Clan MacLennan History
The Logan name is found to have been used by two distinct families, one in the Highlands and one in the Lowlands. Translated into Gaelic and back again the ‘Logans of the North’ became ‘Siol Ghilli’nnein’ which becomes MacClennan.
These Northern Logans are said to have been the descendants of the Logans of Druimdeurfait, in Easter Ross. Their Chief was Gilligorm and he was killed battling with the Frasers at Kessock. His widow was pregnant when she was dragged off by the Frasers. When her son was born they broke his back to prevent him growing to be a warrior.
His name was Crotair Mac Gilligorm.
19th century depiction of Clan MacLennan by R.R. McIan
He became a monk of the Celtic church where it was permitted to take a wife. He founded the Churches of Kilmuir in Skye and Kilchrinin in Glenelg. His son was named Gille Fhinnein and the MacClennan line carried on from there, it is told.
For certain the MacClennans expanded into great numbers in Kintail, in Ross-shire. Donald MacClennan was a famous warrior, important in the great feud between his Kintail and Glengarry in around 1600.
In 1645 Donald, Roderick his brother and many other MacClennans died heroically defending the Standard of the MacKenzies of Seaforth during the Battle of Auldearn, part of the Montrose wars.
A wooden effigy of Gilligorm survived until the Jacobite rising of 1715.
In the south Restalrig, near Edinburgh, was home to the Logans. Of the southern Logans the most famous were Sir Walter and Sir Robert. The heart of King Robert the Bruce was to be buried in the Holy Lands and they accompanied Good Sir James Douglas in 1329 on this mission. They were all killed in Spain before achieving their task.
Sir Robert Logan of Restalrig married Bruce’s great grand-daughter and became the Admiral of Scotland in 1400. The Logans of Restalrig were eventually outlawed and disbanded but Logans have still done well in Lothian.
The current Chief, Ruairidh Donald George MacLennan, became the world’s youngest Clan Chief in 1989, at the age of 12, after his father, Chief Ronald, died of leukaemia.
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