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Clan MacFarlane Stories
May has been dedicated to Clan MacFarlane, we've had a fantastic time celebrating and loved seeing Clan members far and wide getting involved in the celebrations! We received so many lovely stories from MacFarlane members that we just had to collate all of our favourites here on the blog.
Susan Miller
Susan made sure to include aspects of her Scottish heritage when she married Peter, she sent us these fantastic pictures and told us a little bit about the big day:
I was born in Scotland but moved with mum to The North East of England when I was a child. My dad lives in Glasgow. When Peter and I married in Otterburn in 2016 I wanted our wedding to have a Scottish theme, including tablet favours! So it seemed a perfect idea to use MacFarlane tartan as that is the clan the name Miller originated from.
We used the tartan on favours, as ties for groom and the male members of the wedding party, but my favourite was the shawl I wore, I love wearing it as much as I can now as a reminder of a beautiful day and my heritage
Both my parents appreciated the gesture my dad went as far to mention the Scots beating true English at the Otterburn battle in 1388
Christina McFarland-Helms
Christina loves participating at Highland Games as a way of expressing her Scottish heritage, she wears her MacFarlane Hunting Ancient kilt for every event!
I started competing in the Highland Games a few years ago when 'feeling' my roots a little more strongly than usual. I asked my friend Bob to help me practice and I was hooked after my first Highland Games. I find myself answering many questions to the general public about the supposed history of the Highland Games and advocating for the sport. It's important to note, that all are welcome in this sport. For me personally, I compete to honour my heritage and make my ancestors proud. For me, it's not about winning; though, I prefer that. I mainly compete in Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas, and parts of Iowa and Illinois (for our cousins across the pond, these are states.). I hope to attend a games in Scotland someday as an advocate for women in the sport, as well as to compete in the home country.
Kendall T. Rogers II
Kendall is very passionate about his MacFarlane heritage, as an active and supportive member of the International Clan MacFarlane Society. Kendall sent us this photo of him and the president of the society, Michael, sharing some stories with a dram! Kendall also told us all about his lineage.
I am a member Clan MacFarlane by way of bloodborne lineage belonging to the Sept family, Clan Weir. My Grandad Alan Weir was a member of Clan MacFarlane and I have carried this tradition forward. My Grandad immigrated to the US with my Nana in the 1950's. My mother and her siblings are all first generation Americans. Before Grandad came here, his particular line of Weir (of the blackwood line) was in Scotland for a LONG time. His ancestral connections come from Lanarkshire, and Dumfries. He always told us that "we were most associated with that ilk of the MacFarlane". I could go on and on about my old Man, but I'll say this - his love for his history, and his homeland was imprinted onto me, because he - like most European immigrants do with their grandchildren, had a huge hand in my upbringing.
Jack & Sylvia Knox
Jack and Sylvia proudly represent Clan MacFarlane from Germany, even becoming commissioner for the International Clan MacFarlane Society in Germany. This is what they had to say about their Clan:
I became a member of the International Clan MacFarane Society in September 2010. After attending our first Scottish Highland Games as guests we became aware that there was no representative of the Clan MacFarlane present.We contacted the Clan Society and were told that Germany does not have a Commissioner but if we were interested!!!!Since then we represent the Int Clan MacFarlane Society in Germany and attend as many Scottish events as we can each year. When we started to set up our display for our hospitality tent our first purchase was of seven fabric swatches of MacFarlane tartan from ScotlandShop in Greenknowe on the 30.05.2011. Later on that year I came to Greenknowe to visit the business. Our membership in Germany is just over 20 people and expanding.At the Annual General Meeting (2019) held in Arrochar/Tarbet we were awarded, The Honour of the MacFarlane for 10 years loyal service to the Society, by our President Michael MacFarlane FSA Scot. Of which we are very proud.
Heather MacFarlane
We first discovered Heather on Instagram as she shared her passion for Scottish Highland Dancing and we were in awe! Heather grew up in the states, but her ancestry lies in Scotland so she has always been drawn to the sport, read on to see what she had to say about her MacFarlane heritage:
When I was three years old my parents took me to a Highland Games. According to my mom, as we were watching the Highland dancing competition, I said "mommy, I want to wear a number!" She was thrilled that I was interested and signed me up for lessons that summer! My first competition was when I was six years old, and I've been dancing competitively ever since. I don't remember a time before I was a Scottish Highland dancer; it has always been a really integral part of my life. I love the athleticism it requires, the focus and the commitment to the sport, and the personal discipline. I really appreciate the accompanying history and culture, how each dance has a story associated with it that we tell to help understand it better. I've always loved dancing the Seann Triubhas, with its the story of re-donning the traditional kilt, and the superstitions of the sword dance. My competition kilt is the Dress Purple McRae tartan, which I chose purely because it's a beautiful tartan and I love purple! I just recently completed my Highland Dance teacher's certification and will be starting to teach up in Fairbanks, Alaska this summer. We do have a pipe band here, but I believe I am the only active Scottish Highland dance teacher in the whole state of Alaska.
My mom is a Johnstone and my father is a MacFarlane, and this ancestry has always been important to our family. We have visited our ancestral lands on several trips to Scotland. As a kid I learned that the full moon was sometimes called "MacFarlane's lantern" as they used to steal cattle by moonlight, and that the Johnstones used to hide their stolen cattle in the Devil's Beef Tub, near Moffat, so I thought all cattle in Scotland must be stolen! I'm really proud of my Scottish ancestry, and am honored to maintain my connection to it through dancing and music. Dance and my heritage have given me such a wonderful community here in the States.
Michael & Diana MacFarlane
Emily was lucky enough to catch up with the president of the International Clan MacFarlane Society, Michael MacFarlane, and his wife Diana, who is the Director of Media Development & Member Services for the society. They chatted all things MacFarlane, from their Scottish roots to what exciting things the society gets up to.
Robert Hewitt
Robert sent us these fantastic pictures of him playing the bagpipes, in the picture on the left he is all dressed in his military outfit to play at a wedding in North California, and in the picture on the right, he is playing a gig at a wine shop in Idyllwild.
Jennifer Bush
Jennifer is also a proud member of Clan MacFarlane, and to show off her love for her Scottish heritage she competes at Highland Games events!
I am a member of both MacFarlane and Graham through my paternal line. I compete in the Women's Masters division in the Highland Games. I wear both kilts to represent my heritage and family history. I recently placed first in the Ryan Vierra Highland Games Classic in Turlock, CA. I retired from the Air Force and have been training and competing for the last three years.
Nicola MacFarlane Young
We are always amazed by how creative members of Scottish Clans can be and Clan MacFarlane certainly did not disappoint, we discovered Nicola on Instagram where she posts pictures of the beach art she creates using items found on Scottish beaches! Nicola grew up in Leith, so she has always felt a strong connection to the water, spending most summer holidays at the seaside! Here's what she had to say about her craft and Scottish heritage:
We absolutely love your Instagram account dedicated to your beach art, when did your love for beach art begin?
I’ve always been a nature and art lover, flowers, plants, trees, and painting, so I’ve always dabbled in making/creating over the years. In 2011 I decided to go full steam ahead and go full time with my beach art and my business was born and celebrates its 10th birthday this year! I love making Scottish-influenced pieces in my work and I make driftwood highland cows, Nessie, and thistles made from Scottish sea-glass. I make wee (little) driftwood cottages and crofts with real cloth tartan roofs. And of course I’m inspired to paint wonderful seascapes of our stunning Scottish beaches.
What do you love most about being by the beach?
Being a full-time artist and beachcomber, I love the sounds of the sea, the peace, the expanses of the sea, I always seek solace in the sea too. And of course the wonderful treasures I find washed up at my feet too. Be it, a magical piece of driftwood or a 200 year old piece of an old bottle!
How did you celebrate your Scottish Heritage growing up?
Yes, we did celebrate our heritage, at home and throughout my schooling, we celebrated St Andrews Day and Burns Night with the full haggis dinner. My youngest son really embraced his Scottish heritage and would wear a kilt at any given occasion. We all love the old Scots words and language too. I try and pass these words on for other generations. Of course, we all love ceilidhs and Scottish country dancing too.
What does it mean to you to be a member of Clan MacFarlane?
Being a member of Clan MacFarlane puts me in touch with my Scottish heritage immediately, as it’s a sign of my Celtic roots, to everyone I come across. It gives me a sense of belonging to a tribe, to a bigger group, a CLAN. I love my maiden name of Mcfarlane so much I kept it when I got married and added my husband's name on to mine.
Have you ever done any research into this side of your family? Any interesting stories to tell?
I have done a wee bit of research. However, my dad and his brother-in-law, who was also a Mcfarlane tell an interesting story of a tax collector long ago, he comes to the clan in the west coast of Scotland to collect taxes, but something happens to him. Therefore the Clan MacFarlane changed the spelling of their name to Mcfarlane so they were not on any wanted list!!
I have read that my clan originated from Argyll/Arrochar area, which I’ve visited many times. It’s said we came from an area between Loch Long and Loch Lomond, so maybe that is why I am so at home and feel I belong to the water and that is where I’m happiest.
John and Barb Duff
Emily first met John and Barb when we toured the Canadian Highland Games back in 2019, they were even kind enough to give us some tea and scone vouchers to keep us going through the long days. John is regional director of Clan MacFarlane Worldwide within Ontario and Barb is a former director who is still involved within many of the society sub-committees.
Now that May has come to an end, that certainly doesn't mean our love for Clan MacFarlane is over, so be sure to get in touch with us if you fancy chatting all things MacFarlane!
