CREST & TARTAN

In Burke's General Armory, you will find a description of our crest.  This link will show you the book and where you can purchase it if you like. Burke's General Armory  One of our relatives sent for the bit about our name.  Here is the gist of it:

The MCaw Coat of Arms was drawn by an heraldic artist recorded in the above book.
The Crest is the stag's head above the helmet and it is holding a snake in its mouth.
The Arms is the square bit where the upside-down V, called the Chevron, is surrounded by three crosses.

If you want to purchase a facsimile or souvenir of the MCaw Crest,here is an interesting website that you should read before you  spend money.  It explains authenticity and ownership of the original arms:
Scottish Heraldry Explained


THE TARTAN
Clan/Family Histories
- MacFarlane  - from  McFarlane.Org 

Gilchrist, the younger son of Alwyn, the Celtic Earl of Lennox, settled on the shores of Loch Long at Arrochar at the end of the 12th century. His grandson Malduin assisted Robert the Bruce when he was evading pursuit in that area and later fought at the Battle of Bannockburn. It was Malduin's son, Parlan (the Gaelic equivalent of Bartholomew), whose name began the 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. Initially the clan opposed the Stewarts but later the 10th chief married a younger daughter of Lord Darnley.
The 11th clan chief fell at the Battle of Flodden in 1513. His son Andrew earned the nickname of "The Wizard" because of the sleight of hand tricks which he learned on the Continent. It is Andrew who 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" in the area.
The Earl of Lennox at one stage supported King Henry VII of England and the MacFarlane's 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 in 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 (see above). 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.
There was a branch of the clan in Aberdeenshire, in Braemar and into Strathspey.
The MacFarlane clan motto is "This I'll Defend".
Surnames regarded as septs (sub-branch) of the MacFarlane clan include Allan, Allanson, Bartholomew, Bryce, Caw, Kinnieson, Knox, MacAindra, MacAllan, MacCause, MacCaw, MacCondy, MacEoin, MacErachar, MacGaw, MacGeoch, MacInstalker, MacJames, MacNair, MacNider, MacNiter, MacRob, MacRobb, MacWalter, MacWilliam, Miller, Monach, Parlane, Robb, Stalker, Weaver, Webster, Wylie.
There is a MacFarlane clan Web site here and here.

Return to Index of Clans/Family Histories.

 

Septs & Tartans

Associated Family Names of Clan MacFarlane (Septs) Septs are sub-groups or families bearing different surnames within a clan. There are several ways that such a name-change could happen: (NB – these are listed in no particular order) a man from outside the clan marries a woman in the clan, and they live on land that has passed to her through inheritance; "broken" or landless men given lands to support themselves; a man within the clan becomes known by a by-name (nick-name) and his children continue to use the by-name rather than the original surname; some members of the clan choose to follow a particular member of the chiefly family, and adopt his baptismal name as their surname; "natural" children could be given the father’s name, rather than the clan name. MacFarlane comes into being because Gaelic grammar requires changes within a word to show possession. A "P" is softened to a "Ph", and an "i" is added to the last syllable. In this way, "son of Parlan" comes from "Mac" (son) "Pharlain" (of Parlan). All the variant spellings came about when scribes (usually not Gaelic speaking) tried to write the name as they heard it. No variants of MacPharlain are shown as they are derived from the clan’s name. The following is a partial list of the surnames associated with Clan MacFarlane. To conserve space, only Mac forms are shown. Mc and M’ are scribal abbreviations, and therefore should be considered as included. All spellings derivable from the names and variants shown below should be considered as included also. An asterisk (*) after a name indicates that the name is associated with other clans, or are separate clans unto themselves. Further genealogical research would be appropriate. Alla/en* Allanach* Allanson* Allison* Arre/oll* Barclay* Bart* Bartholomew* Bartie/y* Bartson* Bri/yce* Caa/Caw* Calla/ende/ar* Condy/ey/ie Cunnison/Kennison* Galbraith* Galloway* Grassick/Griesk* Greusaich* Gruamach Knox* Lea/iper* Len(n)ox* MacAlla/en* MacAndrew* MacAndro* MacCaa/aw* MacCause* MacCondey/ie/y MacEa/och* MacEachern* MacEoin* MacErrachar* MacFarquhar* MacGaw* MacGreusich/k* MacI/Jock MacInally MacInstalker* MacJames* MacKin(d)la/ey* MacNai/ayer* MacNid/te MacNo/uyer MacRob(b)* MacWalter MacWilliam* Michie* Milla/er* Monach/nock Parlane Rob(b)* Spruell* Stalker* Weaver Webster Weir Williamson* Wilson* Wyl(l)ie* Tartans Tartan is a living textile art form that began in the Highlands of Scotland about the same time that Europeans discovered both their own minority cultures and the New World. Over the centuries the " Pride o' Tartan" has grown while the exodus of Scots to new homes throughout the world continues even today. Millions throughout the world look to Scotland as their point of cultural heritage. Tartan is the living, visible symbol of this identification. These are the tartans of the Clan MacFarlane The Modern tartan is a general use tartan. This tartan in its different forms of "ancient" and "muted and weathered" can be used for all occasions, whereas the Hunting tartan in all of its forms is generally used for "everyday" wear. However, to wear the hunting tartan for semi formal occasions would probably not be inappropriate as it is a favorite of many MacFarlanes. The MacFarlane 'Dress Tartan" (World Register 659) is a handsome tartan of white background with blue and red over stripes. Dress tartans are designed for fancy dress occasions. Remember that almost all of the tartans we know of today were the designs of the Victorian Scottish Weavers developed during the1800's. They were not worn during the time of William Wallace or Robert the Bruce. The MacFarlane "Black and White" is probably an "Evening Sett", the dress form of the Lendrum-MacFarlane Clan Tartan (The MacFarlane Black and Red (World Register 1190)). Although often referred to as a mourning sett it has none of the characteristics of this sett, i.e. dark background with a white over stripe. The brightness of the sett would probably make it a little bold for a funeral. This tartan may have been worn by women as an arisaid, a type of cloak worn by women from the 17th to the 19th century, but the pattern would have been much larger and brighter. The reasons for the names "Modern" and "Ancient" involves a bit of history. During Victorian times, it was stylish to use very dark dyes, where the blues were almost black, the greens were forest-green instead of kelly-green, and so on. This made for some very somber tartans and also made recognition harder in many cases. When they finally decided to use lighter colors, however, they came up with the following reason: They argued that the old dyes and darker colors could not have been produced in the "old days", so they called the lighter, more natural colors "ancient" and the darker colors "modern". As these tartans probably did not exist in the "old days" this becomes an exercise in good marketing. Whatever tartan you choose wear it with pride as you are a member of the MacFarlane Family. MacFarlane Modern WR948 MacFarlane Dress WR659 MacFarlane Black and Red WR1190 MacFarlane Black and White WR1251 Modern MacFarlane Ancient Hunting MacFarlane Modern Hunting MacFarlane Modern Black & White MacFarlane  Failte: A Gaelic Welcome  (pronounced "falsh-uh") Those of us who have been drawn by the powerful ties of blood into the special, colourful and turbulent history of Scotland have come to believe that visibly enjoying our heritage is a wonderful addition to our lives. By having Clan MacFarlane Society tents at Highland games all over the world shows just one of the many ways we express our “Special Identity” to all visitors at the Games, and especially to the "Parlanaich" (Gaelic - MacFarlane race) members of whatever spelling and as a welcome to those bearing any of the more than sixty other surnames associated with our Clan. When you join us in the Clan MacFarlane Society Inc., you will receive:- A membership kit containing your membership certificate. You will receive a Quarterly Newsletter “MacFarlanes Lantern”. This is full of information, Genealogy and Society social activities. Much more than that however, you will become part of an international, secular, organisation with members from many different countries. We feel sure you'll begin to feel a personal bond grow between you and the many others who have linked their modern day lives with that of yourself and your shared ancestry. This will give you a new perspective on your family and Clan history. It will also keep you informed about what others of the "Parlanaich" are doing around the world. We hope you already know your family’s history, whether they left Scotland or not and what they did. If they left, Why they left? But if you don’t know, perhaps we can help you find out. If you are taking the time to read this, chances are you are of the "Parlanaich." Be proud of your blood! Remember the men from whom you are descended or in the Gaelic language of your forefathers: "Cuimhnich air na daoine o'n d'thaining thu" Your Ancestors won’t let you down. Story of the Clan MacFarlane Map showing clan lands and surrounding area. The MacFarlane homeland is located in the Highlands of Scotland between Loch Long and Loch Lomond, having the same boundaries as the Parish of Arrochar. For over five centuries this area was held by the Chiefs of Clan MacFarlane and before them by their ancestors, the Celtic Earls of Lennox.       A Saxon male line ancestry was first proposed for this family in Crawford's Peerage in 1716. Walter MacFarlane, the renowned antiquarian, in his Notes on Genealogy (available on microfilm from the National Library of Scotland) also held this belief. On the other hand, William F. Skene, (in The Highlanders of Scotland, Vol. II p 149), provides a Celtic descent of this family. These sources base their statements on the old Celtic genealogy of Duncan, eight Earl of Lennox, who was executed in 1425, and the coming of age poem composed for Alwyn, last Mormaer and first Earl of Lennox in the twelfth century. This Alwyn was the son of Murdac (son of Maldouen son of Murdac) and his wife who was a daughter of Alwyn MacArkil (son of Arkil son of Ecgfrith in Northumbria). When the first earl died his children were still minors so the king warded the earldom to his own brother David, Earl of Huntingdon.  By 1199 Alwyn, the second Earl of Lennox, had finally succeeded his father.  The second earl may have had as many as ten sons.  Among the youngest (maybe seventh) was Gilchrist who obtained a charter to the barony of Arrochar from his eldest brother Maldouen, third Earl of Lennox.  Although the charter is not dated, it bears the seal of King Alexander II (r. 1225 – 1239), and is thought to be from the earlier part of his reign. Gilchrist's son, Malduin, is said to have befriended and aided Robert the Bruce during his fight for independence from the English.  He and his followers are reported to have fought at Bannockburn in 1314.  Robert I granted a charter to a Dougal MacFarlane for the lands of Kindowie and Argushouche, etc., but it isn’t known who this Dougal was, or where he was from originally.   The clan takes its name from Malduin's son, Pàrlan.  All we know about him is that he lived during the reign of Robert I and David II (r. 1329 – 1371).  There is a strong possibility that he, too, fought at Bannockburn for the Bruce, but there is no way to be certain at this time. Nevertheless, his place in this chronicle is of the highest importance, as he provided the surname for his descendants and their followers. Malcolm Mac Phàrlain, his son, received the first charter for the lands of “Arrochar above Luss” made out to a “Mac Phàrlain” in about 1344 from Donald, the sixth Earl of Lennox The name, Pàrlan, has been linked to Partholán in Irish myths and legends.  Gaelic grammar requires changes within a word to indicate possession. A "P" is softened to a "Ph", and an "i" is added to the last syllable.  In this way, "son of Pàrlan" becomes Mac (son) Phàrlain (of Pàrlan).  In many 18th, 19th and 20th century books, it is said that “Pàrlan” or “Partholán” are Gaelic forms of “Bartholomew”.  Linguistic studies of Old Gaelic and Old Irish Gaelic have shown this to be an invalid assertion.  In fact, both languages use the Latin form, “Bartolomeus” in their early liturgical writings n Latin and in Gaelic-language Bibles.  It is far more likely that “Partholán” and “Pàrlan” are remnant names from the pre-Gaelic languages of Ireland and Britain. Arrochar House When Duncan, the last Celtic Earl of Lennox, his son-in-law, and two of his grandsons were executed by James I in 1425, there were some who considered that the MacFarlanes were the legitimate heirs to the Earldom.  However, Iain (John), the 7th Chief, didn’t have enough political power to make the claim stick.  The title was given by the Crown to John Stewart, Lord Darnley. Over a period of nearly fifty years, the MacFarlanes sought to oppose the Stewarts, but they proved too powerful.  In 1486, John Stewart finally overrode all opposition, becoming the ninth Earl of Lennox.  About two years later, Andrew MacFarlane the 10th Chief, married Stewart’s younger daughter, forging a new alliance. Thereafter, the MacFarlanes followed the new earls of Lennox in most of the major conflicts of the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The 11th Chief and many of his clansmen fell at Flodden in 1513. The MacFarlanes later opposed the English at the Battle of Pinkie in 1547 where Duncan the 13th Chief and his uncle were killed along with many others.   After the murder of Henry Darnley, Mary Queen of Scots' second husband, the MacFarlanes opposed the Queen and were noted for their bravery at the Battle of Langside in 1568.  It is reported that the MacFarlane Chief, Andrew, and 300 of his clansmen turned a flank of Mary’s forces, and captured three of their opponents’ standards.  The valour of Andrew and his men was rewarded by the Regent, James, Earl of Moray, with the Clan's original crest and motto.  The crest and motto alludes to the defense of the Crown and Kingdom.  Mary had abdicated previously in favour of her infant son, so she was actually in rebellion against the Crown, Moray, and James VI during these times.  Tea set gifted to a Glasgow merchant by Dr. William MacFarlane For much of their history, the MacFarlanes were a very turbulent lot. Their rallying cry, "Loch Sloy", signalled many a night raid to "collect" cattle from their richer neighbors to the south and east. Their march-piobaireachd "Thogail nam Bo theid sinn" (To Lift the Cows We Shall Go) gives ample notice of intent. They were so competent that the full moon was known as "MacFarlane's Lantern".  In 1592, the Clan was accused of slaying the Colquhoun of Luss and was outlawed.  It no sooner got out from under that ban, than it were named in legislation in 1594, as being required to provide surety for good behaviour.  Feuds, reiff (cattle raids), murder, fire-raising (arson), and even sorning (taking food and drink without payment) were commonplace accusations against the MacFarlanes and their allies during this period.  They had to establish their homes on the islands of Inveruglas and Eilean a' Bhùth (now called Island I Vow).  This last was burned out twice during the Cromwellian invasions in the mid-17th century.  John “Môr”, the 17th chief, Andrew, the 18th and his son, John, the 19th, managed to bring a level of prosperity to their people that allowed the latter John to build “Arrochar House” in New Tarbet, now the village of Arrochar on Loch Long.  Walter MacFarlane of that Ilk and Arrochar, LL.D. Walter, the 20th Chief, (1705 - 1767) was a renowned scholar and antiquarian. William F. Skene, the 19th Century Scottish scholar wrote of him"  "Walter Macfarlane, of that ilk, who is as celebrated among historians as the indefatigable collector of the ancient records of the country, as his ancestors had been among the other Highland chiefs for their prowess in the field. The most extensive and valuable collections which his industry has been the means of preserving form the best monument to his memory, and as long as the existence of the ancient records of the country, or a knowledge of its ancient history, remain an object of interest to any Scotsman, the name of Macfarlane will be handed down as one of its benefactors. The family itself, however, is now nearly extinct, after having held their original lands for a period of six hundred years." At present, the Clan Chiefship is dormant.  However, the Clan MacFarlane Society, Inc. has been recognized by both the Court of the Lord Lyon and the Standing Council of Scottish Chiefs as being the only recognised representative of the clan for these two bodies.  The Clan MacFarlane Heritage Trust was founded by the Society to create a Heritage Centre in Scotland for the preservation and presentation of MacFarlane Heritage and the Loch Lomond area. Memorial stone to the MacFarlane chiefs Memorial stone to the MacFarlane chiefs in the wall of the kirk at Luss. Inscription: "After Death Remains Virtue"  Plant Badge: European Cranberry Slogan: Loch Sloy (Loch Sloidh-The Loch of the Host) Motto: This I'll Defend Crest: A demi-savage brandishing in his dexter a broad sword Proper and pointing with his sinister to an Imperial Crown or standing by him on the wreath. Arms of the Chief: Argent, a saltire engrailed between four roses Gules Supporters: (on a wavy compartment) Two Highlanders armed with bows and arrows, all proper.