Clan Chief: Donald MacLaren of MacLaren and Achleskine.
Origin of Name: Gaelic, Mac Labhrainn (Son of Laurence)
Gaelic Name: Mac Labhrainn
Clan Crest:
A crowned lion’s
head, between two branches of laurel.
Clan Motto: Creag-an-Tuirc (The boar's
rock)
Lands:
Perthshire
The
Kingdom of the Scots was established by Erc who landed in Argyll in 503A.D. and
it is from his son and successor, Loarn, that the Mclarens, like their kinsmen
the Earls of Strathearn, are descended. The homeland of the Clan is centred in
the picturesque village of Balquhidder on the banks of loch Voil, to the east
of Loch Lomond. That the Mclarens were regarded as a very warlike clan was
understandable. Their lands surrounded by the avaricious Campbells and the wild
and lawless MacGregors, the Mclarens had to be warriors in order to survive and
hold their lands.
In
one incident in 1558, the MacGregors of Glendochart surprised the Clan and
massacred 18 Mclaren households at Balquhidder. The constant defence of their
lands developed a military nature and by the 15th century many Clansmen became
soldiers of fortune in the armies of European monarchs. In the 17th century,
many Mclarens joined the army of the King of Sweden and helped him in his great
successes against the Germans and Austrians. For their services on the
battlefields, a number of the Clan were granted lands in Sweden and ennobled
there. Colonel 'Johan Laurin' (the Swedish spelling), became Provost of East
Gotland in Sweden and was created Baron Lagergren and died in 1673. Another
'John Lauren' became a Swedish baron in 1678 and 'Magnus Laurin' became Count
Lagerstrome in 1691.
The Clan also took part in the wars of
Scotland in support of the Stuart Kings and in the Jacobite uprisings of 1715
and 1745, suffering badly in the Battle of Culloden. After this battle their
leader, Donald of Invernenty was captured but made a dramatic escape before
reaching England. Sir Walter Scott wrote of this incident in his novel
'Redgauntlet' Not all of the Clan's achievements were in the military field.
The remarkable Colin MacLaurin, who was born in 1698, entered Glasgow University when he was 12 years old and became Professor of Mathematics at Marischal College aged 19 and when 27 years old became Professor of Mathematics at Edinburgh University. The Clan has also produced Members of Parliament and Judges and at least one British Baron. A group of MacLaurins (another spelling of the name) who emigrated to North Carolina in 1789 founded the town of Laurinburg.
Donald MacLaren of MacLaren and Achleskine is the current Clan Chief.
The remarkable Colin MacLaurin, who was born in 1698, entered Glasgow University when he was 12 years old and became Professor of Mathematics at Marischal College aged 19 and when 27 years old became Professor of Mathematics at Edinburgh University. The Clan has also produced Members of Parliament and Judges and at least one British Baron. A group of MacLaurins (another spelling of the name) who emigrated to North Carolina in 1789 founded the town of Laurinburg.
Donald MacLaren of MacLaren and Achleskine is the current Clan Chief.
The
MacLaren Clan Crest is a crowned lion’s head between two branches of
laurel from a wreath at either side and the proud MacLaren motto
and rallying cry is "Creag-an-Tuirc" which means 'The Boars
Rock', a prominent landmark of their homelands.
Our
Scottish Heritage is the common bond that unites our MacLaren family name
forever.
Scottishclancrests.co.nz
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