Clan MacLellan

Lowland Scottish clan

The Clan MacLellan is a Scottish clan of the Scottish Lowlands. The clan does not currently have a chief therefore it is considered an Armigerous clan. the last Chief of the Name and Arms of MacLellan. arms— argent two chevrons Sable;crest— a naked cubit arm, supporting upon the point of a sword, erect, a moor's head, all ppr. ;supporters— Dexter: a chevalier in complete armour, holding in his right hand a baton, all ppr. ; Sinister: a horse argent furnished gules;Mottoes— Think on; and Superba frango]]

The name MacLellan is derived from Mac a ghille dhiolan The leadership of the clan can be traced back to Cane McGillolane, a knight in the service of John Balliol in the later thirteenth century. Cane was the son of Thomas of Galloway, who was the illegitimate son of Alan of Galloway, one of the Norse Gaelic lords. Cane's son, Donald Mac Cane (The Lord Donald) resided on Threave Island until he was removed by Edward Bruce. Donald was then replaced with the new Lord of Galloway, the Black Douglas, igniting a feud that lasted for well over a century. Threave Island was a residence for the prior Lords of Galloway, including Fergus and Cane's grandfather, Alan. Donald's son, Gillebertus MacLelan Galvediensis was Captain of Clenconnan and was Bishop of Sodor and Man.

During the Wars of Scottish Independence, McGillolanes backed their cousin John Balliol. In 1305, Patrick M'Lolan was recorded capturing Dumfries Castle from The Bruce. After Balliol was deposed at the hands of Edward I, MacLellans still opposed Bruce, helping to re capture Dumfries Castle following the murder of the rival claimant Sir John Comyn. With Balliol ascended to the throne of Scotland, M'Lolanes could take their rightful place as Lords of Galloway. Under Bruce, that title would fall to Douglas.

After maintaining forlorn support for the house of Baliol into the mid fourteenth century, the MacLellans were ushered back into service of the Scottish crown under David II. So successful was their reintegration that during the early 15th century there were reputedly no fewer than fourteen knights in Galloway of the name MacLellan. Sir Patrick Maclellan, Sheriff of Galloway clashed repeatedly with William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas over outbreaks of lawlessness committed by the earl's retainers. These conflicts culminated when MacLellan rejected Douglas's appeal to join an aristocratic conspiracy against King James II. Douglas captured the sheriff and imprisoned him in Threave Castle. MacLellan's uncle, Sir Andrew Gray of Foulis held high royal office and sent his son, Sir Patrick Gray, into Galloway, with letters from the crown ordering Douglas to release his prisoner. However, Douglas had MacLellan murdered when presented with the royal warrant, whilst he entertained his guest at dinner. As the feud escalated n the following generation, the MacLellan estates were forfeited after repeated raids on the Kirkcudbrightshire lands of the Clan Douglas.

The family suffered severely during the Anglo Scottish Wars of the reigns of James IV and James V. Sir William Maclellan of Bombie was knighted by King James IV of Scotland but was killed at the Battle of Flodden in 1513 fighting for the king. He served as Gentleman of the Bedchamber to the king, and as provost of Kirkcudbright, constructing MacLellan's Castle as a fashionable gentleman's residence overseeing the town.

Sir Robert MacLellan, was a courtier both to James VI and Charles I.

There are concentrations of MacLellans found in the Western Isles on Uist. The surname borne by these MacLellans is represented by the Gaelic Mac Gille Fhialain, instead of the usual form Mac Gille Fhaolain borne by other MacLellans. The Uist MacLellans were once known collectively as Na Faolanaich. The North Uist MacLellans are also known as Clann Iain Mhóir, after Iain Mór (John Mor MacLellan), a seventeenth century ancestor. It is possible that this family descends from South Uist MacLellans who migrated to North Uist.