Clan MacFarlane: Raiders by Moonlight
On the rugged western shores of Loch Lomond, in a mountainous territory known as Arrochar, lived one of the most formidable and warlike clans of the Southern Highlands: Clan MacFarlane. Descended from the ancient Celtic Earls of Lennox, the "Sons of Parlan" were renowned for their fierce temperament and their skill in battle. Their proud motto, "This I'll Defend," was not an idle boast; it was a promise kept for centuries as they protected their lands and their people with legendary tenacity.
The MacFarlanes were so famously adept at cattle raiding from their Lowland neighbours that the moon itself became known as "MacFarlane's Lantern." On bright, moonlit nights, when other clans were asleep, the MacFarlanes were on the move, their raids a source of both wealth for the clan and terror for their enemies. This reputation as masters of the night raid made them one of the most feared and respected clans in the region, a people who thrived in the wild Highland frontier.
But this ancient, warlike way of life could not last forever. As the power of the central government grew, the clan's fortunes waned, and they eventually lost their ancestral lands. Like many other clans, they journeyed to Ulster and then on to North America. They brought with them their fierce independence and self-reliance, qualities that made them ideal pioneers on the American and Canadian frontiers. The descendants of the "Night Raiders" became the builders of new communities in a new world.
Famous Clansmen
Pàrlan (c. 1300s): The Father of the Clan
The story of Clan MacFarlane begins with the man who gave them their name. In the 14th century, the chief of the clan was a powerful lord named Pàrlan, and his descendants would forever be known as Mac Phàrlain—the "Sons of Parlan." He was not just a name in a genealogy; he was a direct descendant of the ancient and powerful Celtic Earls of Lennox, who had ruled the lands around the "bonnie banks" of Loch Lomond for centuries.
This noble lineage gave the MacFarlanes a deep-rooted sense of pride and ownership over their rugged territory of Arrochar. Pàrlan's era was the foundation upon which the clan's later reputation was built. He was the patriarch of a people who were perfectly in tune with their wild, mountainous homeland, a place that required its inhabitants to be tough, resilient, and resourceful.
His legacy is that of a founding father. While later chiefs would become famous for their raids and their warlike nature, it was Pàrlan who established the bloodline and the name. He is the anchor of the clan's history, the original ancestor whose name was shouted as a war-cry and whose spirit was carried by his "sons" for centuries to come.
Andrew MacFarlane, 11th Chief: "The Wizard" of the Isles
Andrew "the Wizard" MacFarlane was the embodiment of his clan's fierce and warlike reputation. As the 11th chief, he led the clan during the turbulent 16th century, a time of constant conflict and shifting allegiances. He was a formidable warrior, renowned for his strength and his leadership on the battlefield, most famously leading his clansmen at the disastrous Battle of Flodden in 1513, one of the few chiefs to survive the slaughter.
His nickname, "the Wizard," adds a layer of mystique to his story. While likely a reference to his cunning and his seemingly uncanny ability to appear when least expected during a raid, it speaks to the awe and fear he inspired in his rivals. He was a master of the guerilla-style warfare that his clan was famous for, using his intimate knowledge of the rugged terrain around Loch Lomond to outwit his enemies.
He represents the clan at the absolute peak of its martial power. He was not a man of politics or poetry, but a chieftain whose power was measured in the strength of the men who would follow him and the fear he commanded. His story is that of the quintessential MacFarlane chief—a fierce, cunning, and almost supernaturally skilled leader of one of Scotland's most formidable clans.
Walter Macfarlane (d. 1767): The Chief Who Collected History
Walter Macfarlane, the 20th chief, inherited his title in an era of immense change. By the 18th century, the old Highland way of life was vanishing. The days of cattle raids by the light of "MacFarlane's Lantern" were over, replaced by the growing power of the centralized state. Walter was a chief who understood that his clan's formidable, warlike reputation now belonged more to history than to the present.
Instead of fighting to preserve the old ways with a sword, he chose to do so with a pen. Walter Macfarlane dedicated his life and his fortune to becoming one of Scotland's greatest antiquaries and genealogists. He embarked on a monumental task: collecting and meticulously transcribing vast numbers of ancient charters, manuscripts, and family histories from all across Scotland. He saw that this history was in danger of being lost forever and took it upon himself to save it.
His legacy is one of the most important in Scottish historical scholarship. The Macfarlane Collections, housed today in the National Library of Scotland, are an invaluable resource for anyone studying the nation's past. In a final, great irony, the chief of a clan once famous for "lifting" cattle became the man who preserved the priceless heritage of his rivals and countrymen alike. He represents the end of the old Highland world and the beginning of the modern passion for ancestry that drives projects like Tartan Roots today.
MacFarlane Migrations
The migration of Clan MacFarlane is the story of a fierce and warlike people whose way of life vanished from the Highlands. For centuries, they were the masters of the night raid, a clan so feared that the moon itself was called "MacFarlane's Lantern." Their diaspora began when the old Highland world, where strength was law and cattle were currency, was finally crushed by a powerful central government. Theirs was a migration driven by the end of an era, as proud warriors had to find a new world where their fierce, independent spirit could thrive.
Like many clans from the Loch Lomond area, the first path for the MacFarlanes was across the narrow sea to Ulster. Their reputation as formidable fighting men made them ideal settlers for the turbulent Irish frontier during the 17th century. From Ulster, they joined the great Scots-Irish migration to Pennsylvania, but they did not stay in the settled coastal areas. The MacFarlanes pushed deep into the wilderness, becoming the quintessential American frontiersmen, their ancient skills with the sword and musket perfectly suited to the dangers and opportunities of the backcountry.
Other MacFarlanes took their skills to the forests of Canada and the far-flung shores of Australia and New Zealand, always at the edge of the known world. They were no longer raiding cattle, but they were still defending their new homes and families with the same tenacity their ancestors showed on the shores of Loch Lomond. They took with them their proud motto, "This I'll Defend," and proved it true on new continents. The success of the MacFarlane diaspora is a testament to a warrior spirit that could not be tamed, but instead found a new purpose in building the new world.
Click on the migration routes below to discover the path your ancestors took:
MacFarlane Ancestral Home
This is the land of your ancestors. But the ancestral homeland of Clan MacFarlane was not the gentle "bonnie banks" of Loch Lomond; it was the wild, mountainous, and often unforgiving western shores known as Arrochar. This was a domain of dark lochs and steep, forbidding mountains often called the "Arrochar Alps." This rugged landscape forged a clan renowned not for scholarship, but for its formidable warrior spirit and fierce independence.
From their rugged fortress on the island of Eilean I Vow, the MacFarlane chiefs commanded their territory with the sword. This was no stately home, but a warlike clan stronghold, perfectly positioned for launching the daring cattle raids that made them famous. It was on moonlit nights, as they prepared their war parties on these shores, that the moon itself became known as "MacFarlane's Lantern"—a beacon for the feared raiders of Arrochar.
Though the clan was eventually scattered and their lands lost, the formidable mountains that shaped them remain, a timeless testament to their strength. True to their motto, "This I'll Defend," the MacFarlanes fought for this wild land for centuries. The peaks of the Arrochar Alps still echo with their defiant spirit. Use the map to explore the historic MacFarlane territories. Then, experience this heritage firsthand with a virtual visit to Arrochar, and look out upon the mountains that once served as a fortress for your ancestors.
Famous Battles
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1568
Langside: The Queen's Downfall
The Battle of Langside was a pivotal and tragic moment in the story of Mary, Queen of Scots. Having been forced to abdicate her throne, she escaped from her prison at Loch Leven and raised an army, hoping to win back her kingdom. The Regent of Scotland, the Earl of Moray, gathered his own army to oppose her. The fate of the nation would be decided in a single, desperate battle.
The MacFarlanes, under their chief, were staunch supporters of the Regent Moray. When the two armies clashed at Langside, just outside modern-day Glasgow, the MacFarlane clansmen were noted for their incredible ferocity. At a crucial moment in the battle, they are said to have launched a furious Highland charge that shattered the Queen's ranks and turned the tide, leading to a decisive victory for the Regent's forces.
For their valour, the clan was greatly rewarded. Legend says that they captured three of Queen Mary's standards on the battlefield, and their chief was granted a new clan crest by the grateful Regent. Their heroic actions at Langside cemented their reputation as some of the most formidable warriors in Scotland and loyal defenders of the Scottish crown. -
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1603
Glen Fruin: A Victory's Terrible Price
By the start of the 17th century, the feuds between the clans around Loch Lomond had reached a boiling point. The MacFarlanes and their neighbours, the MacGregors, both held deep-seated grievances against the powerful Clan Colquhoun. In 1603, these two formidable clans formed an alliance to finally crush their common enemy, gathering their warriors for a decisive confrontation in the "Glen of Sorrow"—Glen Fruin.
The MacFarlanes and MacGregors, masters of their terrain, used their knowledge of the land to devastating effect. They lured the Colquhoun force, which included mounted horsemen unfamiliar with the Highland ground, into the narrow, marshy glen. Once their enemy was trapped, the allied clans launched a ferocious ambush from the high ground. The Colquhouns were overwhelmed, and the battle resulted in a complete and brutal victory for the MacFarlane-MacGregor alliance.
But the victory came at a terrible cost. The Laird of Colquhoun presented a shocking report of the battle's savagery to King James VI in Edinburgh. The King, determined to tame the Highlands, used the battle as the ultimate excuse to crack down on the clans involved. While the MacGregors faced the worst of it—their very name being outlawed—the MacFarlanes were also condemned for their part in the slaughter. Their reputation as some of the most dangerous warriors in Scotland was cemented, but it drew the unforgiving attention of a crown that would eventually bring their raiding days to an end. -
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1640s
The Wars for the King
During the great civil wars that swept across Scotland, England, and Ireland in the mid-17th century, the MacFarlanes remained steadfast in their loyalty to the crown. While many clans sided with the Covenanters and the English Parliament, the MacFarlanes were staunch Royalists, pledging their swords to the cause of King Charles I. They were key supporters of the King's brilliant general in Scotland, the Marquess of Montrose.
The MacFarlane clansmen were renowned for their fighting prowess and were a welcome addition to Montrose's royalist army. They fought with distinction in his campaigns, proving their loyalty time and again. However, their support for the losing side would come at a great cost. The clan drew the wrath of the victorious English Parliamentarians under Oliver Cromwell.
After the Royalist cause was defeated, Cromwell's forces marched through the Highlands to punish any clan that had supported the King. In 1654, they specifically targeted the MacFarlane lands. They besieged and destroyed their strongholds, including the important Inveruglas Castle, ensuring that the clan could no longer use their fortresses to challenge the new government. This was a devastating blow, a price they paid for their unwavering loyalty to the House of Stuart. -
Famous Castles
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Eilean I Vow: The Island Fortress
Deep in the northern waters of Loch Lomond lies a small, wooded island named Eilean I Vow. For centuries, this was the very heart of the MacFarlane clan's power. It was the site of their main stronghold, a formidable castle that was both a home for their chief and a secure base from which to launch their famous raids. Its isolation made it a perfect natural defence, a true island fortress accessible only to those who knew the secrets of the loch.
From this rugged seat of power, the MacFarlane chiefs ruled their territory of Arrochar with an iron fist. The sounds of Gaelic and the sharpening of swords would have echoed within its stone walls. This was not a place of gentle lordship, but the practical, working fortress of a warrior clan. It was from the shores of Eilean I Vow that the clan would set out on moonlit nights, their war boats cutting silently through the dark water on their way to the Lowlands.
Like so many Highland strongholds, the castle fell into ruin after the clan's power was broken and their lands were sold. Today, the crumbling stones on the island are a powerful and poignant reminder of the MacFarlanes' lost heritage. They are a testament to a time when the clan ruled the waters of the loch, and their chief was the master of his island fortress. -
Inveruglas Castle: The Ruined Watchtower
Positioned on a strategic headland jutting into the shore of Loch Lomond, Inveruglas Castle was another key fortress for the MacFarlane clan. It served as a vital watchtower, guarding their territory from rivals and providing a clear view of any boats moving on the water. For centuries, its walls stood as a defiant symbol of the clan's control over the western shores of the loch.
But its strength made it a target. During the Wars of the Three Kingdoms in the 17th century, the MacFarlanes were staunch royalists, loyal to the cause of King Charles. When Oliver Cromwell's forces swept through Scotland, they systematically destroyed the strongholds of any clans who opposed them. In 1654, Cromwell's troops besieged Inveruglas Castle and, after a fierce fight, captured it and blew it up, leaving it the ruin that can still be seen today.
Your Clan's Legacy. Your Personal Lineage.
You've journeyed through centuries of your Clan's valor. Now, trace the specific path your family took within that grand history. Uncover your direct ancestors and add your unique branch to the clan's enduring story.
Follow Me! A Legacy of Power & Influence.
Connect with the storied history of Clan MacFarlane. From the heart of Arrochar, their influence shaped Scotland. Our exclusive collection, adorned with the classic MacFarlane tartan, embodies a heritage of leadership and strength.
