If your family name is Buchanan, MacAuslan, Risk, Gibb, or Gibson, you may share blood with one of Scotland’s oldest Highland clans. Clan Buchanan held the eastern shore of Loch Lomond for centuries. They fought beside Robert the Bruce. They trained some of Europe’s finest scholars. Their story stretches from the banks of a Scottish loch all the way to the White House in Washington.
Where Does the Name Buchanan Come From?
The name Buchanan comes from the Gaelic “Buth Chanain.” It means “house of the canon.” The name points to an early connection with the Celtic Church. The first man to use it as a surname was Gilbert, around 1231. He took the name from the lands his family held on the shore of Loch Lomond.
The Gaelic name for the whole clan is Na Cananaich.
The original clan name was MacAuslan — son of Anselan. Clan tradition says Anselan O’Kyan, a lord from Ulster, arrived in Argyll in 1016. King Malcolm II gave him the Buchanan lands as a reward for help against Viking raiders. Modern DNA research suggests the family had deeper roots at Loch Lomond. Genetic data links them to Clan Gregor, with a possible common ancestor around 400 CE.
Buchanan Sept Names and Surnames
Clan Buchanan has over 50 associated surnames, called septs. These include names that spread across North America, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand during the Scottish diaspora. If your family carried any of these surnames, you share Buchanan roots.
| Sept Name | Gaelic or Linguistic Origin |
|---|---|
| Buchanan | From Gaelic “Buth Chanain” — house of the canon |
| MacAuslan / Cousland | From “Mac Absaloin” — son of Anselan, the original clan name |
| MacWattie / Watt | From Walter — a diminutive used by an early chief |
| Risk / Rusk / Ruskin | Associated through the MacColman sept |
| Colman / MacColman / McCalman | From Colman, a son of the 7th Laird; means “little dove” |
| Dove / Dow | Anglicised form of “Colman” — the little dove |
| Gibb / Gibson / MacGibbon | From Gilbert, one of the early clan chiefs; Gibb is a short form of Gilbert |
| Harper / MacWhirter | Gaelic “MacChruiter” — son of the harper, a musician in service to the chief |
| MacMaster / Masters | Son of the master — a title of respect within the clan |
| Murchie / Murchison | From Gaelic “Muireadhach” — lord or mariner |
| Dewar | From Gaelic “Deòradh” — pilgrim or keeper of holy relics |
| MacIndoe | Son of Indu — linked to the Loch Lomond lands |
| MacKinlay / McKinley | From Gaelic “Mac Fionnlaigh” — son of Finlay (fair hero) |
| Spittal | From “spital” — a hostel or hospital; occupational or locational |
| Yuill / Yule | Possibly from Norse “Jul” — long connected to Buchanan lands |
| Lenny / Lennie | From Leny near Callander — within the Buchanan clan territory |
| MacCubbin | Associated sept from the Loch Lomond area |
| Cormack / MacCormack | Son of Cormac — an early Gaelic personal name |
| MacMaurice | Son of Maurice — Maurice was an early Buchanan chief |
The Buchanan Society in Glasgow has traced these family lines for nearly 300 years. It is the oldest clan society in the world — founded in 1725.
The Buchanan Clan Lands: Loch Lomond and Beyond
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The Buchanan homeland is one of Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes. The clan held the eastern shore of Loch Lomond from Balmaha in the south to the slopes of Ben Lomond in the north.
Their territory ran east through Stirlingshire into the villages of Drymen, Killearn, Buchlyvie, and Arnprior. Ben Lomond — at 974 metres — rises directly from their land. It is now one of Scotland’s most climbed Munros.
The clan seat was the Place of Buchanan, near Drymen. The chiefs held this house from 1231 until 1682. It burned in 1852. The ruins are part of what is now the Buchanan Castle Golf Club estate.
The ancient clan meeting place was Clairinch Island, a small island just off Balmaha. The clan’s battle cry was “Clàr-Innis!” — named after this island. The Buchanan Society bought it in 1940. It is now a protected nature reserve.
Clan Buchanan History
Bannockburn and the Bruce
Maurice, 9th of Buchanan, refused to sign the Ragman Roll in 1296. This was the oath of loyalty to England’s King Edward I. The Buchanans stood with Robert the Bruce instead. They helped the Bruce escape in 1306. They fought at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314 and helped win Scottish independence.
Battle of Beaugé, 1421
Sir Alexander Buchanan fought in France alongside Scottish forces. He killed the Duke of Clarence at the Battle of Beaugé. The clan crest honours this feat — a hand holding a ducal cap. The clan motto is “Clarior Hinc Honos,” meaning “Brighter, hence the honour.”
A Chief Lost for 337 Years
In 1681, the last recognised chief, John Buchanan, died without a male heir. His estate carried heavy debts. The chiefship fell silent. It stayed that way for 337 years — the longest gap in Scottish clan history.
The clan took no formal side in the 1715 or 1745 Jacobite risings as a result. Individual members did fight on both sides. Robert Buchanan died at Culloden fighting for the Jacobites. Andrew Buchanan of Glasgow raised troops for the government. The divided loyalties show a clan without central leadership.
In August 2018, the Lord Lyon King of Arms confirmed Michael Buchanan as the new Chief. He was the first chief in 337 years. The current clan seat is Cambusmore, near Callander.
The Highland Clearances
After Culloden, Highland life changed fast. Landlords cleared Buchanan families from their Stirlingshire homes to make way for sheep farms. Many left for North America, Australia, and New Zealand. This is why you find the Buchanan name spread so widely across the world today.
The Buchanan Tartan
The Buchanan tartan stands out among Scottish clan tartans. Its sett is asymmetrical — most clan tartans mirror themselves, but Buchanan’s does not. The colours are vivid: yellow, red, green, navy blue, black, and white.
- Yellow — generosity and nobility
- Red — courage in battle
- Green — the hills around Loch Lomond
- Blue — the waters of Loch Lomond
- Black — resilience and endurance
The Modern Buchanan tartan is the standard version. There are also Ancient and Hunting variants. If you carry a Buchanan sept name — Gibson, Gibb, or Harper, for example — you are entitled to wear this tartan.
The World’s Oldest Clan Society
Glasgow merchants set up the Buchanan Society in 1725. It is the oldest clan society in the world — it predates all others by nearly 100 years.
Its founders wanted to help clan members arriving from the Highlands. The society paid pensions, funded apprenticeships, and gave university bursaries to young Buchanan descendants. It recognised four core septs: Buchanan, McAuslan, McWattie, and Risk.
Buchanan Street in Glasgow city centre — one of Scotland’s busiest shopping streets — takes its name from the clan. Next time you are visiting Glasgow, stand on Buchanan Street and think about where that name comes from.
Famous People Named Buchanan
George Buchanan (1506–1582) was one of the great minds of Renaissance Europe. He was born in Killearn, on Buchanan clan lands in Stirlingshire. He taught Latin across France and Portugal. He became tutor to Mary, Queen of Scots, and later to her infant son King James VI. His writing challenged the divine right of kings — the very belief his pupil later held. A 103-foot stone obelisk in Killearn village honours his memory to this day.
James Buchanan (1791–1868) became the 15th President of the United States. His father was born in Ramelton, County Donegal — a family that had moved from Stirlingshire to Ulster before crossing to Pennsylvania. James once said: “My Ulster blood is my most priceless heritage.” He carried Scottish and Scots-Irish roots to the highest office in America.
Where to Visit in Buchanan Country
Most of Buchanan country falls inside the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. You can walk the clan’s ancestral lands today.
Buchanan Castle Ruins, Drymen
The Victorian castle was built in 1852 on the site of the old clan lands. British forces held Rudolf Hess, Hitler’s deputy, here in 1941 after his flight to Scotland. The roof came off in 1954 to avoid tax. The ruin sits inside a golf club estate. Walk from Drymen village to see the exterior. Stay outside — the structure is dangerous. If you enjoy exploring Scotland’s castle history, this is a quiet and powerful stop.
Old Buchanan Parish Church, Near Drymen
The clan chiefs lie buried in this old churchyard. It is open and free to visit.
Clairinch Island, Balmaha
This small island was the ancient clan meeting place. The Buchanan Society still owns it. Access is by private boat only — charter a small boat from Balmaha. Look for the remains of seven old buildings and jetties near the shore.
The Buchanan Monument, Killearn
A 103-foot obelisk honours George Buchanan, built in 1788. The Buchanan Society looks after it. Killearn is a short drive from Drymen and worth the visit. The village is also close to Stirling — home of the National Wallace Monument, another icon of Scottish heritage.
Balmaha and Ben Lomond
Balmaha sits on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, at the heart of Buchanan country. The National Park Visitor Centre is here. A bronze statue of Tom Weir — the beloved Scottish outdoorsman who was born on Buchanan clan lands — stands in the village. Ben Lomond rises to the north. The summit walk takes around four hours from the car park at Rowardennan.
To build a full trip around this region, our 7-day Scotland itinerary gives you a strong starting point.
Tracing Your Buchanan Ancestry
If you carry a Buchanan sept name, records exist to trace your line. Scotland’s national archive, ScotlandsPeople, holds birth, marriage, and death records going back to 1553 in some parishes. The Buchanan Society in Glasgow holds member records from 1725 to 1948.
Our full guide to tracing your Scottish ancestry walks you through each step. It covers parish records, DNA testing, and planning a research trip to Edinburgh.
The Buchanan Society International has branches in Canada and the United States. If you find a connection, they are a good first contact.
Buchanan Names Across the World
Buchanan families left Scotland in waves. Post-1746, many young men emigrated after Culloden. The Clearances drove more families from Stirlingshire in the late 18th and 19th centuries. The Scottish potato famine of the 1840s pushed more Scots to Australia and New Zealand.
Today, the Buchanan surname appears across West Virginia, Ohio, and Missouri in the United States. It is common in Ontario and Nova Scotia in Canada. In New Zealand, it spread through Otago and Southland.
Many emigrants carried Buchanan sept names — Gibson, Gibb, Harper, and MacKinlay all crossed the Atlantic in large numbers. If your family history includes any of these names, a Scottish ancestry search is worth starting.
You can meet Buchanan descendants at Scottish Highland Games held across North America every summer. These events keep the clan traditions alive far from Loch Lomond. Other families in the broader Loch Lomond and Stirlingshire area share similar stories — explore our guide to Clan Henderson surnames if you want to dig into another Scottish family line.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Clan Buchanan
What does the Buchanan surname mean?
Buchanan comes from the Gaelic “Buth Chanain,” meaning “house of the canon.” It points to an early link with the Celtic Church. Gilbert, grandson of the clan’s founder, first used it as a surname around 1231.
What is the Buchanan clan tartan?
The Buchanan tartan uses yellow, red, green, navy blue, black, and white. Its sett is asymmetrical — unusual among Scottish clan tartans. The Modern Buchanan is the standard version. Ancient and Hunting variants also exist.
What surnames belong to Clan Buchanan?
The main Buchanan septs include MacAuslan, Gibb, Gibson, MacGibbon, Harper, MacWattie, Watt, Risk, Colman, Dove, Dewar, Murchie, MacKinlay, Spittal, Yuill, Lenny, and MacIndoe. The full list covers over 50 surnames.
Which US president had Buchanan clan roots?
James Buchanan, the 15th President of the United States (1857–1861), traced his ancestry to Stirlingshire in Scotland. His father was born in Ramelton, County Donegal — part of the Scottish diaspora in Ulster. James himself was born in Pennsylvania. He is the only US president with direct Buchanan clan roots.
Why was there no Buchanan chief for so long?
The last confirmed chief died in 1681 without a male heir. The chiefship lay dormant for 337 years — the longest gap in Scottish clan history. In 2018, the Lord Lyon confirmed Michael Buchanan as the new Chief of the Name and Arms of Buchanan.
Where were the Buchanan clan lands in Scotland?
Clan Buchanan held the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, from Balmaha in the south to Ben Lomond in the north. Their territory ran east through Stirlingshire into Drymen, Killearn, Buchlyvie, and Arnprior.