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MacFarlane

MacFarlane

Crest: A demi-savage brandishing in his dexter hand a broad sword Proper and pointing with his sinister hand to an Imperial Crown or standing by him on the Wreath.

Motto: This I'll defend

Badge: cranberry or cloudberry

At the end of the twelfth century Gilchrist, the younger son Celtic Earl of Lennox, settled on the shores of Loch Long at Arrochar. His grandson Malduin assisted Robert the Bruce when he was evading pursuit in that area and later fought at the Battle of Bannockburn. In the fourteenth century the name changed to Macpharlain or, later, MacFarlane clan.

King James I executed the last Celtic Earl of Lennox but instead of granting the earldom to the MacFarlanes, it was awarded to John Stewart, Lord Darnley. The clan opposed the Stewarts but later the 10th chief married a younger daughter of Lord Darnley.

Andrew the 11th clan chief fell at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. He is credited with composing the clan pibroch "Thogail nam bo theid sinn" (Lifting the cattle).

The clan's abilities as cattle rustlers led to the moon being called "MacFarlane's Lantern" . The Earl of Lennox at one stage supported King Henry VII of England and the MacFarlanes loyally did the same but later opposed the English at the Battle of Pinkie where the 13th chief and his brother were killed.

The MacFarlanes opposed Mary Queen of Scots and fought gallantly at the Battle of Langside 1568, capturing three of the Queen's standards. The role played by the clan defending the crown of the infant King James VI, Mary's son, is shown in the clan crest which illustrates a crown being defended by a swordsman.

Continued loyalty to the Stuart descendants resulted in them joining the Marquess of Montrose in support of King Charles I. They participated in the victory at Inverlochy in 1645, but Cromwell later destroyed the clan castle of Inveruglas, on an island in Loch Lomond. The 20th chief, Walter MacFarlane, was a scholar and historian and spent much of his life in Edinburgh, which may explain why the Macfarlanes did not participate to any great extent in the Jacobite Uprisings of 1715 and 1745. Even so, Walter was very much a Highland chief and objected to being called Mr MacFarlane by General Wade - "Mr MacFarlane may be said with equal propriety to many; but I and only I, am MacFarlane". When he died in 1767, the clan lands at Arrochar were sold. The direct male line of chiefs died out in 1886.