Clan MacLaren

Clan MacLaren () is a Highland Scottish clan. Traditional clan lands include the old parish of Balquhidder which includes the villages of Lochearnhead and Strathyre, and is about long and broad, spanning , long known as "Maclaren Country".
History.
Origins of the clan.
There are two quite separate possible origins for the surname MacLaren. One of these comes from the county of Perthshire while the other comes from the island of Tiree in Argyll. In Argyll the MacLaren family is said to be descended from Fergus MacErc, founder of the kingdom of Dál Riata. In Scottish Gaelic the clan name is "Clann Labhruinn". However the ancestor of the MacLarens is generally given as Laurence, Abbot of Achtow in Balquhidder, who lived during the thirteenth century. Balquhidder was part of the ancient princedom of Strathern whose heraldry is shown in the heraldry of the MacLarens. The heraldry borne by the clan suggests that they descend from a cadet branch of the dynasty of the Earls of Strathearn.
Modern scholarly research by Ronnie and Máire Black, shows that the Abbot of Achtow in Balquhidder, never existed, turns out he is found in the Clan MacLaverty genealogy not a MacLaren genealogy.
There is also a tradition that the MacLarens fought at the Battle of the Standard under Malise I, Earl of Strathearn, for David I of Scotland.
Wars of Scottish Independence.
Three names identified as belonging to the Clan MacLaren are found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, giving allegiance to Edward I of England. These are Maurice of Tiree, Conan of Balquhidder and Leurin of Ardveche. During the Wars of Scottish Independence it is probable that the Clan MacLaren fought for Robert the Bruce at the Battle of Bannockburn, under the standard of Malise, Earl of Strathearn in 1314, where the English were defeated. The last Gaelic Earl of Strathearn was deprived of his title in 1344 when the MacLarens came under pressure from their more powerful neighbours.
15th and 16th centuries.
In 1468 the Clan MacLaren fought in support of the Clan Stewart of Appin at the Battle of Stalc. The MacLarens also fought alongside the Stewarts of Appin at the Battle of Black Mount in 1497 or 1498.
Balquhidder passed into the hands of the Crown and in 1490 a Stewart was appointed the royal ballie. (see: Stewart of Balquhidder). Then in 1500 James IV of Scotland granted the lordship to Janet Kennedy, his mistress, and the chief of the Clan MacLaren found that his lands had become part of another barony. Balquhidder would later pass to the Clan Murray of Atholl.
The persecution of the Clan Gregor by the Clan Campbell drove the MacGregors from their own lands into Balquidder where the Clan MacLaren lacked the power to stop them. As a result, the MacGregors plundered the lands of the MacLarens. The MacLarens appealed to the Campbells but they demanded that the MacLarens acknowledged them as their feudal superiors as the price of protection. However it appears that the Crown continued to regard the MacLarens as an independent clan as they are listed in the Acts of Parliament in 1587 and 1594, for the suppression of unruly clans.
17th century and Civil War.
During the Scottish Civil War the Clan MacLaren fought for James Graham, 1st Marquis of Montrose, in support of Charles I of England at the Battle of Inveraray, Battle of Inverlochy (1645), Battle of Auldearn, Battle of Alford and the Battle of Kilsyth.
In 1689 the Clan MacLaren again fought for the Stuart cause, this time under John Graham, 1st Viscount Dundee, at the Battle of Killiecrankie.
18th century and Jacobite risings.
Jacobite rising of 1715.
During the Jacobite rising of 1715 the Clan MacLaren fought at the Battle of Sheriffmuir in support of the Jacobite cause.
Jacobite rising of 1745.
During the Jacobite rising of 1745 the Clan MacLaren fought in support of the Jacobite cause at the Battle of Prestonpans and the Battle of Falkirk Muir where they were victorious on both occasions. However they were also present at the Battle of Culloden in 1746 where they were defeated. Donald MacLaren of Invernentie in the Atholl Brigade under the Command of Lord George Murray was captured at Culloden but later escaped while British-Hanoverian troops were taking him to face trial in Carlisle, Cumbria. He was a fugitive in Balquhidder until the amnesty of 1757.
McLarens in the Atholl Brigade during the Jacobite rising of 1745
"Lieutenants"
Alexander McLaren, younger of East Haugh, Pitlochry, Strath Tay; 
Duncan McLaren, Brewer, Wester Invernentie, Balquhidder; 
Donald McLaren. Invernentie, Balquhidder,; Orrott McLaren, Uncle to Younger of East Haugh, Pitlochry, Strath Tay 
"Other Ranks"
Donald McLaren, Tenant, Dowally, Strath Tay; Duncan McLaren, Perthshire 3rd Battalion; James McLaren, Servant to Haugh of Killmorich, Strath Tay; John McLaren, Cottar, Rotmell, Strath Tay; Robert McLaren, (Whitefield's)
Crest badge.
The crest badge suitable for members of Clan to wear consists of the heraldic crest and slogan. The crest is: "A lion's head erased Sable crowned with an antique crown of six (four visible) points, between two branches of laurel issuing from the Wreath at either side of the head both Proper Or". The slogan within the crest badge is "CREAG AN TUIRC", which translates from Scottish Gaelic as "The Boars Rock".
Plant badge.
The clan badge or plant badge is a laurel branch.
Tartan.
The MacLaren tartan colors are dark green, navy blue, yellow, red and black.
Chiefly house of Clan Labhran.
The following is taken from the book by Margaret MacLaren of Maclaren, mother of the current clan chief.
"Margaret Maclaren says" (page 138):
"The names from Lorn Mor to John (c1400) are taken from the genealogy of Clan Lawren quoted by Skene (Celtic, Vol. III, p 483) from a MS of 1467 based on a genealogy in the Book of Ballymote and from other medieval genealogies. Skene considers the genealogy reliable from Donald Og (contemporary of Kenneth MacAlpine) onwards. The derivation from Lord Mor is sound, as are most of the names, but for the period before 800 the different sources for the genealogies not only of the various chiefly houses, but even for the main royal line are confused and often contradictory. The line given is that which seems the most probable. The genealogy quoted by Shene ends about 1380-1400 with the names of the three brothers, John, Donald and Anichol Og, and so far no references have come to light to supply the missing names between John and Patrick Mor whose testament, recorded in the Dunblane Commissariat, shows that he died in 1544" (Page 138)
In 1957 Donald MacLaren of MacLaren and Achleskine successfully matriculated his Arms at the Lyon Court. He also purchased land in Balquhidder, including Creag an Tuirc (the "Boar's Rock"), the traditional rallying point of the Clan. The label "chiefless and landless" was finally removed.
Following his death, Donald's son, Donald succeeded as Chief in 1966.