McLellan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland

Etymology of McLellan

What does the name McLellan mean?

In ancient Scotland, the first people to use the name McLellan were part of a tribe known as the Strathclyde Britons. The name is derived from the son of the servant of Fillan. Fillan is derived from the word fail which means wolf. In Gaelic, the name was spelled Mac Gill Fhaolain

McLellan Coat of Arms Creation

There is a Maclellan Castle in Kirkcudbright, and the Maclellans, once a numerous clan in Galloway, held it for long. The Irish, or at least Saracens or gipsies 'from Ireland, made incursions into their territory, and were so troublesome that the people had to ask the aid of King James II., who promised the estate of Bombie to the man who slew the formidable leader of the marauding band. Young Maclellan got to know how fond this leader was of strong drink, and arranged that on their next coming his men should flee before them, lead the pursuers over a dry area beyond which was a well, which he carefully filled with spirits.

The leader, thirsty after the chase, reached it, tasted, drank his fill, and, while thus drugged, was slain by young Maclellan, who took for his crest a Moor's head on the point of a sword. When he went to claim the estate the King said he could remember no such promise, but was told to " Think on," which became the motto of the Maclellans. 1

Early Origins of the McLellan family

The surname McLellan was first found in the former counties of Kirkcudbrightshire and Galloway where Chief Duncan MacLellan appears in a charter of Alexander II in 1217. Other early records of the surname include Gilbert M'Lolane, who lived around the year 1270. Gilbert's son Patrick, along with several others, took the castle of Dumfries from the supporters of Robert the Bruce in around 1305. Gilelbertus MacLelan was elected Bishop of Man and the Sudreys in 1325 and held the position for almost 3 years.

Early History of the McLellan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McLellan research. Another 200 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1347, 1450, 1457, 1466, 1513, 1547, 1597, 1633, 1641, 1647 and 1890 are included under the topic Early McLellan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McLellan Spelling Variations

Surnames that evolved in Scotland in the Middle Ages often appear under many spelling variations. These are due to the practice of spelling according to sound in the era before dictionaries had standardized the English language. McLellan has appeared as MacClelland, McClellan, MacLellan, McLellan, MacLelland, McLelland, MacClelland, McClelland, Clelland and many more.

Early Notables of the McLellan family

Notable amongst bearers of this family name during their early history was

According to folklore, McLellan threw his gauntlet at the king's feet, shook his fist and beseeched the king to "Think on!", whereupon King James relented and awarded McLellan the Barony and Castle he...

McLellan World Ranking

In the United States, the name McLellan is the 5,050^th most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name McLellan is ranked the 880^th most popular surname with an estimated 6,068 people with that name. 3 And in New Zealand, the name McLellan is the 942^nd popular surname with an estimated 792 people with that name. 4

Migration of the McLellan family to Ireland

Some of the McLellan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 96 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McLellan migration to the United States +

The North American colonies beckoned, with their ample land and opportunity as their freedom from the persecution suffered by so many Clan families back home. Many Scots even fought against England in the American War of Independence to gain this freedom. Recently, clan societies have allowed the ancestors of these brave Scottish settlers to rediscover their familial roots. Among them:

McLellan Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Andrew McLellan, banished to New Jersey in 1685
Andrew McLellan, who arrived in Perth Amboy, NJ in 1685 5
Robert McLellan, who arrived in Perth Amboy, NJ in 1685 5
Margaret McLellan, who landed in Perth Amboy, NJ in 1685 5

McLellan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Hugh McLellan, aged 17, who landed in New York, NY in 1774 5
John McLellan, aged 27, who landed in New York in 1775 5

McLellan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Patrick McLellan, who arrived in America in 1812 5

McLellan Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Agnes Maud McLellan, aged 21, who landed in America from Liverpool, in 1905
Agnes S. McLellan, aged 40, who immigrated to the United States from Greenock, Scotland, in 1908
Alfred McLellan, aged 5, who immigrated to the United States from Auchinairn, Scotland, in 1910
Alexander McLellan, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States from Auchinairn, Scotland, in 1910
Alexander McLellan, aged 32, who landed in America from Dundee, Scotland, in 1911
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McLellan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McLellan Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

In 1755, Peter McLellan was one of the first to receive lands after the expulsion of the Acadians from Nova Scotia, Canada
John McLellan, who settled in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1773
Anthony McLellan, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1783
James McLellan, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1783
William McLellan, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1783
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McLellan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Angus McLellan, aged 2, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
Finlay McLellan, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1801
Mary McLellan, aged 3, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1801
Niel McLellan, aged 25, Scottish Labourer, who landed in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1815-1816
Mrs. McLellan, Scottish settler who landed in Pictou, Nova Scotia in 1815-1816 with child and her husband Niel 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McLellan Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Bestrik McLellan, aged 38, who settled in Toronto, Canada, in 1919
Annie E. McLellan, aged 44, who immigrated to Fredericton, Canada, in 1921

McLellan migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

McLellan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John McLellan, Scottish convict who was convicted in Stirling, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 25th June 1838, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
Jane McLellan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Dauntless" in 1840 7
Robert McLellan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Dauntless" in 1840 7
John Mclellan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Princess Royal" in 1848 8
Alice McLellan, aged 21, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "James Fernie" 9

McLellan migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

McLellan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Archibald McLellan, aged 30, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
Christina McLellan, aged 27, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Blenheim" in 1840
James McLellan, aged 24, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 10
Janet McLellan, aged 25, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 10
Joan McLellan, aged 2, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McLellan (post 1700) +

William Howard McLellan (1924-2011), American electrical engineer, expert in nanotechnology
Charles Morton Stewart "C.M.S." McLellan (1865-1916), American-born, London based playwright and composer, best remembered for the musical The Belle of New York
A. Thomas McLellan (b. 1949), American psychologist and professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania
William Walker McLellan (1873-1960), American manager of the first S. H. Kress store in Memphis, Tennessee
Zoe McLellan (b. 1974), American actress, best known for her role as Petty Officer Jennifer Coates on JAG
Dave McLellan, automotive engineer for General Motors, Chief Engineer for the Corvette from 1975 until his retirement in 1992
Archibald McLellan (1795-1854), Scottish coach builder, councillor and patron of the arts, founder of The McLellan Galleries, Glasgow
Colonel William McLellan CBE (1874-1934), Scottish electrical engineer, co-founder of Merz & McLellan, Newcastle in 1902
John McLellan, Scottish footballer, active 1888 to 1893
Robert McLellan OBE (1907-1985), Scottish dramatist and poet
... (Another 14 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the McLellan family +

Halifax Explosion

Master Albert McLellan (1909-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 11
Mr. John Joseph McLellan (1903-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 11
Master George McLellan (1905-1917), Canadian resident from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 11

HMS Dorsetshire

Robert Mclellan (d. 1945), British Ordinary Telegraphist aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 12

RMS Lusitania

Miss Sarah Mclellan, Scottish 2nd Class passenger residing in Lake Forest, Illinois, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 13

Vimy Ridge

Harold Frank McLellan (1894-1917), Canadian gasoline engineer, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge April 1917
John Alexander McLellan (1891-1917), Canadian checker, Private in the 44th Battalion from Manitoba who died at Vimy Ridge June 1917

The McLellan Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Think on

Citations +

Polson, Alexander, The Romance of Scottish Crests and Mottoes. Inverness: Walter Alexander, Inglis Street 1929. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) DAUNTLESS 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Dauntless.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PRINCESS ROYAL 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848PrincessRoyal.htm
South Australian Register Friday 17th November 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) James Fernie 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/jamesfernie1854.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/