Clan MacFarlane

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A Victorian era, romanticised depiction of a member of the clan by R. R. McIan, from The Clans of the Scottish Highlands, published in 1845.
A Victorian era, romanticised depiction of a member of the clan by R. R. McIan, from The Clans of the Scottish Highlands, published in 1845.

Clan MacFarlane is a Highland Scottish clan. The clan claims a descent from the old line of the Earls of Lennox.[1] For some time there had been some controversy as to the descent of these earls, with both Gaelic and Anglo-Saxon origins given. Though today it is generally accepted that the earls, and in consequence Clan MacFarlane, are of Gaelic descent.[2] The clan takes its name from a Malcolm MacFarlane, who lived in the fourteenth century.[3] Clan MacFarlane took part in several conflicts and were loyal supporters of the Earls of Lennox.[3] The clan was also noted for its raiding, and as such, it is said that the full moon was known as "MacFarlane's Lantern".[4] The ancestral lands of the clan were Arrochar, located at the head of Loch Long and further northwest of Loch Lomond. The lands of Arrochar were first granted to an ancestor of the clan in the thirteenth century,[1] and were held by the chiefs until they were sold off for debts, in 1767.[4] The last descendant of the chiefs, in the direct male line, died in 1886.[4] Since the modern clan is without a chief it can be considered an Armigerous clan.[5][4]

Contents

[edit] History

[edit] Origins

Clan MacFarlane claims descent from the original Earls of Lennox, though the ultimate origin of these earls is murky and has been debated. The nineteenth century Scottish antiquary George Chalmers, in his Caledonia, quoting the twelfth century English chronicler Symeon of Durham, wrote that the original Earls of Lennox descended from an Anglo-Saxon – Arkil, son of Egfrith. This Arkil, a Northumbrian chief, was said to have fled to Scotland from the devastation caused by the Harrying of the North by William the Conqueror, and later received control of the Lennox district from Malcolm III of Scotland.[6] However, today it is generally thought that the original Earls of Lennox were of Gaelic descent.[7][4][2]

Clan MacFarlane claims its descent from the original line of the Earls of Lennox, through Gilchrist, brother of Maol Domhnaich, Earl of Lennox, who received in charter, "de terris de superiori Arrochar de Luss", the lands of Arrochar which the MacFarlanes held for centuries until the death of the last chief.[1] Gilchrist's son, Duncan, also obtained charters for his lands from the Earl of Lennox, and appears in the Ragman Rolls as "Dunkan Makilcrift de Leuenaghes"[8] (Duncan son of Gilchrist of Lennox). Duncan's grandson was Parlan (or Bartholomew), from whom the clan takes its name from. Malcolm MacFarlane, the son of Parlan, was confirmed the lands of Arrochar and others, and "hence Malcolm may be considered as the real founder of the clan".[3] Malcolm, in turn, was succeeded by his son, Duncan, who obtained by charter the lands of Arrochar, dated in 1395 at Inchmurrin. Duncan seems to have married Christian, daughter of Sir Colin Campbell of Loch Awe,[9] as stated in a charter of confirmation by Donnchadh, Earl of Lennox, also dated in 1395.[1] Iain MacPharlain, in 1420, received confirmation to his lands of Arrochar.[4]

[edit] In support of the Stewart earls of Lennox

Map of the district of Lennox.
Map of the district of Lennox.

Not long after, the ancient line of the Earls of Lennox died with the execution of Donnchadh, Earl of Lennox, by James I of Scotland in 1425. After the earl's death it seems likely that the MacFarlane's claimed the earldom as heirs male.[3] This claim though, proved disastrous, and the family of the chief perished, with the clan's fortunes suffered severely.[3] The destruction of the MacFarlanes would have been inevitable but for an Andrew MacFarlane, who married Barbara,[2] daughter of John Stewart, Lord Darnley, who had been created Earl of Lennox in 1488.[3] Skene claimed that even though Andrew MacFarlane, through his marriage, had saved the clan from destruction, he still was refused the chiefship of the clan.[6] Skene also showed that even his son, Sir John MacFarlane, assumed the subordinate designation of "Capitaneus de Clan Pharlane" (Captain of the clan).[6] Though Alexander MacBain, in a later edition of Skene's work, pointed out that Capitaneus was really Latin for Chief.[6] From this period on the clan appears to have loyally supported the Stewart Earls of Lennox, and for several generations there is little history attributed to the clan.[3]

[edit] Battle of Glasgow Muir

In the mid sixteenth century, Duncan MacFarlane of MacFarlane, appears to have been a steady supporter of Matthew Stewart, 4th Earl of Lennox.[3] In 1544, MacFarlane lead three hundred of his men, and joined Lennox and Glencairn at the Battle of Glasgow Muir, where they were defeated.[3] The MacFarlanes were affected by the forfeitures that followed, though were saved by powerful friends, and the chief obtained a remission for his lands.[3] After the defeat, the Earl of Lennox was forced to flee to England, and married a niece of Henry VIII, and afterwards returned to Scotland with a force supplied by the English king. For fear of further repercussions, the chief of the clan didn't personally support Lennox, but instead sent a relative, Walter MacFarlane of Tarbet, with four hundred men, in support of the Earl.[3] The MacFarlane clansmen are said to have acted as light troops, and as guides to the Earl's main force. The sixteenth century, English chronicler, Raphael Holinshed described this MacFarlane force as follows: "In these exploytes the Erle had with him Walter M'Farlane of Tarbet, and seven score of men of the head of Lennox, that spake bothe Irishe and the English Scottish tongues, light footmen well armed in the shirtes of mayle, with bows and two-handed swords; and being joined with the English archers and shotte, did much avayleable service in the streyghts, marishes, and mountayne countries".[10]

[edit] Battle of Pinkie Cleugh
Scottish clan map.
Scottish clan map.
Further information: Battle of Pinkie Cleugh

At Irwine in 1545, a bond of manrent was granted to Hugh, Master of Eglinton to Duncan, uncle of the Laird of MacFarlane.[11] Later in 1547 the clan suffered grievously at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, in which the chief, Duncan was slain along with many of his men.[3] The clan, led by Duncan's son, Andrew, fought under the Regent James Stewart, 1st Earl of Moray, against the forces of Mary Queen of Scots, at the Battle of Langside in 1568.[11][3] The clan's part in the battle is related to by Holinshed: "In this battayle the vaiancie of an Hie-land gentle-man named M'Farlane, stood the Regent's part in great steede; for in the hottest brunte of the fight, he came in with three hundred of hus friends and countrymen, and so manfully gave in upon the flanke of the queen's people, that there was great cause of the disordering of them".[10] After the battle, the clan also boasted of capturing three standards of the Queen's army, which were preserved as trophies for a long time afterwards.[10] For his clan's aid, Andrew was awarded the crest of a "demi-savage proper, holding in his dexter hand a sheaf of arrows, and pointing with his sinister to an imperial crown, or, with the motto, This I'll defend", by the Earl.[3] The crest bestowed on the MacFarlane chief alludes to the defence of the Crown and Kingdom of Scotland, as Mary was seen as rebellion against the Crown.[4]

Nothing is known of Andrew's son, though his grandson, Walter MacFarlane was a staunch supporter of the King.[3] In his time, he was twice besieged in his house, and his castle of Inveruglas was later burned down by English forces.[3]

[edit] Fall of the clan

The clan was denounced by the Government in 1594, to have committing theft, robbery, and oppression. Later, in 1624, many members of the clan were tried and convicted of such acts, with some being pardoned.[3] Many others were removed to Aberdeenshire and Strathaven in Banffshire, where they assumed the names M'Caudy, Greisock, M'James and M'Innes.[3]

According to the International Clan MacFarlane Society website, the last descendant of the chiefs, in the direct male line, died in 1886.[4] A branch of the clan settled in Ireland, during the reign of James VII,[3] and the leading representative of this branch, MacFarlane of Hunstown House, from Dublin, claimed to be the chiefship of the clan.[3] Today the chiefship of the clan is dormant,[4] and the clan can be considered an Armigerous clan.[5]

[edit] Clan profile

MacFarlane tartan as published in the dubious Vestiarium Scoticum.
MacFarlane tartan as published in the dubious Vestiarium Scoticum.
  • Clan Badge: Two plant badges have been attributed to the clan.
  • Clan Slogan: Loch Sloidh (Anglicised as: Loch Sloy) (translated from Gaelic: The Loch of the Host).[4]
  • Clan Motto: This I'll Defend.[4]
  • Clan Crest: A demi-savage brandishing in his dexter a broad sword Proper and pointing with his sinister to an Imperial Crown or standing by him on the wreath.[4]
  • Clan Pipe Music (Pibroch):
    • 'Thogail nam bo (translation from Gaelic: Lifting the cattle).[11] or, Thogail nam Bo theid sinn (translation: To Lift the Cows We Shall Go).[4]
    • Spaidsearachd Chlann Pharlain (translation from Gaelic: MacFarlane's march).[6][12]

[edit] Origin of the name

The surname MacFarlane, and other variations of the name, are Anglicisations of the Gaelic patronymic Mac Pharthaláin, meaning "son of Parthalán".[13] The Gaelic Parthalán is likely an Gaelicisation of the Latin Bartholomaeus.[13] In Moncreiffe's opinion the name was linked with Partholón of Irish mythology, writing: "Par-tholon or 'Sea-Waves' appears in Irish mythology as the first to take possession of Ireland after the flood".[7]

[edit] Associated Names

The following names are considered, by the International Clan MacFarlane Society, to be associated with the clan.[14] Note that the prefixes Mac, Mc, and M' are interchangeable. Many of the associated names listed are claimed by other clans.[14]

Associated names of Clan MacFarlane
  • Condey / Condie / Condy.[14]
  • Gruamach.[14]
  • MacCondey / MacCondie / MacCondy.[14]
  • MacIock / MacJock.[14]
Associated names of Clan MacFarlane that are also claimed by other clans

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c d e Skene, pp. 149–161.
  2. ^ a b c Macfarlane01 Retrieved on 2007-11-21
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Maclauchlan & Wilson & Keltie, pp. 173–175.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Story of the Clan Retrieved on 2007-11-08
  5. ^ a b Official Scottish Clans and Families Retrieved on 2007-11-21
  6. ^ a b c d e Eyre-Todd, pp. 91–98.
  7. ^ a b Moncreiffe of that Ilk, pp. 201–203.
  8. ^ Thompson, p. 145.
  9. ^ Campbell01 Retrieved on 2007-11-21
  10. ^ a b c Nisbet, pp. Appendix 60–61.
  11. ^ a b c The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans, p. 49.
  12. ^ Adam, p. 420.
  13. ^ a b McFarlane Name Meaning and Origin. Retrieved on 2007-11-08
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj Septs & Tartans Retrieved on 2007-11-08

[edit] References

Works cited
  • The Scottish Clans and Their Tartans, With Notes, Library Edition. W. & A. K. Johnston, Ltd.
  • Adam, Frank. The Clans, Septs and Regiments of the Scottih Highlands 1934. Kessinger Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1417980761.
  • Eyre-Todd, George. The Highland Clans of Scotland: Their History and Traditions. Charleston, SC, USA: Garnier & Company, 1969.
  • Maclauchlan, Thomas & Wilson, John & Keltie, John Scott. A History of the Scottish Highlands, Highland Clans and Highland Regiments. Edinburgh and London: A. Fullarton & Co., 1875.
  • Moncreiffe of that Ilk, Sir Iain. The Highland Clans. London: Barrie & Rockliff, 1967.
  • Nisbet, Alexander. A System Of Heraldry. (Vol. 2). Edinburgh: William Blackwood, 1816.
  • Skene, William Forbes. The Highlanders of Scotland, Their Origin, History, And Antiquities. London: John Murray, 1837.
  • Thompson, Thomas (ed). Publica Sive Processus Super Fidelitatibus Et Homagiis Scotorum Domino Regi Angliæ Factis A.D. MCCXCI-MCCXCVI. Edinburgh: Bannatyne Club, 1834.

[edit] External links

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