Origin of the surname MacLennan

By Fiona Sinclair September 08, 2002 at 06:55:33

Reposted from the Scotland Forum
From "The Surnames of Scotland" by Dr. G.F. Black
MacLearnon
Gaelic Mac Gille Ernan = son of the servant of Saint Ernan.
Ernan comes from the Old Irish iarn (= iron), and means 'little iron one'.
(It was latinised by Saint Adamnan as Ferreolus).
The parish of Marnock (Banffshire), Kilmarnock and Inchmarnock (Bute) are named from this saint.
No examples are given.

MacLennan
Gaelic Mac Gill Innein or Mac Gill Fhinnein = son of the servant of Saint Finnan.
Saint Finnan was the founder of the school of Maghbile (now Moville) in County Down.
Kessanus Macclenane was one of the witnesses to a charter of the lands of Cartonvenach in Lennox, 1250.
Gilmory Makynnane was a tenant in Eddirallekach in 1480, and also spelt it M'Lenane.
John M'Clynyne was a witness in Are, 1529.
Adam M'Clenane held property in Culross 1586.
James Makclennand in Hoilhous 1594
M'Clanan 1592, M'Linein 1678, M'Lennan or M'Glenan 1745, McIllenane or McKillenane 1629.

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