Book Description

This is the genealogy of the Clan MacLean from its beginning to the early part of the 20th century. This is the first work to try and reconcile all of the sources for MacLean genealogy, and to include, besides the lines of the Chiefs, collateral branches as they spread throughout the world. Included are some histories of the origins of the Clan as scholars in the ancient Kingdom of Dalriada, and long before they dominated the Isle of Mull they were the Lords of Knapdale. Unexpectedly, the disaster that was the Black Plague actually was a benefit to the growth of the power and prestige of the Clan. This work contains brief histories of pivotal Clan events. For example, the Clan fought at Inverkeithing and was decimated to the point that they could not protect their homeland of Mull. The Clan fought on the losing side for Bonny Prince Charlie. The result of these two events was the MacLean Diaspora that sent Clan members throughout the world. A complicating factor for all who attempt a MacLean genealogy is that inter-clan marriages were the norm, rather than the exception. There were many MacLean chieftains, that were sub-chiefs under the Chief MacLean of Duart or Lochbuie, that owned or controlled property stretching from Inverness, down throughout the Great Glen, Mull, Tiree, Coll, Muck, and many smaller islands off the western shore of Scotland. These chieftains can all be trace back to various Chiefs of Duart or Lochbuie. The families of those chieftains intermarried on a regular basis. The research for this book has made it obvious that the MacLeans, MacDonalds, Campbells, McLeods and Stewart clans are very intermingled. You cannot be descended from one without being descended from them all. The MacLeans are descended from King Robert the Bruce of Scotland, and through him from much of British and French Royalty.