Today's Clan MacLachlan

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Clan MacLachlan Association of North America, Inc.

A Proud Member of

The Clan MacLachlan Society

A Federation of Autonomous Branches


From R.R. MacIan's The Clans of the Scottish Highlands, 1848

 

 

Who is Clan MacLachlan?

Clan MacLachlan is one of the oldest of all Scottish Clans. According to Irish manuscripts, the Clan is descended from the same line as the O'Neills, High Kings of Ireland. The name MacLachlan means "son of Lachlan", and Lachlan itself is from the older Gaelic name Lachlann which literally means "land of lochs". It was a common Christian name in the family tree of the High Kings.

As early as 1230 Gilchrist MacLachlan witnessed a land charter and in 1292 Gilleskel MacLachlan received a charter for his land in Argyll. A MacLachlan served in the first parliament of Robert The Bruce in Saint Andrews. The MacLachlans were loyal supporters to the Stewarts and fought in all the royalist campaigns. In the 1745 uprising with Prince Charles Edward Stewart, the Chief of the Clan served the Prince and was lost at Culloden while commanding a regiment of 300 men. The loss of the battle and war resulted in the destruction of the castle by the British in 1746.

The present Castle Lachlan was built in 1790 and is the home of Euan John Rome Maclachlan of Maclachlan, the 25th Chief. It is located in Strathlachlan, near Strachur, on the banks of Loch Fyne in Argyll.

History of Clan MacLachlan
Castle Lachlan and Strathlachlan
Clan MacLachlan Cadet Families
Clan MacLachlan and the Jacobite Rebellion
Legends of Clan MacLachlan
Clan MacEwen - Both A Clan and A Protectorate
The Gilchrists - A Sept of Clan MacLachlan
Irish Or Scottish - We Are One Family

 

 

Symbols of Clan MacLachlan

Crest

The crest is the family emblem usually displayed on top of the helmet as part of the family's coat-of-arms. When encircled by a strap and buckle bearing the Clan's motto, any member of the clan may wear the crest on a badge. The Clan MacLachlan Crest is a triple towered castle standing upon a rock with the rock cradled in a crown.

 

 

Motto

The Clan MacLachlan motto is Fortis Et Fidus which means Strong and Faithful (trusty), terms that accurately describe the history of our clan.

 

 

Plant Badge

The plant badge is believed to be a charm or magic plant that is carried beside the Clan standard or fixed on a staff or spear. It was also used as a form of identification. Clans folk can wear a sprig of the plant pinned behind the silver crest on their bonnet or sash-badge brooch. The Clan MacLachlan plant badges are the Rowan (or Mountain Ash) tree and the Lesser Periwinkle.

 

 

Pipe Music

The Clan MacLachlan pipe song is Moladh Mairi (In Praise of Mary).

 

 

Tartans

Clan MacLachlan has five registered tartans and one tartan associated with the clan that predates registration: Modern, Dress, Hunting, Ancient and Weathered. In addition to these, any MacLachlan may wear the Moncreiffe tartan, known commonly as Old MacLachlan or Pattern 66.

 

 

War Cry

The battle cry Life or Death was used by the United Regiment of MacLachlans and MacLeans, commanded by Lachlan MacLachlan, 17th Chief of Clan MacLachlan, in their charge against the government lines at the Battle of Culloden. It has since been adopted as the Clan's war cry.

 

 

MacLachlan in Gaelic

The Gaelic spelling of the name is MacLachlainn.

 

 

Spelling Variations and Septs of MacLachlan

There are over 500 different spellings of the three names associated with Clan MacLachlan: MacLachlan, Gilchrist and MacEwen. This number is growing as new variations are identified.

The first name, MacLachlan, is the chief's surname. The second, Gilchrist, is a sept. The third, MacEwen, is a protectorate dating from the middle of the 15th century.

 

 

Clan MacLachlan Worldwide

Through the efforts of autonomous organizations from around the world, Clan MacLachlan has been represented at Scottish and Celtic gatherings and events for over three decades. From small groups of dedicated people who gave of their energies to foster these young organizations, Clan MacLachlan now has members from all corners of the earth.

Objectives

The objectives of Clan MacLachlan Association of North America, Inc., are to promote the general interest of the Clan and to cultivate the spirit of kinship and fellowship among its members throughout the world; to generate, collect and preserve literary, historical, and genealogical records, documents and relics relating to the Clan and to Scotland; to honor our Scottish heritage and to cultivate among our members and descendants the pride and spirit of our Scottish ancestors.

 

 

Contacting Clan MacLachlan

Please send any comments or questions you have about Clan MacLachlan to president@cmana.net or by regular mail in North America to:

Clan MacLachlan Association of North America, Inc.
President John Cherry
PO Box 520
Clio, MI 4820
U.S.A.
jcherry@aol.com

Outside North America:

Clan MacLachlan Society (Worldwide)
The Clan MacLachlan Society

 

 

Links from Clan MacLachlan

  • Today's Clan MacLachlan
  • How To Spell MacLachlan
  • CMANA History
  • CMANA Membership Information
  • CMANA Activities and Gatherings
  • Clan MacLachlan Publications
  • Contacting the Clan MacLachlan Association of N. America, Inc.
  • Contacting the Clan MacLachlan Society (Worldwide)
    ON FACEBOOK: Official Clan MacLachlan Society
    ON FACEBOOK: Clan MacLachlan Association of N. America
  • Contacting The Claflin Family Association
  • CMANA On-Line Forms
  • Common Questions
  • Celtic/Scottish Heritage Periodicals
  • Hall Of Honors
  • Hall of Presidents
  • The Celtic/Scottish Festival
  • Convener's Corner
  • Festivals And Games
  • Our Interesting Links
  •  

    Affiliations

    Clan MacLachlan is a proud member of the Council of Scottish Clans and Associations, Inc. (COSCA).

    This site is maintained by the Clan MacLachlan Association of North America, Inc.
    This page was last updated on September 20, 2014.

    © 1996-2013 Clan MacLachlan Association of North America, Inc.