Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie

The Crest for Clan Maclaine of Lochbuie

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 MacLeans 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 Duart 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. The Maclaines later on converted to Presbyterianism as a result of the rising influence of that denomination in the lowlands.^[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. 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, MacLamb, McLamb, 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 Crest

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 Tartan

• 

  Maclaine Hunting Tartan

• 

  Mull District Tartan

Pìobaireachd

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

Clan Chiefs

Chief	Name	Birth	Death
1	Hector Reaganach Maclean, 1st Laird of Lochbuie	1330	1407
2	Murdoch MacLean, 2nd Laird of Lochbuie	-	-
3	John MacLean, 3rd Laird of Lochbuie	-	-
4	Hector MacLean, 4th Laird of Lochbuie	-	1478
5	John Og MacLean, 5th Laird of Lochbuie[Note 1][12]	1470	1538
6	Murdoch	1496	1568
7	John	-	-
8	Hector MacLean of Lochbuie, 8th Chief	1555	1614
9	Hector MacLean of Lochbuie, 9th Chief	1575	1628
10	Murdoch Mor MacLean of Lochbuie, 10th Chief	-	1662
11	Lachlan	1614	1685
12	Hector MacLean of Lochbuie, 12th Chief	1697	1706
13	Murdoch	-	1727
14	John	-	-
15	Lachlan	-	1743
16	Hector MacLean of Lochbuie, 16th Chief	-	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	-

Notes

1. ^ John Og, or young John, appears to have made a great figure in his time. He was of such prominence that James IV attempted to win him, and further appears to have been a favorite of that monarch. Previous to his lairdship the principal lands were those of Glenforsay and Moloras, held from the Lord of the Isles. Those of Lochiel were only nominally held.

References

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
12. ^ MacLean, John Patterson (1889). A History of the Clan MacLean from Its First Settlement at Duard Castle, in the Isle of Mull, to the Present Period: Including a Genealogical Account of Some of the Principal Families Together with Their Heraldry, Legends, Superstitions, Etc.. R. Clarke & Company. http://books.google.com/books?id=tQs2AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA232&dq#PPA232,M1.