Clan MacLaren Crest badge Motto: Creag an Tuirc (The boar's rock) Profile Plant badge Laurel Gaelic name MacLabhruinn

Chief Donald MacLaren of MacLaren Seat Trossachs, Balquhidder

Septs of Clan MacLaren McLaren, MacLaurin, MacLaurin, MacLauren, McLauren, McLarin, McClarin, MacLaran, McLaran, McLeran, MacLaruan, MacLeran, MacLaurie, McLaurie, Laurence, Lawrence, Law, Laws, Lawson, Low, Lowe, Lawrie, Laurie, Lowery, Lowry, Lowrey, Faed, Patterson, Paterson, Peterson, McPater, Patrick, MacPatrick, MacRory, McCrory, McGory, MacRuari, Wright, MacGrory, Peterkin, Borison.

Clan MacLaren (Scottish Gaelic: Clann mhic Labhrainn) is a Highland Scottish clan.

History[link]

A romanticised Victorian-era illustration of a MacLaren clansman by R. R. McIan from The Clans of the Scottish Highlands published in 1845.

Origins[link]

The origins of the clan are uncertain, but by tradition the MacLarens are descended from Loarn mac Eirc of Dál Riata, who landed in & settled Argyll in 503 A.D. The clan name is supposedly derived from Lorn (variations Loarn, Laurin, Laren); these variations are all ultimately pronounced Lawrin by the Gael. However there is no concrete evidence of Lorn being the progenitor of the family. A more likely origin of the clan is that they take their name from a 13th century abbot called Laurance of Achtow. This theory is also supported by the MacLaren rallying cry which in gaelic is: "Creag an Tuirc" which means "Boars Rock". The rock in question is near Achtow in Balquhidder.

In 843 A.D., Kenneth MacAlpin, chief of the posterity of the above brothers & their followers, overthrew the southern Picts(this is debatable, evidence points to short period of power-struggle), took possession of their territories, & transferred the seat of Government to their capital, Abernethie, in Strathearn, country of Perthshire. MacAlpin was subsequently crowned King, but of what really? Tradition holds he was crowned King of all Scotland; however, his name sits in the Pictish Chronicle of kings. He is the 5th to last Pictish king listed, giving credit to the theory of fusion. MacAlpin was of Gaelic origin, meaning he had to have formed a foreign dynasty in the Pictish institution. The meeting of King Constantine and Bishop Cellach at the Hill of Belief near the (formerly Pictish) royal city of Scone in 906 cemented the rights and duties of Picts on an equal basis with those of Gaels. Hence the change in styling from King of the Picts to King of Alba. Alba is Gaelic for Scotland.

It was well-known practice for conquerors to apportion the lands they acquired among their victorious followers; and it is somewhat stronger than assumption to say, that the chief of the tribe of Laren, of Argyle, received a due share. Balquihidder and Strathearn has ever been known as "the country" of the Clan Laren

It is also believed the MacLarens were followers of the ancient Earl of Strathearn and were cadets of that ancient house when they fought at the Battle of the Standard under King David I of Scotland in 1138.

Wars of Scottish Independence[link]

During the Wars of Scottish Independence the Clan MacLaren fought for King Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314.

15th century and clan conflicts[link]

The MacLarens were a warlike clan and had many feuds with their neighbouring clans. However they forged a powerful alliance with the House of Stuart or Clan Stuart when a daughter of the MacLaren family married a Stuart Lord of Lorn in the 15th century. The first son of this union was called Dougall and went on to become the progenitor of the famous Clan Stuart of Appin.

In 1463 Sir John Stewart was murdered outside the church, just as he was about to marry his MacLaren wife. He was murderd by Alan MacCoul, an ally of the Clan MacDougall. However his murder was avenged in 1468 when the Clan Stuart and Clan MacLaren together defeated the Clan MacDougall at the Battle of Stalc which took place opposite Castle Stalker. In 1469 The Clan MacLaren assisted Dugel Stewart of Appin, son of John Stewart when he attempted by force to obtain possession of his father's lands. 130 MacLarens were killed when the battle took place at the foot of the mountain called Bendoran.

In 1488 the Clan MacLaren fought at the Battle of Sauchieburn in support of King James III of Scotland.

In 1497 some of the Clan MacLaren stole cattle from the Braes of Lochaber from the Clan MacDonald of Keppoch. The MacDonalds followed them and overtook them at a place called Glenurchy where a battle took place. The MacDonalds won and recovered their cattle. The MacLarens then looked for assistance from Dugel Stuart of Appin. Another battle then took place where the MacLarens were now joined by the Stuarts against the MacDonalds. During the battle Dugel, the chief of Clan Stuart and the chief of Clan MacDonald of Keppoch were both killed.

On the day of a fair where the Clan MacLaren were busy buying, selling and enjoying themselves word came that the Clan Buchanan were marching up towards them through Strathyre. There was no time to lose and the Clan MacLaren rushed to arms. The MacLarens had not all come in by the time the Buchanans arrived, however they were not daunted and attacked the Buchanans. At first the Buchanans were faring better and drove the MacLarens back. The Chief of MacLarens saw one of his sons cut down and being suddenly seized with battle madness turned and shouted the MacLaren battle cry "Creag An Tuirc" and whirling his Claymore rushed furiously at the enemy. His clansmen followed him and the Buchanans were cut down like corn. Only two escaped by swimming the River Balvaig but even they were followed. One was cut down at Gartnafuaran and the second was cut down at a place since known by the circumstance as Sron Laine.

By the end of the 15th century many MacLarens had emigrated to serve in the military of France and Italy and by the time of the 16th century they were described as a broken clan.

16th century and Anglo-Scottish Wars[link]

During the Anglo-Scottish Wars the Clan MacLaren fought for King James IV of Scotland at the Battle of Flodden Field in 1513 against the English. The Clan MacLaren also fought for Mary, Queen of Scots at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh in 1547.

In 1558 a deadly feud took place between the Clan MacLaren and the Clan MacGregor when the MacGregors slaughtered no less than 18 MacLaren men along with their entire families, and took possession of their farms. This incident was not investigated until 1604 when the MacGregors were on trial for slaughtering many men of the Clan Colquhoun. However the MacGregors were cleared of doing anything against the Clan MacLaren.

17th century and Thirty Years' War[link]

In the 17th century although the Clan MacLaren had reduced in numbers a branch of the clan distinguished itself in Sweden by the time of the Thirty Years' War. The modern writer Carl G. Laurin is one of many who carry the name in Scandinavia.

18th century and Jacobite uprisings[link]

In the 18th century the Clan MacLaren supported the Jacobite House of Stuart and fought at the Battle of Sherrifmuir in 1715. The clan also fought in the 1745 to 1746 Jacobite Uprisings at the Battle of Prestonpans and the Battle of Falkirk (1746). They also fought at the Battle of Culloden in the Appin regiment under Lord George Murray. After the battle clan chief Donald MacLaren remained a fugitive until the amnesty of 1757.

Chief[link]

The current Chief is Donald MacLaren of MacLaren and resides in the traditional territory of the MacLarens in Balquhidder, Scotland.

Seat[link]

The Clan seat is at Balquhidder in the Trossachs. The local hill of Creag an Tuirc (Boar's Rock) is the Clan's rallying point and its name is used as their war cry. Annual meetings of the clan are held at the Lochearnhead Highland Games at the end of July.

See also[link]

• MacLaren (surname) - famous MacLarens
• McLaren (surname) - famous McLarens
• Maclaurin - famous Maclaurin

Notes and references[link]

External links[link]

• www.clanmaclarenna.org - Clan MacLaren society of North America
• www.clanmaclaren.de - Clan Members from Germany
• Clan MacLaren at ElectricScotland.com
• MacLaren Clan at scotClans

Further reading[link]

• The MacLaren, A History of Clan Labhran by Margaret MacLaren

Donald Roderick MacLaren DSO, MC & Bar, DFC (28 May 1893 – 4 July 1988) was a Canadian World War I flying ace. He was credited with 54 victories and, after the war, helped found the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Donald MacLaren was born in Ottawa but his family moved first to Calgary in 1899, then to Vancouver in 1911. In 1912 MacLaren went to Montreal to study at McGill University. In 1914 an illness forced him to abandon his studies and he returned to Vancouver. After recovering MacLaren, his father and his brother opened a fur trading post at a remote point on the Peace River. While there MacLaren learned to speak Cree.

In 1916 the family gave up the trading post to help in the war effort. MacLaren's father was not allowed to join the army so he got a job with the Imperial Munitions Board. His sons did enlist - Donald joining the Royal Flying Corps. He did his initial training at 90 Central Training School at Armour Heights and then at Camp Borden in Ontario, then finnaly received further training in England at No. 43 Training School, Ternhill. He was then transferred into No. 34 Training School for final fighter orientation on the Bristol Scout and Sopwith Camel, completing 9 hours solo on the Camel. On 23 November 1917 he was sent to France where he joined No. 46 Squadron. His first air combat was in February 1918, where MacLaren successfully shot down a German fighter 'out of control'.

He was awarded the Military Cross for a sortie on 21 March 1918 in which he helped destroy a railway gun with his bombs, then shot down a balloon and two German LVG two-seaters. In September he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. When the squadron commander was killed in a crash later in the year MacLaren was given command.

In late October MacLaren, who had escaped injury in combat, broke his leg during a friendly wrestling match with another member of his squadron. He was sent back to England on 6 November and was in the hospital when the Armistice was announced. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership of the squadron in the last months of the war.

MacLaren finished the war with a Military Cross and bar, a Distinguished Flying Cross and the DSO. He was also awarded the French Legion of Honour and Croix de guerre. MacLaren claimed 1 aircraft shared captured, 5 (and 1 shared) balloons destroyed, 15 (and 6 shared) aircraft destroyed, and 18 (and 8 shared) aircraft 'down out of control'. This was despite the fact that his first dogfight wasn't until February 1918 and that he scored all his victories in only nine months. Among others, he probably shot down ace Mieczysław Garsztka on 2 October 1918 (shared with James Leith and Cyril Sawyer)^[1]

When he left hospital he was attached to the newly formed Royal Canadian Air Force and was in command of the Canadian pilots in England as they were transferred to the new air force. He returned to Canada on leave in late 1919 when he married Verna Harrison of Calgary. He returned to England in February 1920 but resigned from the RCAF later that year.

He returned to Canada and formed Pacific Airways which was eventually acquired by Western Canada Airways. He died in 4 July 1988, aged 96.

He served in 46 Squadron RFC/RAF alongside VM Yeates, the author of the seminal World War I novel "Winged Victory" in which Tom Cundall, the main protagonist's flight commander is a Canadian called "Mac". It is widely believed that this character was based on MacLaren.

External links[link]

• The Aerodrome: Donald MacLaren

References[link]

• Drew, George A. (1930). Canada's Fighting Airmen. MacLean.