Scottish Clans
MacFarlane Tartans & Clan
The MacFarlane's became notorious amongst the neighboring clans (mainly Clan Colquhoun) for their cattle rustling activities, so much so that the full moon was jokingly known as MacFarlane's Lantern. Read on for the full story and to uncover more MacFarlane Clan history.
Who Wears MacFarlane Tartan? - Associated Names
First of all to explain why there are so many tartans, way over 2000 in fact. There are an awful lot of Scottish clans to start with and on top of this each clan can have many different tartans and names associated with it.
- Allan
- Allanach
- Allanson
- Allen
- Allison
- Bartholomew
- Bartie
- Bartleman
- Bartlet
- Bartlett
- Barty
- Bryce
- Callander
- Cunnison
- Galbraith
- Galbreath
- Galloway
- Kennison
- Leaper
- Leipper
- Lennox
- MacAindra
- MacAllan
- MacCause
- MacCondach
- MacCondy
- MacErracher
- MacFarlan
- MacGeoch
- MacGreusich
- MacGurk
- MacInally
- MacInstalker
- MacJames
- MacKinlay
- MacNair
- MacNeur
- MacNider
- MacNiter
- MacNuir
- MacParland
- MacParlane
- MacPharlan
- MacRob
- MacRobb
- MacWalter
- MacWilliam
- McFarlane
- Millar
- Miller
- Monach
- Munnoch
- Munnock
- Napier
- Parlan
- Parlane
- Robb
- Smith
- Spreull
- Sproul
- Stalker
- Thomason
- Weaver
- Webster
- Weir
- Williamson
- Wylie
- Wyllie
Macfarlane Tartans
7 variationsEach tartan can have multiple variations, the most common of which are Ancient, Modern, Weathered, Hunting and Dress
About tartan variations
- Ancient
- Modern
- Weathered
- Hunting
- One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if
Ancient Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans, mossy greens and sky blues, a more orangey red and some would say showing off the pattern to much greater effect as as the contrasts are much brighter than the Modern tartans. The pattern or sett remains the same across all variations of a single tartan, and only the shades or tones vary.
Helpful Advice
Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
Modern Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer colours typical of the Ancient tartans. Post 1860 chemical dyes replaced the natural animal and vegetable dyes and the Modern Tartans were born with their stronger and bolder colours. The soft greens and blues become bottle green and navy blue, reds are scarlet.
Helpful Advice
The Modern tartans are often the more subtle combinations such as the classic Black Watch Modern
Weathered Tartan
Before 1860 fabrics were coloured using animal and vegetable dyes. This produced the softer, more earthy colours typical of the Weathered tartans, reminiscent of bolder colours subjected to wind, rain and sunshine producing beautiful faded tones, olive greens and browns, and very light blues with reds that are more pink than red.
Helpful Advice
Some mills refer to the Weathered tartans as Muted.
Hunting Tartan
The Hunting Tartans are the camouflage tartans and some clans don't have these variations because they are already predominantly green or brown and don't need amendment to blend in with nature's colours. The Black Watch or Gunn tartans are examples of these, whereas a tartan such as the Fraser is predominantly red and would not provide much cover for men out hunting.
Helpful Advice
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if Tartan
The Dress Tartans were designed as the name suggests for celebrations and highland dance. The sett or pattern of the tartan remains the same and the main colour is changed to white, or extra white is added to the pattern to give it a brighter, more "fancy" appearance. The Scots do like to bend the rules and occasionally instead of white thread, yellow is used and this is where the rather wild MacLeod Dress Modern and Barclay Dress Modern came from.
Helpful Advice
One thing to remember if you are ordering your tartan to match an existing kilt or accessory is that although the sett and colours are the same, there can be a slight difference in colour from one mill to the next. This is purely down to yarn dying so if you need an exact match we suggest you order a swatch to double check.
From the start
MacFarlane Clan Origins & History
How it all started
Clan MacFarlane History
Territories
The home of the MacFarlanes is Arrochar, between Loch Lomond and Loch Long. The clan descends from the Earls of Lennox, but there’s some debate as to their origin. Some believe that the original Earls of Lennox were Anglo-Saxon, descending from Arkil, son of Egfrith, a Northumbrian chief who fled to Scotland during the time of William the Conqueror. Others suggest, however, that the Earls of Lennox were originally of Gaelic descent.
Either way, Clan MacFarlane claims its descent from the Earls of Lennox through Gille Chriosd, brother of Maol Domhnaich, Earl of Lennox. He was given the lands of Arrochar, which was then held by the MacFarlanes for centuries until the death of the clan’s last chief.
Gille Chriosd has a son, Donnchadh, who obtained charters for his lands from the Earl of Lennox and appeared in the Ragman Rolls as “Duncan son of Gilchrist of Lennox”. He had a grandson, Parlan, and it’s from this Parlan that the clan takes its name. Not much is known about Parlan - indeed, there’s little contemporary evidence to suggest that he even existed - but it’s thought that he lived during the reign of Robert I.
Parlan’s son, Malcolm Mac Pharlain, was granted the first charter for the lands of Arrochar above Luss, made out to a “Mac Pharlain” in around 1344. This was granted by Donald, the sixth Earl of Lennox, and it’s said by some that Malcolm was, therefore, the true founder of Clan MacFarlane.
Today, most MacFarlanes in Scotland can be found in Perth and Kinross, as well as Stirlingshire, Renfrewshire, Glasgow, East and West Dunbartonshire, the Outer Hebrides, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. There are also many MacFarlanes in Ireland, the USA and Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Clan Chief
The direct line of male chiefs died out in 1866, and there hasn’t been a Clan Chief since, meaning MacFarlane is an armigerous clan. That means that although the name is registered with the Court of the Lord Lyon and once had a chief, it doesn’t currently have a chief recognised by Lyon Court. Perhaps someone will come forward with a claim and the MacFarlanes will no longer be a clan without a chief!
What's in the name?
MacFarlane (as well as other variations of the name, such as McFarlane and Macfarlane) is an Anglicisation of the Gaelic patronymic Mac Pharlain, which translates to “son of Parlan”. It’s thought that “Parlan” is a version of the Latin name Bartholomaeus, the Latin equivalent of Bartholomew.
Arrochar
The Village of Arrochar is located on the edge of Loch Long and is within The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. During the Viking Raids Arrochar was regularly targeted as its location was so close to the waterfront. The lands were originally owned by the Barons of Arrochar, however it was passed down to their descendants the MacFarlanes. The land was then held by the chiefs of Clan MacFarlane for over 5 centuries until the last clan chief died. However, Arrochar is still considered the historic seat of Clan MacFarlane.
Clan MacFarlane & The Jacobite Uprisings
Despite their warmongering ways, the MacFarlanes didn’t participate in any of the Jacobite Uprisings. The 20th Clan Chief, Water MacFarlane was a scholar and historian who lived much of his life in Edinburgh - but he still insisted that he was very much a Highland chief, refusing to be called “Mr MacFarlane”. He died in 1767 and the MacFarlane lands were sold off to pay debts.
MacFarlane Clan Crest
The MacFarlane motto is “this I’ll defend” and the clan crest shows a demi-savage brandishing a broad sword and pointing to an imperial crown. Two different plant badges have been attributed to the clan: cloudberry and cranberry, which comes from the old Earls of Lennox.
MacFarlane Clan Plaids
With seven different plaid variations, there’s a MacFarlane tartan for everyone. The MacFarlane Black/White Modern is a great option for those looking for something a little less traditional, featuring monochrome black and white that look great either as a kilt or something a little different.
The Ancient, Modern and Weathered tartans all feature strong reds that will stand out from the crowd, whilst the MacFarlane Hunting tartans, both Ancient and Modern, feature a dominant green to act as camouflage!
Clan MacFarlane Battles
When the MacFarlane's weren’t pillaging cattle, they also got involved in some of the major battles of the time.
In 1544, Mac Pharlain led 300 clansmen into battle alongside Glencairn and Lennox at the Battle of Glasgow Muir. They lost the battle and were affected by the forfeitures afterwards but the clan was saved from ruin by their rich friends.
Three years later in 1547, the MacFarlanes suffered more losses at the Battle of Pinkie Cleugh which took place on the banks of the River Esk near Musselburgh - the last pitched battle between Scotland and England before the Union of the Crowns. The clan chief Duncan was killed there, along with many of his men.
They were led into battle by the chief’s son, Andrew, a year later at the Battle of Langside. Here they fought under the Regent James Stewart against Mary Queen of Scots. The battle was a colossal defeat for Mary, and it’s said that only one man on Stewart’s side was lost, whilst hundreds of Mary’s men were killed. Andrew was awarded a crest by the Earl of Lennox for his part in the battle bearing the motto “This I’ll defend”.
In 1592, the MacFarlanes (helped by their friends the MacGregors) attacked their neighbours, the Colquhouns of Luss. They killed around 80 members of the clan and their allies, and the MacFarlanes were later denounced by the government for committing theft, robbery, murder and tyranny. Later, another feud broke out between the MacFarlanes and the Buchanans, so an Act of Estates was introduced in 1642. This led to the confiscation of most of the MacFarlane land.
MacFarlane’s Lantern
The MacFarlanes were particularly noted for their frequent night-time raids on the cattle of neighbouring clans, especially Clan Colquhoun, with whom they had an ongoing rivalry. They carried out their raids under the light of the moon, and so full moons became locally known as “MacFarlane’s Lantern”.
Claim for the Earldom
Earl Duncan of Lennox was executed by James I in the late 1300s, meaning the earldom was up for grabs. Three families came forward to claim it, including the MacFarlanes, but eventually, it was awarded to the Stewarts of Darnley and they took up the position in 1488.
Initially, there was some dispute between the MacFarlanes and the Stewarts - it seems that some MacFarlanes were murdered, and the family’s fortunes were drastically reduced. However, it all died down after some time and the MacFarlanes remained loyal to the Stewarts who now held the title and estates of Lennox. A member of the MacFarlane clan, Anndra MacFarlane, even married Barbara, the daughter of John Stewart, Lord Darnley, who had been awarded the title of Earl of Lennox. Thus, the two families were inextricably linked moving forward.
Clan MacFarlane's War Cry
Clan MacFarlane's War Cry is Loch Slòigh - The Loch of the Host
Discover Clan MacFarlane
Join Monja and Susan as they explore the exciting history of Clan MacFarlane. Known for their turbulent past, the MacFarlane trace their history back to the 12th century, and are reported to have fought in some of the most significant battles in Scottish history. From the Clan origins to its tartans, seats and societies, we'll explore it all as part of our Clan of the Month celebration.
The Ancestral Lands of Clan MacFarlane
Luss
Luss is a little village sitting on the banks of Loch Lomond, although it once was home of the Colquhouns, one of MacFarlane's fiercest enemies, this is actually the burial place of many of the Clan MacFarlane chiefs. There is memorial stones dedicated to some of Macfarlane's greatest chiefs, which is well worth a visit if you are looking to feel more connected with your MacFarlane heritage. Learn more about Clan MacFarlane's other ancestral homes on the Tartan Blog.
MacFarlane Famous Faces
Catharine MacFarlane
Catharine might be one of our favourite MacFarlane members as the work she undertook during her lifetime is really quite extraordinary. Catharine was a celebrated obstetrician and gynecologist who founded the first ever uterine cancer screening centre in the USA, as well as being the first doctor in Philadelphia to use radium in the treatment of cancer. She received many awards throughout her lifetime for her contribution to science and cancer prevention. Learn more about the other famous faces of Clan MacFarlane on the Tartan Blog.
Clan MacFarlane
Plaid Poll
There are 7 plaid variants available for the MacFarlane Clan, From Modern and Hunting to Ancient and Weathered, with gorgeous green and red plaids, this Clan is truly spoilt for choice. But which is your favourite MacFarlane Clan Plaid? Vote now!
Clan MacFarlane
Quiz
How much do you think you know about Clan MacFarlane? Enough to get all 12 questions correct? Test your MacFarlane Clan Knowledge now!
Loch Slòigh
Clan MacFarlane's War Cry is Loch Slòigh - The Loch of the Host
International
Clan MacFarlane Society
First founded in 1911 in Glasgow & London and later Re-established in 1973 at the Grandfather Mountain Highland Games in North Carolina, the Clan MacFarlane Society has grown into an international organization with members worldwide all proudly celebrating their Scottish Heritage and reuniting the MacFarlane diaspora.
An Interview with Michael & Diana MacFarlane
As we celebrated Clan MacFarlane as our Clan of the Month, we couldn't think of a better couple to discuss the history of the clan with. Michael is president of the International Clan MacFarlane Society and Diana is the Director of Media Development & Member Services, as well as Regional Commissioner for Southern California. Join Emily as she chats with Michael and Diana about the story of Clan MacFarlane.
Clan Motto: This I'll Defend
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