Clan MacLaren () is a Highland Scottish clan.. The grant of chiefly arms by The Court of the Lord Lyon, was a result of a petition filed by Donald MacLaren, with Supporters, in late 1957. John MacLaurin, Lord Dreghorn was the first to matriculate chiefly arms, with Supporters in 1781. John MacLaurin was chief of the Argyll MacLaurin kindred, with roots in Inveraray and on the Isle of Tiree. John's father was Colin MacLaurine, the mathematician.
Etymology of Laurence “Laurence, G. Labhruinn, M.G. Labhras (1467). Ir. Laurint (Saint), from Lat. Laurentius, St Laurence, the ultimate stem being that of lat. Lauras, a laurel. Hence M’Labhruinn, or Mac-laren”
Traditions Traditional clan lands include the old parish of Balquhidder which includes the villages of Lochearnhead and Strathyre, and is about long and broad, spanning , long known as "Country of the Maclaurins"
Traditions of the origin of the clan
The chiefly house of MacLaren is said to be descended from Lorn, son of Fergus MacErc, believed to be a ruler of the kingdom of Dál Riata."CELTIC SCOTLAND: A History of Ancient Alban" by William F. Skene, D.C.L. LL.D (Historiographer-Royal For Scotland) Volume III. "Land and People". Second Edition 1890 (First edition was 1880), David Douglas, Edinburgh. "William F. Skene wrote the descent of Highland Clans based on a 1467 manuscript belonging to the Faculty of Advocates", The Book of Ballymote (14th Cent.), Book of Leccan (1407), Kilbride MS (c 1540), Annals of Ulster (1363), and other old Irish and Scottish manuscripts.Hickling, Doug. (2002) Appendix VIII. The LEGENDARY DESCENT OF THE HIGHLAND CLANS, According to Irish MSS. (Page 458) Page 483 Third Group- Clans descended from Donald donn, son of Fearadach Finn of the Tribe of Lorn. It must be noted that in the Gaidhlig language, Lorn is Latharna, whilst Laren (Lawrence) is Labhrainn, two different Gaidhlig names.
Heraldry Tradition In Scottish Gaelic the clan name is Clann Labhruinn. The heraldry borne by the clan suggests that they descend from a cadet branch of the dynasty of the Earls of Strathearn.
There is also a tradition that the MacLarens fought at the Battle of the Standard under Malise I, Earl of Strathearn, for David I of Scotland.
Early MacLaren Tradition
Three names are traditionally identified as belonging to the Clan MacLaren are found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, giving allegiance to Edward I of England. These are Maurice of Tiree, Conan of Balquhidder and Leurin of Ardveche.
There is a differing opinion on whether these three men were McLarens. For example, Leurin of Ardveche is properly Orm de Abernathy, whose heraldic ensign appears to be an oak leaf, not the Earls of Strathearn chevrons. Tiry, Morice de (del counte de Perth) whose surname is derived from the place name in Perthshire “Tyrie” or Tyree, from Tir ith land of grain. The Tyrees lived at Drumkilbo for 300 years.
During the Wars of Scottish Independence it is traditionally thought that the Clan MacLaren fought for Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn, under the standard of Malise, Earl of Strathearn in 1314, where the English were defeated. The last Gaelic Earl of Strathearn was deprived of his title in 1344 when the MacLarens came under pressure from their more powerful neighbours.
15th and 16th century Traditions
In 1468 the Clan MacLaren fought in support of the Clan Stewart of Appin at the Battle of Stalc.Battles and Historic Events stewartsociety.org. Retrieved 20 August 2017.Battle of Stalc graveyardsofscotland.wordpress.com. Retrieved 8 August 2017. The MacLarens also fought alongside the Stewarts of Appin at the Battle of Black Mount in 1497 or 1498. Balquhidder passed into the hands of the Crown and in 1490 a Stewart was appointed the royal ballie. (see: Stewart of Balquhidder). Then in 1500 James IV of Scotland granted the lordship to Janet Kennedy, his mistress, and the chief of the Clan MacLaren found that his lands had become part of another barony. Balquhidder would later pass to the Clan Murray of Atholl.
McLaren Massacre Tradition The persecution of the Clan Gregor by the Clan Campbell drove the MacGregors from their own lands into Balquidder where the Clan MacLaren lacked the power to stop them. Men, women and children were killed and their homes taken by MacGregors. The MacLaurin memorial stone in Balquhidder kirkyard reads,
'"In memoriam of the Clan Laurin, anciently the allodian inhabitants of Balquhidder and Strathearn, the chief of whom, in the decrepitude of old age, together with his aged and infirm adherents, their wives and children, the widows of their departed kindred— all were destroyed in the silent midnight hour by fire and sword, by the hands, of a banditti of incendiarists from Glendochart, a.d. 1558. Erected by Daniel Maclaurin, Esq. of St John's Wood, London, author of a short history of his own clan, and for the use of his clansmen only. — October 1868."
The Civil War Tradition
During the Scottish Civil War the Clan MacLaren fought for James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose, in support of Charles I of England at the Battle of Inverlochy (1645), Battle of Auldearn, Battle of Alford and the Battle of Kilsyth.
In 1689 the Clan MacLaren again fought for the Stuart cause, this time under John Graham, 1st Viscount Dundee, at the Battle of Killiecrankie.
George Way of Plean and Romilly Squire, authors of Scottish Clan and Family Encyclopedia, give us the above battle claims, and questionable scholarship, MacLaren tradition concerning Killirkrankie, found in The MacLarens, by Margaret MacLaren, is that the Stewarts of Appin went to Loch Earn, in Balquhidder, 60 miles away, to gather the McLarens and fish, before going to the Battle of Killiekrankie. MacLaren's source for this statement on page 64 of The MacLarens, is The Grameid, where it is footnoted. The Grameid, is a poem written in Latin by James Philip, about the Battle of Killiekrankie. MacLaren wrote this excerpt from The Grameid "Littora piscosae contermina linguit lernae", inferring that lernae is Loch Earn in Balquhidder. Margaret changed the text of The Grameid, in her footnote. The Grameid actually states "Littora piscosae contermina linguit levna", not "lernae". Levna is possibly Loch Etive in Appin or Loch Leven.
Murder of vicar Johannis McLauren In 1533 Johannis McLauren, vicar of Balquhidder was murdered by his two nephews and one of their sons They were from Breadalbane, Nicholaii McKinreauch McLaure the leader along with his son Nigelli Nicholsone McLaure and Nicholaii's first cousin, Duncani Patersone McLaure who lived in Balquhidder. None of these three men are found in the later Clanlawren Bonds, so we can assume they were indeed ‘put to the horn’ outlawed, kill on sight.Accounts of the lord High Treasurer of Scotland by Sir James Balfour Paul Pg 69
"Et de xl li compositionis bonorum eschaetorum Nicholaii McKinreauch McLaure, Nigelli Nicholsone McLaure et suorum filiorum necnon, Duncani Patersone McLaure ad cornu regis existentium pro interfectione quondam domini Johannis McLaure vicarii de Balquhiddir”
"Item, remittit be the Kingis grace with quhilk I am a.d. 1533-4. chargit in my last comptis to James Chesholme of Classingall, the compositioun of the escheit of Nycholl McIlreoch (Nicholaii McKinreauch McLaure) and utheris quhilkis slew the vicar of Bal- quhidder, extending to . . . xl li."Accounts of the lord High Treasurer of Scotland by Sir James Balfour Paul Pg. 207
March 11, 1559 Balquhidder V’Laurane bond themselves to Glenurchy One of the witnesses is Malcolm M'Coule Keir, Clan Gregor Chief who had signed his own Bond with Colin Campbell two days earlier. Another witness is Gillefillane M’Laurane, a Campbell of Glenurchy Servitor from Clanlawren Breadalbane.
BOND OF MANRENT by Johne M'Olcallum V’Laurane, Laurane M'Olcallum his brother, Malcum elder and Malcum yongar M'Olcallum V’Lauranis brothers to the said Johne, Johne M’Patrik V’Laurane, Neill and Johne M'Lauranis his brothers. Nycoll M'Allyne V’Laurane, Donald M'Neill V’Laurane, John M'Nycoll V’Laurane, Lauchlane M'Ane V’Nycoll, Malcum M'Ane VNycoll, Dugall his brother. Duncane M'Coule V’Lauran, Johne elder, Johne younger, Archibald, Robert, Walter, Donald and Malcum brothers to the said Duncane M'Coule V'Lauran , Patrik M'Ewyn V’Laurane, Duncane his son. Patrik M'Conachy V’Laurane, Robert M'Ane V’Laurane and Ewin M'Gillecrist V’Laurane, dwelling in Balquhidder to Colyne Campbell of Glenurquhay.
Dated before these witnesses Alexander Stewart, William M'Neill V'Ewyn, Gillefillane M'Laurane [Servant of Fillan], John M'Gillespy V'Nab, Finlay M'Anevoill, Malcolm M'Coule Keir (M'Gregor, brother to John McCoul Chere, who is accused of murdering 18 Lauran householders 1558, acquitted in 1602), Malcolm M'Robert, Gillecrist M'Yntallnour Moir and Duncan M'Moreist V'Caus 11 March 1559."
The 1559 bond comes after the Earl of Argyll's transference of the Clanlawren to Campbell of Glenurchy, his uncle on Nov. 8 1559.
Johne M'O'challum V'Laurene's name gives as clue, to the time period (circa 1450) of his grandfather "Laurence", the patronym ancestor of many Balquhidder McLarens.
More Murder In 1586, Alexander Stewart 6th of Glenbuckie, whose mother was the daughter of the Auchleskine McLaren clan chief according to Patrick Stewart in 1765, North Carolina. Bonded to Duncan Campbell Glenurchy (who had a collection of beheading axes) for killing Johne Makolchalluin in Comrie. This is the same Johne M'Olcallum V’Laurane who is the first name in the 1559 Bond above. The Ledcreich Stewarts were a branch of the Glenbuckie Stewarts.
Notice at the end, MakRobert and Makindewer, two men who are found in the 1573 Breadalbane Clanlawren Bond and three Balquhidder McLarens listed to confirm the Bond, for the murder of their kinsman, Johne M'Olcallum V’Laurane.