A Scottish clan (from Gaelic clann, literally ‘children’, more broadly ‘kindred’) is a kinship group among the Scottish people. Clans give a sense of shared identity and descent to members, and in modern times have an official structure recognised by the Court of the Lord Lyon, which regulates Scottish heraldry and coats of arms.

Scottish clanship contained two complementary but distinct concepts of heritage. These were firstly the collective heritage of the clan, known as their dùthchas, which was their prescriptive right to settle in the territories in which the chiefs and leading gentry of the clan customarily provided protection. This concept was where all clansmen recognised the personal authority of the chiefs and leading gentry as trustees for their clan. The second concept was the wider acceptance of the granting of charters by the Crown and other powerful land owners to the chiefs, chieftains and lairds which defined the estate settled by their clan. This was known as their oighreachd and gave a different emphasis to the clan chief’s authority in that it gave the authority to the chiefs and leading gentry as landed proprietors, who owned the land in their own right, rather than just as trustees for the clan. From the beginning of Scottish clanship, the clan warrior elite, who were known as the ‘fine’, strove to be landowners as well as territorial war lords.

Chief of Clan Maclean

The current chief of Clan Maclean is Sir Lachlan Hector Charles Maclean of Duart and Morvern Bt, CVO, Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute, 28th clan chief and 12th Baronet of Morvern.

The seat of the chiefs of Clan MacLean is Duart Castle on the Isle of Mull. Duart was given to Lachlan Lubanach Maclean as part of his wife’s dowry.

Associations

The Clan Maclean Association is the original association, instituted in 1892. CMA is responsible for worldwide Direct Membership, the organisation of Gatherings and all central services in Scotland.

The CMA Council comprises:

• The Chief, Sir Lachlan Maclean of Duart and Morvern, Bt, CVO, DL.

and The Chieftains:

• Robin Maclean of Ardgour

• The Very Rev Allan Maclean of Dochgarroch

• Sir Charles Maclean of Dunconnel Bt.

• Nicolas Maclean of Pennycross CMG

• Richard Compton Maclean of Torloisk DL

The CMA President is Mrs Anne Maclean of Dochgarroch.

Clan Maclean Worldwide

Clan Maclean International Associations and their Presidents:

• Clan Maclean Association of England and Wales:- Nicolas Maclean of Pennycross CMG

• Clan Maclean Association in the United States:- Leslie H. McLean

• Clan Maclean Association of California, USA:- Lisa Maclean

• Clan Maclean Association Pacific NW, USA:- Jim McClean

• Clan Maclean Association, Atlantic (Canada):- George MacLean

• Clan Maclean Association in Australia Inc.:- Grant Maclean

• Clan Maclean Association Western Australia;- Margo Henshaw

• Clan Maclean Association of New South Wales – Australia:- Marcus MacLean

• Clan Maclean Association of New Zealand;- David Maclean

• Clan Maclean Association of France:- Chevalier Alan R M McLean

Clan Maclean Heritage Trust

The Clan Maclean Heritage Trust is a charity, registered in Scotland.

The purpose of the Trust is “promoting and advancing the education of the public in the history, traditions and music of the Clan Maclean” (from the 1996 Trust Deed). It seeks to preserve and make widely known the enormous contribution that members of the Clan Maclean have made, and are still making, in politics, medicine, literature, music, sport, exploration and other forms of scientific endeavour, military campaigns and many other fields. It ensures that their achievements are not forgotten, not only through the printed word but also through the preservation of manuscripts, artefacts, buildings and other tangible links. It also promotes the continuing contribution of Macleans in these areas.