Origins of the clan from
The Clans of the Scottish Highlands published in 1845. The chiefly house of MacLaren is said to be descended from
Loarn mac Eirc, believed to be a ruler of the kingdom of
Dál Riata. In
Scottish Gaelic the clan name is
Clann Labhruinn. However the eponymous founder of the MacLarens is generally given as Laurence, Abbot of Achtow in
Balquhidder, who lived during the thirteenth century. Balquhidder was part of the ancient princedom of Strathern whose heraldry is shown in the heraldry of the MacLarens. The heraldry borne by the clan suggests that they descend from a
cadet branch of the dynasty of the
Earls of Strathearn. There is also a tradition that the MacLarens fought at the
Battle of the Standard under
Malise I, Earl of Strathearn, for
David I of Scotland.
Wars of Scottish Independence Three names identified as belonging to the Clan MacLaren are found in the
Ragman Rolls of 1296, giving allegiance to
Edward I of England. The MacLarens also fought alongside the Stewarts of Appin at the
Battle of Black Mount in 1497 or 1498. Balquhidder passed into the hands of the Crown and in 1490 a Stewart was appointed the royal ballie. (see:
Stewart of Balquhidder). Men, women and children were killed and their homes taken by MacGregors. The MacLaurin memorial stone in Balquhidder kirkyard reads, in part, “…the chief of whom, in the decrepitude of old age, together with his aged and infirm adherents, their wives and children, the widows of their departed kindred — all were destroyed in the silent midnight hours by fire and sword,”. Clearly most, if not all, of these people were likely asleep at the time of the raid which makes it all the more horrific. The Crown continued to regard the MacLarens as an independent clan as they are listed in the Acts of Parliament in 1587 and 1594, for the suppression of unruly clans. In addition to the Appin Regiment, MacLarens also served with the Atholl Brigade under the Command of Lord George Murray. At the Battle of Culloden, the Atholl brigade had the right of the first line: on their left stood Locheil's regiment, the Appin regiment, the Fraser regiment, the Macintosh regiment, the united regiment of Maclauchlans and Macleans, John Roy Stewart's regiment, the Farquharson regiment; and on the left of all, the three Macdonald regiments, Clanranald, Keppoch, and Glengary. Lord George Murray commanded on the right, and Lord John Drummond on the left. The Atholl brigade, in advancing, lost thirty-two officers, and was so shattered that it stopped short, and never closed on the British troops. The Atholl brigade alone lost more than the half of its officers and men. Some of the centre battalions came off with scarcely a third of their men. The Mackintoshes, who were the first to attack, suffered most. With the exception of three only, all the officers of this brave regiment, including Macgillivray of Drumnaglass, its colonel, the lieutenant-colonel, and major, were killed in the attack. One of the Officers injured in the battle was Donald MacLaren, drover from Invernenty. Donald was a Captain in the Appin Regiment. He was injured at Culloden but was carried off the field. He and other men made it back to Balquhidder and then on to Leny where he was injured during a skirmish with the Perthshire Militia on the 19th of July, 1746. MacLaren was taken into custody along with Major David Stewart of Ballahallan, Captain Malcolm MacGregor of Concour, Sergeant King alias Macree (from Lord Murray's regiment) and three privates. These men were transported to Stirling Castle and imprisoned. MacLaren was treated twice by the prison physician for his wounds and in early September with a party of dragoons left Stirling Castle in transit to Carlisle to stand trial for treason. During the course of that transport MacLaren was freed or freed himself (the escape has been related both ways) and escaped by throwing himself off a cliff called the Devil's Beef Tub near Moffet. Although the King's dragoons fired after him, the mist hid his movements and his escape was successful. He remained in hiding as a
fugitive in Balquhidder until the amnesty of 1757. Duncan McLaren, Brewer, Wester Invernentie, Balquhidder; Orrott McLaren, Uncle to Younger of East Haugh, Pitlochry, Strath Tay
Other Ranks Donald McLaren, Tenant, Dowally, Strath Tay; Duncan McLaren, Perthshire 3rd Battalion; James McLaren, Servant to Haugh of Killmorich, Strath Tay; John McLaren, Cottar, Rotmell, Strath Tay; Robert McLaren, (Whitefield's) ==Crest Badge==