Scottish Surnames of Clan MacFarlane – Origins, Tartans and Clan History

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If the surname MacFarlane runs in your family, you carry one of Scotland’s most vivid Highland stories. The clan held the western shore of Loch Lomond for centuries. They fought in battles from Flodden to Langside. They raided by moonlight so often that locals named the full moon after them. And when their ancestral lands were finally lost, their descendants spread across North America, Australia, and New Zealand. This is the story of the Scottish surnames of Clan MacFarlane — who they were, where they came from, and how to trace your own MacFarlane roots today.

## The Meaning of the Name MacFarlane The surname MacFarlane comes from the Gaelic “Mac Phàrlain.” It means “son of Parlan.” The name Parlan is a Gaelicised form of the Latin “Bartholomaeus” — the same name as the apostle Bartholomew. The clan traces its descent from the medieval Earls of Lennox. Their founder received lands at Arrochar around 1344, through a grant from Malcolm, son of Parlan. From that moment on, the family took their identity from that founding ancestor. For centuries, the MacFarlanes held the shores of Loch Lomond. They built castles on islands in the loch. They controlled the passes between Loch Lomond and Loch Long. Their war cry was “Loch Sloy” — a call that carried across the water to rally their men. Their motto was “This I’ll Defend.” ## The Scottish Surnames of Clan MacFarlane: Septs and Family Branches The MacFarlane clan sheltered many family branches under its banner. These are known as sept names. If any of the following surnames appear in your family tree, you may have MacFarlane roots. **Core MacFarlane surnames and septs:** – **Parlane** – The most direct form of the clan’s founding name – **Bartholomew** – The Latin source of Parlan, used by some branches – **Robb / MacRobb** – Descended from a branch using the Christian name Robert – **Walter / MacWalter** – Descended through a branch using Walter as a given name – **Stalker / MacInstalker** – An occupational name; these men worked as hunters or game stalkers for the clan – **Weaver / Webster** – Used by hereditary weavers within the clan – **MacAlman** – An older form found in historical clan records – **MacNair / MacNeur** – Related branches of the same family tree – **Napier** – Linked to the clan through the Lennox connection – **Galbraith** – Connected through the broader Lennox family network – **Lennox** – Sharing the ancient earldom from which the clan descended – **Kinnieson** – A less common variant found in older genealogies – **MacCondy / MacCause** – Rarer forms recorded in early documents – **MacJames / MacWilliam** – Patronymic forms taken from ancestors’ Christian names If you are researching any of these surnames in Scotland, it is worth exploring the MacFarlane connection. Clan genealogy organisations maintain databases covering many of these branches. ## MacFarlane Clan Lands: Loch Lomond and Arrochar Picture the western shore of Loch Lomond on a winter evening. The water lies black and still. Mountains rise on every side. Mist sits low against the hills. This is where the MacFarlanes lived for over four hundred years. Their principal seat was at Arrochar, at the head of Loch Long. Their lands stretched north along the western shore of Loch Lomond to Tarbet and beyond. They controlled the mountain passes between the two lochs — a position of great strategic value in the Highlands. Their castles stood on islands in Loch Lomond. Inveruglas Castle sat on Inveruglas Isle in the northern part of the loch. Between 1649 and 1660, Cromwell’s forces destroyed it. The clan then moved to Eilean-I-Vow — Island I Vow — and built a new stronghold there. Ruins of both MacFarlane castles still stand on their islands today. ## MacFarlane’s Lantern: A Clan Built for the Night Not everything the MacFarlanes were famous for was noble. They were skilled cattle reivers. They raided Clan Colquhoun’s lands on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond regularly — and they preferred to work at night. Local people gave the full moon a nickname because of it. A full moon became known as “MacFarlane’s Lantern.” The phrase stuck. It tells you something real about this clan. They were bold, practical, and willing to bend Highland conventions when their interests demanded it.

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## Key Battles in MacFarlane History The MacFarlanes fought in some of Scotland’s most important conflicts. They paid a heavy price for their loyalty — and they fought hard for their allies. **Battle of Flodden, 1513** Scotland suffered one of its worst military defeats at Flodden. The 11th Chief, Sir John MacFarlane, fell on that battlefield. The King had knighted him the night before. Many clan members died alongside him. **Battle of Pinkie Cleugh, 1547** Pinkie was another catastrophe for Scotland. The MacFarlanes called it “Black Saturday.” The 13th Chief, Duncan MacFarlane, died there. His brother fell with him. Around two hundred clansmen died in a single day. **Battle of Langside, 1568** At Langside, the MacFarlanes fought for the Regent James Stewart against Mary, Queen of Scots. Three hundred MacFarlane men charged the flank of the Queen’s forces. They captured three royal standards. The Regent rewarded them with a new clan crest and the motto “This I’ll Defend.” **Battle of Glen Fruin, 1603** The MacFarlanes fought alongside the MacGregors against Clan Colquhoun. The MacGregor chief Allaster MacGregor led the attack. The Colquhoun force suffered heavy losses. The aftermath was serious for many MacFarlane men. Courts tried and convicted some for their part. Others fled north to Aberdeenshire and Banffshire in the years that followed. You can learn more about these neighbouring clans in our dedicated guides to [Clan Colquhoun](https://lovetovisitscotland.com/scottish-surnames-of-clan-colquhoun-origins-tartans-and-clan-history/) and [Clan MacGregor](https://lovetovisitscotland.com/scottish-surnames-of-clan-macgregor-origins-tartans-and-clan-history/). ## The MacFarlane Tartans The MacFarlane clan has several tartan variants. Each suits a different occasion. – **MacFarlane Red** – The classic clan tartan, bold and striking – **MacFarlane Ancient** – A softer, muted version of the traditional colours – **MacFarlane Hunting** – Earthy greens and browns for outdoor wear – **MacFarlane Dress** – A refined version for formal clan gatherings – **MacFarlane Black and White** – A distinctive monochrome variant – **MacFarlane Weathered** – An aged-look version popular for casual wear If you are attending a clan gathering or Highland games event, any of these tartans will mark you as a MacFarlane with pride. ## The Loss of the Clan Lands In 1767, the 20th Chief Walter MacFarlane sold the ancestral lands to pay debts. Walter was a gifted historian and one of the finest antiquarians of his era. But the clan’s finances had collapsed, and the Loch Lomond territories had to go. That sale ended four centuries of MacFarlane presence on the western shore of Loch Lomond. It began the diaspora that scattered the clan across the world. The Highland Clearances that followed in the 19th century pushed more MacFarlane families off the land. Some moved to the Lowland towns. Many took ships to North America. Families settled in Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, the Carolinas, and Upper Canada. Later waves went to Australia and New Zealand, many during the gold rushes of the 1850s. Those communities worked hard to hold onto what they had carried from Scotland. Scottish-Canadian families in Nova Scotia still observe Gaelic traditions that have long since faded in parts of Scotland itself. Highland music, dance, and language survived in Cape Breton in ways that would astonish visitors from the old country. If your MacFarlane ancestors left Scotland in those years, the communities they joined preserved the culture you may now be trying to reconnect with. ## Famous MacFarlanes The MacFarlane name appears across a range of fields. **Helen Macfarlane** (born 1818, Barrhead, Scotland) was the first person to translate the Communist Manifesto from German into English. She published her translation in 1850 under the pen name “Howard Morton.” **Seth MacFarlane**, the American creator of Family Guy and American Dad, carries Scottish heritage through his father’s side. **Todd McFarlane**, the Canadian comic book artist who created Spawn and reimagined Spider-Man, also carries the MacFarlane name. ## Where to Visit Today: MacFarlane Heritage Sites If you want to walk where your MacFarlane ancestors lived, the Loch Lomond area is the place to go. **Arrochar** sits at the head of Loch Long, surrounded by the peaks known as the Arrochar Alps. This was the heart of MacFarlane territory. The village is accessible by train on the West Highland Line. **Tarbet** is a short distance away on the shores of Loch Lomond. The first MacFarlane chieftains had a house at a site here called Clattochmore. Today it is a quiet village with ferry links across the loch. **Ballyhennan Burial Ground** lies near Arrochar on the road to Tarbet. This is an important MacFarlane burial site. Many clan members rest here. The former church beside it is now a restaurant. **Inveruglas Isle and Eilean-I-Vow** can be seen from the shore near Inveruglas. The ruins of both MacFarlane island castles are visible from the water. You need a boat to reach them, but the view from the shore alone is striking. The **Arrochar and Tarbet Hidden Heritage Trail** is a walking route that explores the MacFarlane landscape. Pick up a map in either village. Planning a full Scottish heritage journey? Our guide to [planning a Scottish heritage trip](https://lovetovisitscotland.com/how-to-plan-a-scottish-heritage-trip-to-your-ancestral-clan-lands/) covers everything from local archives to hiring a genealogy guide. Our [7-day Scottish ancestry itinerary](https://lovetovisitscotland.com/7-day-scottish-ancestry-itinerary-for-first-time-visitors/) can help you structure your visit. ## How to Trace Your MacFarlane Ancestry Several organisations can help you research your MacFarlane roots. **Clan MacFarlane Worldwide, Inc.** (macfarlane.org) runs a dedicated genealogy team. Their genealogy chairperson administers the MacFarlane Project with FamilyTreeDNA. They maintain a worldwide database of MacFarlane family records with a strong Scottish bias. **The International Clan MacFarlane Society** (established 1973) holds charitable status in both Scotland and the United States. They support heritage research and can point you toward relevant archives. **ScotlandsPeople** (scotlandspeople.gov.uk) is the official Scottish government genealogy database. It holds birth, marriage, and death records from 1855, Old Parish Registers from earlier centuries, and census records from 1841 onwards. **FamilySearch** (familysearch.org) is free and contains Scottish Old Parish Registers alongside emigration records. If your MacFarlane ancestors left Scotland for North America or Australia, start your search here. ## Related Clan Articles The MacFarlanes’ story connects to several other clans we have covered: – [Clan Campbell](https://lovetovisitscotland.com/scottish-surnames-of-clan-campbell-origins-tartans-and-clan-history/) — the dominant Argyll clan, close to MacFarlane territory – [Clan Colquhoun](https://lovetovisitscotland.com/scottish-surnames-of-clan-colquhoun-origins-tartans-and-clan-history/) — the MacFarlanes’ neighbours and rivals on Loch Lomond – [Clan MacGregor](https://lovetovisitscotland.com/scottish-surnames-of-clan-macgregor-origins-tartans-and-clan-history/) — their allies at the Battle of Glen Fruin – [Clan MacDonald](https://lovetovisitscotland.com/scottish-surnames-of-clan-macdonald-origins-tartans-and-clan-history/) — another great Highland clan with a connected diaspora story ## Frequently Asked Questions About Clan MacFarlane **What does the surname MacFarlane mean?** MacFarlane comes from the Gaelic “Mac Phàrlain,” meaning “son of Parlan.” Parlan is a Gaelicised form of Bartholomew. The name traces back to the 14th century, when the clan founder received lands at Arrochar on Loch Lomond from the Earls of Lennox. **What clans are connected to the MacFarlanes?** The MacFarlanes descended from the ancient Earls of Lennox. Their sept names include Parlane, Robb, Stalker, Napier, and Galbraith. They held a long rivalry with Clan Colquhoun on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, and fought alongside the MacGregors at Glen Fruin in 1603. **What is the MacFarlane clan motto?** The MacFarlane motto is “This I’ll Defend.” The clan earned this motto after the Battle of Langside in 1568. Three hundred MacFarlane men helped the Regent’s forces defeat the army of Mary, Queen of Scots, and captured three royal standards in the fight. **Where did MacFarlane ancestors emigrate to?** MacFarlane families emigrated widely from the late 18th century. The sale of clan lands in 1767 and the Highland Clearances pushed many families toward North America. Nova Scotia, Cape Breton, North Carolina, and Upper Canada absorbed large numbers of Scottish Highland emigrants. Later waves went to Australia and New Zealand, especially during the 1850s gold rushes.

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