Chief of Clan MacLean

Clan MacLean
Clann MhicIllEathain, Na Leathanaich
Crest: A tower embattled Argent
Motto	Virtue Mine Honour
Slogan	Bàs no Beatha ("Death or life")
Profile
Region	Highland
District	Inner Hebrides
Plant badge	crowberry or holly
Chief
The Hon. Sir Lachlan Hector Charles Maclean of Duart and Morven
The 12th Baronet of Morvern
Seat	Duart Castle
Septs of Clan MacLean Beath, Beaton, Black, Garvie, Lean, MacBeath, MacBheath, MacBeth, MacClean, MacEachan, Macilduy, McCaldon, McLean, MacLergain, Maclergan, MacRankin, MacVeagh, MacVeigh, MacVey, Rankin
Clan branches Maclean of Duart (chiefs) MacLean of Coll MacLean of Ardgour Maclean of Torloisk MacLean of Dochgarroch (Clan Tearlach) See also: Maclean Baronets
Allied clans Clan MacLeod
Rival clans Clan Macdonald of Sleat Clan Campbell
Kindreds Beaton medical kindred

Clan MacLean (/mækˈleɪn/; Scottish Gaelic: Clann MhicIllEathain [ˈkʰl̪ˠãũn̪ˠ vĩçˈkʲiʎɛhɛn]) is a Highland Scottish clan. They are one of the oldest clans in the Highlands and owned large tracts of land in Argyll as well as the Inner Hebrides. Many early MacLeans became famous for their honour, strength and courage in battle. They were involved in clan skirmishes with the Mackinnons, Camerons, MacDonalds and Campbells, as well as all of the Jacobite risings.

There are several different origins for the surname MacLean, however, the clan surname is an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic MacGilleEathain. This was the patronymic form of the personal name meaning "servant of (Saint) John". Or the "son of the servant of Saint John. The family grew very powerful throughout the Hebrides and Highlands through allegiances with the Catholic Church in the 9th century, the MacDonalds in the 13th century, the MacKays and MacLeods in the 16th century.

The founder of the clan was a Scottish warlord descended from the royal Cenél Loairn named Gillean of the Battle Axe . The stories of Gillean being descended from the FitzGerald dynasty are fictitious, as the FitzGeralds are of Cambro-Norman descent and the Macleans are of Gaelic descent, having been in Scotland since the Dalriadic migration from northeastern Ulster in the earlier centuries C.E. Gillean's great-grandfather was Old Dugald of Scone, born ca. 1050 during the reign of King Macbeth of the House of Moray, the principal royal line of the Cenél Loairn. He was a Judex (judge) and Councillor to King David of Scots. Gillean fought at the Battle of Largs in 1263 during the Scottish-Norwegian War where the Scottish were victorious.