THE BUCHANAN CLAN

Gibsons in PA

Mottos: Audaces juvo, (I help the brave). Clarior hinc honos, (Brighter hence the honour).

It is said, that the Buchanan's have the oldest established clan society in Scotland. Some say, that the Buchanan's are descended from the son of a King of Ulster, Anselan O'Kyan, who landed in Argyll about 1016 A.D. For his services against the Danes, he received the lands of Buchanan. He was also granted arms, practically identical to those used by the Buchanan Society of Scotland today.

The first record of the name appears in 1224, when Dominus Absolone de Buchkan, witnessed a charter by Malcolm, Earl of Lennox. The island of Clarinch was given by the Earl of Lennox to his Seneschal, Anselan or Absalon, "Son of Macbeth". This was the first family on record. In 1370, King David II officially recognised the family of Maurice of Buchquhanane, confirming their lands. They were active in various wars, supporting Robert the Bruce at Bannockburn in 1314, and later fighting at Flodden in 1513, Pinkie in 1547, and Langside in 1578. There were a number of Buchanan's among the seven thousand sent from Scotland, who fought for the King of France at Agincourt in 1415.

The Buchanan lands, lying to the east of Lock Lomond, remained in the family for almost seven centuries. Towards the end of the 17th century, the house and lands of Buchanan, were sold to the Marquess of Montrose, Chief of Clan Graham, after the death of John Buchanan of That Ilk, the 22nd Laird, in 1682. His death meant the mainline of the chiefship, passed to the Auchamar branch, and upon its failing, it passed to the Spittal family. The Buchanan's of Leny were the last to hold the chiefship, which is now dormant.

The Island of Clarinch, whose name was their battle cry, was purchased in 1939 by a wealthy clansman, who presented it to the Buchanan Clan Society, and will be theirs for all time.

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