Clan MacLellan
| Clan MacLellan | |||
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| MacGille Fhaolain – (son of a servant of Saint Fillan) | |||
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| Motto | Think On | ||
| Profile | |||
| Region | Lowlands | ||
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| Clan MacLellan has no chief, and is an armigerous clan | |||
| The 10th Lord Kirkcudbright | |||
| Historic seat | MacLellan's Castle | ||
| Last Chief | The Rt. Hon. Camden Gray Maclellan | ||
| Died | 1832 | ||
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The Clan MacLellan is a Lowland Scottish clan. The clan does not currently have a chief therefore it is considered an Armigerous clan.
The name MacLellan is Scottish Gaelic in origin. It is derived from MacGille Fholain which means son of the servant of St Fillan.St Fillan was a missionary of the old church of Celtic Christianity. There is also a village in Perthshire named after him and the name Fillan is derived from faelchu which means wolf in the Celtic language. The MacLellans were numerous in Galloway. The first MacLellan on record was Duncan MacLellan who appears on a charter of Alexander II of Scotland in 1217.
During the Wars of Scottish Independence Maclellan of Bombie was among the close followers of Sir William Wallace when he left Kirkcudbright for France after the defeat at the Battle of Falkirk (1298).
It is said that during the early 15th century there were no fewer than fourteen knights in Galloway of the name MacLellan. Sir Patrick MacLellan of Bombie's estates were forfeited as a result of marauding through the lands of the Clan Douglas. However James II of Scotland restored the estates when Sir William MacLellan, son of Sir Patrick captured the leader of a band of gypsies who had been terrorizing the district. William carried the head of the brigand to the king on the point of his sword. This story is one explanation for the MacLellan clan crest, however a Moors' head has also been considered as an allusion to the Crusades.
In 1452 Sir Patrick Maclellan of Bombie who was the Sheriff of Galloway was captured by William Douglas, 8th Earl of Douglas. Douglas held MacLellan in Threave Castle for not joining a conspiracy against the king. Sir Patrick's uncle held high royal office and obtained letters ordering Douglas to release his prisoner. However Douglas had Patrick murdered when presented with the royal warrant, whilst he entertained his uncle's son, his cousin, at dinner. There is a tradition that in revenge, the MacLellans used the celebrated Scottish cannon Mons Meg to batter down Threave Castle, of which there is little doubt.
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Wikipedia