
They also fought alongside of Robert the Bruce
during the Scottish Wars of Independence. Clan
Maclean was seen as even stronger because of
their alliances with Clan Mackay and Clan
MacLeod.

MacLean Crest

Frank McLean
Why it Matters?
I think everyone should do a little family research. It can help you find out
about who you are. It can almost cause a sense
of pride for your family by knowing some of
the things have happened in the past. The only
thing that you cant change is your family.