Clan MacLaurin Tours of Scotland

Clan MacLaurin Tours of Scotland. It is generally believed that there are two origins for Clan MacLaren. One comes from Balquhidder in Perthshire and the other in Tiree in Argyll. In Gaelic the name becomes translated to Clann Labhruinn. The MacLarens are generally accepted as having fought at the Battle of Bannockburn under the standard of the Earl of Strathearn.

The year 1334 saw the last of the Celtic Earls of Strathearn when the MacLaren's neighbours decided to usurp their power. The land the MacLarens lived upon was pillaged by the MacGregors who were driven out of their own lands by the Campbells. The only avenue open to the Maclarens was to ask for protection from the Campbells who demanded that the MacLarens accept them as feudal superiors.

When Prince Charles Edward Stuart returned to Scotland to raise the standard of his father in 1745, the MacLarens followed him. They fought at Prestonpans and Falkirk and also at Culloden in 1746. They stood with the Appin regiment under the command of Lord George Murray, who was the brother of the Duke of Atholl. Lord George was part of the charge that helped to break the front ranks of the Hanoverians but Culloden was still lost.

For his role in the battle, Donald MacLaren was captured and taken to Edinburgh and his lands of Balquhidder were pillaged by troops. Donald escaped while being taken to trial and lived in secret until the amnesty of 1757. The MacLarens were farmers on the lands of Achtow until as late as 1892.

Septs of Clan: Faed, Lair, Larnach, Laurence, Laurenson, Law, Lawrence, Lawrie, Lawson, Low, Lowe, Lowson, MacClarence, MacCrorie, MacFade, MacFait, MacFater, MacFead, MacFeat, MacGrory, MacLaren, MacLaurin, MacPatrick, MacPetrie, MacPhail, MacPhait, MacPhater, MacRorie, MacRory, Paterson, Patrick, Patterson, Peterkin, Peters, Peterson, Petrie, Robie, Robison, Wright.