McLean History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

In the mountains of Scotland’s west coast and on the Hebrides islands, the ancestors of the McLean family were born. Their name comes from a devotion to St. John. The surname is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Gille Eathain, a patronymic name meaning “son of the servant of Saint John.” The Clan is descended from Eachan Reaganach, (brother of Lachlan the progenitor of the Macleans of Duart). These two brothers were both descended from Gilleathain na Tuaidh, known as ‘Gillian of the Battleaxe’, a famed warrior of the 5th century. Eachan, or Hector was given the lands of Lochbuie from John, the first Lord of the Isles, some time in the 14th century.

Early Origins of the McLean family

The surname McLean was first found in the Western Isles where the Clan held extensive lands on almost every island in the Western Hebrides.

Early History of the McLean family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McLean research.

McLean Spelling Variations

Spelling variations are a very common occurrence in records of early Scottish names. They result from the repeated and inaccurate translations that many names went through in the course of various English occupations of Scotland. McLean has been spelled MacLean, MacLaine, MacLane, MacLeane, MacClean, MacClain, MacClaine, MacGhille Eoin (Gaelic) and many more.

Early Notables of the McLean family (pre 1700)

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was Hector MacLean, Lord of Dowart (c.1560-c.1630), Scottish Lord of the Clan MacLean; Francis Cleyn (Clein, Franz Klein) (c. 1582-1658), a painter and tapestry designer; Sir John Maclean, 1st Baronet, (1604-1666); Sir Hector Maclean, 2nd Baronet of Morvern (c.1620-1651), the 18th Clan Chief of Clan Maclean from 1649 to 1651.

McLean World Ranking

In the United States, the name McLean is the 668^th most popular surname with an estimated 44,766 people with that name. [1] However, in Canada, the name McLean is ranked the 122^ndmost popular surname with an estimated 25,249 people with that name. [2] And in Quebec, Canada, the name McLean is the 903^rd popular surname. [3] Australia ranks McLean as 126^thwith 21,269 people. [4] New Zealand ranks McLean as 50^th with 5,309 people. [5] The United Kingdom ranks McLean as 336^th with 18,332 people. [6]

 Migration of the McLean family to Ireland

Some of the McLean family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.

 McLean migration to the United States +

Scottish settlers arrived in many of the communities that became the backbones of the United States and Canada. Many stayed, but some headed west for the endless open country of the prairies. In the American War of Independence, many Scots who remained loyal to England re-settled in Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots across North America were able to recover much of their lost heritage in the 20th century as Clan societies and highland games sprang up across North America. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first McLeans to arrive on North American shores: 

McLean Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Andrew McLean, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 [7]

McLean Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Catharine McLean, who arrived in New York in 1739 [7]
• Allan McLean, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1740 [7]
• Duncan McLean, who settled in Boston in 1766
• James Elizabeth, Anne, Daniel, James, and Lettice McLean who were all on record in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1767
• Duncan McLean, who arrived in Brunswick, North Carolina in 1767 [7]

McLean Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• Charles McLean, who landed in Ohio in 1805 [7]
• Daniel McLean, aged 25, who landed in Rhode Island in 1812 [7]
• Archibald McLean, aged 43, who arrived in North Carolina in 1812 [7]
• James McLean, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1824 [7]
• Jane McLean, who arrived in New York in 1833 [7]