History of Clan MacLennan
The Sons of St. Finnan: History of Clan MacLennan
Clan MacLennan (Gaelic: Siol Ghillinnein) translates to "Son of the Follower of St. Finnan." This ecclesiastical origin suggests a deep connection to the ancient Celtic Church. The clan's roots are intertwined with the Logans, and historically, they were distinct families: one in the Lowlands (Restalrig) and one in the Highlands (Drumderfit in Easter Ross). The Highland branch, the "Logans of the North," eventually adopted the name MacLennan. Their early chief, Gilligorm, was a renowned warrior who led the clan in a bitter feud against the Frasers.
The Battle of Drumderfit and the Broken Back
The clan’s early history is marked by a tragic defeat. In a battle against the Frasers at Kessock (Battle of Drumderfit), the MacLennan Chief Gilligorm was slain. The Frasers captured his pregnant widow and, determined to prevent her unborn son from becoming a warrior who might seek revenge, they broke the infant's back when he was born. This child, known as Crotair Mac Gilligorm (The Hump-backed Son of Gilligorm), could not be a warrior, so he entered the church. He founded churches in Skye and Glenelg and married (as permitted in the Celtic church), securing the survival of the MacLennan line.
The Standard Bearers of Kintail
The MacLennans became steadfast allies of the Clan MacKenzie of Kintail. They served as the standard-bearers to the MacKenzie chiefs, a position of great honor and danger. This loyalty was put to the ultimate test at the Battle of Auldearn in 1645 during the Civil War. The MacLennans, led by their Chief Ruaridh (a red-bearded giant over six feet tall), fought for the Covenanters against the Royalist forces of Montrose. When the MacKenzies were outflanked, the order to retreat never reached the MacLennans. Refusing to abandon the Seaforth Standard, Ruaridh and his clansmen stood their ground. They were cut down to the last man by the Gordon cavalry, a heroic sacrifice that decimated the clan’s fighting strength for generations.
Jacobites and Emigration
Following the devastation at Auldearn, the clan played a smaller role in the Jacobite Risings, though eleven MacLennans were recorded as prisoners after Culloden in 1746. Like many Highland families, the MacLennans suffered during the Clearances and emigrated in large numbers to the New World. Their legacy lives on in places like McLennan County, Texas, and the MacLennan Mountains in New Zealand.
A Chief Restored
For over 300 years, the clan was without a recognized leader. This changed in 1977, when the Lord Lyon recognized Ronald George MacLennan as the Chief. Upon his death in 1989, his son Ruairidh Donald George MacLennan succeeded him. At just 12 years old, Ruairidh became the world’s youngest Clan Chief, sparking global interest in the clan. Today, the Chief resides near Inverness, and the clan is vibrant and active, united by the motto Dum Spiro Spero ("While I breathe, I hope").